West Bromwich Albion (0) v Arsenal (2)

By Stuart Kidson
December 19 2003

A PERFECTLY GOOD GOAL DISALLOWED AND AT LEAST TWO PENALTY DECISIONS REJECTED THE BAGGIES HAVE A RIGHT TO FEEL AGGRIEVED. Arsenal progress to the Semi-Finals at the expense of the Baggies. A new video card should be in by Saturday so no more late postings.

West Bromwich Albion (0) v Arsenal (2)
Carling Cup Quarter Finals
The Hawthorns, Tuesday 18th December 2003

Despite going out of this competition by two goals, it was in fact The Baggies that emerged as the true winners of the game. Arsenal were pushed to the very end by the home side as they went looking for a continuation of their unbeaten record and a place in the Semi-Finals. Unfortunately two mistakes cost them dearly and enabled the North London side to make it to the next round for the first time in six years.

Gary Megson shocked a packed Hawthorns by including Ronnie Wallwork for the first time since October and Neil Clement returned to the starting line up due to Paul Robinson being cup tied. Robinson had played in an earlier round for Watford against AFC Bournemouth.

Arsenal included several well known names amongst their starting line up with Kanu, Ray Parlour, Sylvain Wiltord, Edu, Martin Keown and Lauren the most recognisable. Testimony perhaps to the regard with which Arsene Wenger holds for the Baggies.

In the previous round the 'Junior Gunners' had demolished a much senior Dingle first team, whilst the Baggies had seen off 30 Million pounds worth of talent when Manchester United had been visitors, so expectations amongst the home fans was high that yet another Premiership scalp could be hung on the Astle Gates alongside those of the Old Trafford Reds and the Toon.

The opening ten minutes produced little goalmouth incident as both teams gauged the measure of each other. Arsenal wary of being caught by the nationwide leaders and the Baggies showing perhaps a little too much respect for the Cockney Gunners.

However, after 12 minutes the Albion came close to stealing a lead when Graham Stack, in goal for the Gunners, made a hash of a Neil Clement free kick at the near post. Leggy Nigerian Kanu had to react quickly to the mistake as Thomas Gaardsoe closed in on the loose ball.

Scott Dobie had the first of three penalty decisions against the home side turned down when it appeared that veteran defender Martin Keown, back in the starting line up for the first time in 6 weeks, had hold of the strikers shirt as he tried to get onto Sean Gregan's set piece kick. Referee Mr. Matt Messias turned the appeals down and waved play on.

The game took a serious turn as both sides got stuck into each other and tackling became very much more competitive. Clement was rampaging down the Baggies left, hoping to regain his starting position from Robinson. It was Clement who came closest for the Baggies next when his cross was flashed across goal but hit the corner of the crossbar and upright and bought a collective sense of disbelief from the home fans who thought the ball was goal bound.

Albion were certainly dictating the pace of the game to the Premiership leaders and the home fans could sense another stunning victory and a place in the semi-finals of this competition for the first time in 22 years. However it seems fate decided against the home side when James O'Connor thought he had found the back of the net for the first time in a Blue and White striped shirt.

The ex Stoke City player got behind the Gunners defence and headed past Stack at the near post, but he was deemed to have been in an offside position by the linesman but SKY cameras clearly showed that as the ball was played he was onside. This bought a chorus of the old chant from the Smethwick End 'The Premier League Is Full Of Cheats'.

If things were bad then, they got worse moments later as the Gunners took the lead thanks to Kanu. Ronnie Wallwork lost the ball just inside the Arsenal half by Kanu who passed to World Cup winner Edu. He played the ball out wide to Lauren who then crossed the ball into the Albion area. Andy Johnson got the slightest touch to the ball but it fell just right for Kanu to head towards goal. Russell Hoult parried the ball but the Nigerian international stuck out one of his long gangly legs and stabbed the ball underneath Hoult.

Albion replied by attacking Stack's goal yet again and Johnson was just about to shoot at goal when Keown recklessly crashed the Welsh international to the ground with a wild tackle. Again SKY cameras showed that the incident was a clear cut penalty but Mr. Messias decided there was no contact and waved away appeals leading to howls of protest from the home fans.

Albion continued to attack and Clement was proving to be a handful for the Gunners with his runs and also his free kicks and just past 36 minutes he shaved a layer of paint from the wrong side of the upright from 25 yards with a low drive through the wall.

Gary Megson was forced into making a change after 40 minutes as Johnson was clearly suffering from the tackle by Keown and Lee Hughes joined the fray to the now usual round of abusive chants from the away fans. The Baggies dropped their favoured 3-5-2 formation with Hughes's introduction and moved to a 3-4-3 line up.

Two of Arsenal's rising stars, David Bentley and Jeremie Aliadiere combined just before the break when Bentley crossed for the young Frenchman but the 19 year old could only direct his header straight over the crossbar. The Baggies response was swift and Bernt Haas sent over a now trademark long throw which Rob Hulse tried to steer into the net with an acrobatic overhead kick. Keown was again on hand to help Hulse miscue his shot with a forceful push down on the strikers chest. Normally that kind of tackle would result in a spot kick but again Mr. Messias again waved play on and was nothing if not consistent in his refereeing.

The second half kicked off 10 minutes late due to one of the linesmen becoming ill during the break and calls went out for Mr. Dermott Gallagher to make his way to the Referees Room. Mr. Gallagher was at The Hawthorns as a spectator but his services were called upon to act as the 4th Official as the designated official was now required to run the line.

Arsenal were first out of the blocks following the delayed restart as Kanu tried his luck from the edge of the box but Hoult did well to get down to stop the low drive. The Baggies hit back immediately when Joost Volmer put Hulse clear but the seasons leading goal scorer could only direct the ball into Stack's chest and out for a corner. Volmer almost drew the sides level from the corner but his effort was again the wrong side of the upright.

Albion were now controlling midfield and enjoying a bright period in the game, but the football gods decided it was time for someone to make a mistake and what a costly mistake it turned out to be. Gaardsoe passed back to Hoult and the big keeper, who has looked uncomfortable in previous weeks when placed under pressure from a back pass, attempted to slide the ball out to Gregan on the right from the edge of the area. Unfortunately Aliadiere read the situation well and intercepted the pass before knocking the ball past the now back tracking Hoult, and side footing the ball into the empty net despite Hoult's attempts to stop the ball with a desperate lunge.

Another delay came when Mr. Messias required treatment from Baggies Physio Nick Worth for cramp. The delay bought about a round of 'Let Him Die, Let Him Die' when the home fans realised it was the York based referee who was receiving treatment.

The Islington based side could have sewn the game up just on 70 minutes when Wiltjord and Aliadiere broke free of the Baggies defence but Aliadiere could only shoot straight at Hoult.

In the dying minutes the Baggies could have drawn level as both Dobie and Hughes went within inches of finding the net. Dobie struck a wonderful shot from the edge of the box which had Stack well beaten, but his effort hit the crossbar and went high over into the Brummie Road Stand and Hughes got up well to meet Artim Sakiri's pinpoint cross but could only watch in disbelief as the ball skimmed the post and went wide.

Albion played with a determination and desire that, if continues, will see them make a return to the Premier League at the end of the season. Many positives can be drawn from the games played in the Carling Cup, none least so that the Baggies can hold their own against Premiership giants. With Geoff Horsfield now signing from Wigan things are looking up at The Hawthorns and they could extend their slender lead at the top of the league with a win on Saturday at Coventry.

The baggiesworld.co.uk Man of the Match went to Thomas Gaardsoe, selected by Stephen McNally of Oldbury

Teams
Baggies: Hoult, Gregan, Gaardsoe, Volmer, Haas, Wallwork, O'Connor, Johnson, Clement, Hulse, Dobie

Subs: Hughes, Sakiri, Gilchrist, J. Chambers, Murphy

Gunners: Stack, Lauren, Keown, Tavlaridis, Clichy, Parlour, Kanu, Edu, Bentley, Wiltjord, Aliadiere

Subs: Shaaban, Thomas, Fabregas, Simek, Papadopoulos