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Arsenal logo
Premier League
May 4, 2014 at 1.30pm UK
 
West Brom logo

1-0

Giroud (14')
FT(HT: 1-0)

Olivier Giroud on target as Arsenal defeat West Bromwich Albion

Arsenal close the gap to third-placed Chelsea to just two points thanks to a 1-0 win over West Bromwich Albion.

Olivier Giroud scored the only goal as Arsenal beat West Bromwich Albion in their final game of the season at the Emirates Stadium to move within two points of third-placed Chelsea in the Premier League.

Olivier Giroud (C) of Arsenal celebrates with team mates after scoring during the Barclays Premier League match against West Bromwich Albion on May 4, 2014© Getty Images

The best chance in the opening 10 minutes fell to visitors West Brom when Saido Berahino broke the offside trap, but he couldn't get off a shot from a tight angle.

Arsenal broke the deadlock in the 14th minute when Santi Cazorla, moments after his goal-bound shot was deflected over, swung over a corner from the left that Giroud headed low into the corner for his 16th Premier League goal of the season.

Cazorla went close to an Arsenal second in the 34th minute when his shot from Lukas Podolski's cutback was tipped around the post by Ben Foster.

West Brom's only other chances in the opening period were from long range, with Graham Dorrans's dipping shot saved and Berahino curling over.

West Bromwich Albion's Graham Dorrans (R) controls the ball as Arsenal's Santi Cazorla (L) chases during the English Premier League football match on May 4, 2014© Getty Images

Chances were few and far between in the second half, with the first real opening not coming until the 72nd minute when Morgan Amalfitano failed to beat Wojciech Szczesny after being slipped in by Berahino.

Arsenal then had two great chances to put the game to bed.

First, Mesut Ozil dinked wide after a flick-on from Giroud before Podolski's scuffed shot looped over Foster and against the post.

One goal would be enough for the win though and Arsenal are now up to 76 points. West Brom are not yet mathematically safe but will be if Norwich City lose at Chelsea later this afternoon.

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West Bromwich Albion's Graham Dorrans (R) controls the ball as Arsenal's Santi Cazorla (L) chases during the English Premier League football match on May 4, 2014
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3Manchester CityMan City32227376324473
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5Tottenham HotspurSpurs32186865491660
6Manchester UnitedMan Utd33165125150153
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8West Ham UnitedWest Ham34139125463-948
9Chelsea32138116157447
10Bournemouth34129134960-1145
11Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton321111105250244
12Wolverhampton WanderersWolves34127154654-843
13Fulham34126165054-442
14Crystal Palace34109154456-1239
15Brentford3498175259-735
16Everton34118153648-1233
17Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest3479184260-1826
18Luton TownLuton3467214775-2825
19Burnley3458213769-3223
20Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd3437243392-5916


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