Arsenal ended a run of two straight Premier League defeats with a slim victory over West Bromwich Albion this afternoon.
The Gunners had all the chances in the first half but didn't take the lead until the 60th minute when Danny Welbeck rose highest to head home Santi Cazorla's cross.
West Brom pushed for a late winner, but couldn't break through.
Here, Sports Mole picks apart the 90 minutes at The Hawthorns.
Match statistics
WEST BROM
Shots: 9
On target: 1
Possession: 48%
Corners: 4
Fouls: 9
ARSENAL
Shots: 17
On target: 5
Possession: 52%
Corners: 4
Fouls: 10
Was the result fair?
Looking at the whole 90 minutes, yes. West Brom didn't manage a shot in the first half and Arsenal eventually made their pressure pay on the hour. West Brom will feel that they were hard done by with an incorrect offside decision and some late pressure, but, on the whole, they didn't deserve anything out of it.
West Brom's performance
As mentioned above, West Brom's first shot didn't arrive until the 54th minute when Saido Berahino hit the side-netting. The Baggies forward was the man denied by the offside flag when he was clearly onside moments after the interval, and Alan Irvine will no doubt be frustrated as that could have put them 1-0 up. Berahino also hit the bar late on, but that was about as good as it got for the home side.
Defensively they were fairly sound, but the goal won't be nice viewing for Irvine. Andre Wisdom was beaten far too easily by Cazorla and then Welbeck got up above Sebastien Pocognoli to head home. West Brom have won just once at home all season.
Arsenal's performance
Arsene Wenger's side are back to winning ways in the league after two straight defeats. Following a good performance in Europe to beat Borussia Dortmund on Wednesday, the Gunners looked more like the confidence-lacking team of earlier this month today. Wenger started Welbeck, Alexis Sanchez and Olivier Giroud for the first time and it didn't quite work.
They appeared to lack passion and only just scraped through against a West Brom side who they were expected to beat. They had very few problems to deal with in the first half and although there was some neat interplay in midfield, there was a lack of cutting edge up front as the above trio adapted to the new formation.
Things didn't really improve in the second half, but there was one moment of real quality that provided the goal. Cazorla's run was superb and he clipped it into the perfect area for Welbeck to power home. The Gunners can certainly play a lot better, but a win's a win.
Sports Mole's man of the match
Santi Cazorla: The little Spaniard was the Gunners' brightest spark in the first half and then did superbly to set up the winner. He knocked the ball around Wisdom and then showed good pace and strength to get to the ball first before clipping a perfect cross into the middle.
Biggest gaffe
Ben Foster dilly-dallied with the ball in the first half and had it stolen by Olivier Giroud, who lacked patience and just swiped the ball out wide when he could have taken his time and maybe set up a goal.
Referee performance
Chris Foy himself had a good game, but his assistant should have not flagged Berahino offside when he was clean through on goal early in the second half.
What next?
West Brom: It's three Premier League games in a week as the always-manic December begins. West Brom host West Ham United on Tuesday before travelling to Hull City next Saturday.
Arsenal: As for the Gunners, they welcome Southampton on Wednesday before heading up to Stoke City in a week.
Pascal Lemesre
