Match Report: Arsenal 2-0 West Brom

Mikel Arteta converted two penalties to ensure Arsenal took all three points against West Brom, who have now lost three games in a row.The Baggies were forced into an early change when Liam Ridgewell went off injured after five minutes and didn't really get going in the first half.Arsenal dominated possession and chances but went ahead thanks to a questionable penalty decision. Santi Cazorla went down in the area, seemingly under the challenge of Chris Brunt, but replays showed there was no contact.However, the referee pointed to the spot and Arteta calmly dispatched the penalty to give the Gunners the lead after 26 minutes.Arsenal spurned further chances to go ahead. Gervinho saw a shot well saved by Boaz Myhill but was guilty of wasting a number of good opportunities, while Cazorla skewed an effort over the bar and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain's overhead kick was way off-target.Gervinho continued in the same vein in the second half, failing to show enough strength in front of goal and being outmuscled by Gareth McAuley.
The lead was doubled midway through the second period, with a second penalty awarded after Oxlade-Chamberlain was upended by Brunt. Arteta once again stepped up and in a carbon copy of the first penalty went down the middle with Myhill beaten.Arsenal were well on top, with Jack Wilshere directing the midfield, but couldn't add to their tally. Olivier Giroud headed over from close range, Arteta hit a free-kick just wide and substitute Lukas Podolski somehow contrived to miss in injury time when completely unmarked in the area, scooping the ball over the bar.
Arsene Wenger will be relieved to have secured the three points but will be concerned by his side's failure to convert numerous chances, while West Brom's slump continues.

Aguero Eliminates Gunners

Sergio Aguero came off the bench to send Manchester City into the League Cup semifinals with a 1-0 win over Arsenal . The Argentina striker netted his 12th goal of the season when he settled the tie with seven minutes remaining, finishing off a swift counter-attack which started in City's own penalty area. Arsene Wenger's Arsenal, finalists last season, enjoyed the better chances before Aguero struck and forced saves from Costel Pantilimon before their nine-match unbeaten run was ended. Between the two clubs, only one player remained from their starting line-ups at the weekend, with both managers choosing to rotate their squad and give fringe players a chance. That one player was Samir Nasri, with the France midfielder receiving jeers from home fans following his move from Arsenal to City at the start of the season. Nasri drifted in and out of the action during an open quarterfinal where both teams appeared intent on attacking. City were the first to create an opening, with England winger Adam Johnson firing just over the crossbar from 25 yards with 10 minutes on the clock. Arsenal went close a minute later after Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain started an attack on the right flank. The ball was worked to Francis Coquelin and his low cross found Park Ju-Young six yards from goal. Park's finish appeared to be heading for the corner of the net but City goalkeeper Pantilimon flung out his hand as he dived to his left and tipped around the post. Pantilimon was called into action again when Oxlade-Chamberlain exchanged passes with Marouane Chamakh and drove towards the top corner from the edge of the area, with the Romanian youngster deflecting the ball over. There was confusion just after the half-hour mark when City wanted to make a substitution. Nasri appeared to be heading towards the touchline and was booed by supporters, but it was Aleksandar Kolarov who made way for Aguero. Kolarov also appeared to be upset with the substitution as he took his seat on the bench. Both teams went close after the interval, firstly when Edin Dzeko curled wide of the post with an effort from 25 yards out. The Bosnia striker was also off target with a finish when he met Pablo Zabaleta's cross with a volley. At the other end, Oxlade-Chamberlain cut inside from the right, tricked his marker with a step-over and forced Pantilimon to punch away with his save. Chamakh also went over the bar after being slipped through by Yossi Benayoun, who was captain for the evening. Wenger made his move midway through the second half, replacing Park with Gervinho in an attempt to break the deadlock. But the decisive moment came with seven minutes remaining after Dzeko carried the ball forward from his own penalty area. After threading the ball through for Johnson, the touch back to Aguero was perfect for him to run forward and finish confidently past Lukasz Fabianski.

Arsenal star in line for shock Euro 2012 international call-up

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s impressive start to his Arsenal career looks set to earn him a senior England call-up at the age of just 18. The midfielder, who signed for the Gunners from Southampton in August, scored a brilliant hat-trick for England Under-21s against Iceland last week. And having also become the youngest English player ever to score in the Champions League last month against Olympiakos, England boss Fabio Capello is ready to call up the young Gunner for the clash with world and European champions Spain on November 12. Under-21s manager Stuart Pearce admitted after Oxlade-Chamberlain’s hat-trick had destroyed Iceland: “He is a real great talent. “For anyone scoring a hat-trick on international duty it is obviously very pleasing. He gave us a real cutting edge, and is also a good team member and is really level-headed,” said Pearce whose Under-21 side top their European Championship qualifying group after also winning 2-1 in Norway on Monday night. But it is the senior side’s Euro 2012 finals in Poland and Ukraine next summer which may now interest Oxlade-Chamberlain, with England having sealed qualification with the 2-2 draw in Montenegro on Friday. The teenager has impressed everybody at the Emirates since his arrival, scoring on both his first full start in the Carling Cup win over Shrewsbury and within eight minutes of his Champions League debut. Arsenal’s assistant manager Pat Rice admitted: “From Arsenal supporters’ point of view, they are going to be seeing a lot of this boy. “Alex can go inside, he can go outside, he’s got that injection of pace and I think what he needs now is to be consistent in his play.” Oxlade-Chamberlain himself said: “I am concentrating on the Under-21s at the moment. “I am not with the seniors so I am focused on what I am doing with Stuart Pearce’s side right now. “That [playing for the senior side] would be nice in the future but, as I said, I am focused on this.”