Controversial penalty earns West Brom draw with Arsenal

Soccer Football - Premier League - West Bromwich Albion vs Arsenal - The Hawthorns, West Bromwich, Britain - December 31, 2017 Arsenal's Alexandre Lacazette and Alexis Sanchez in action with West Bromwich Albion's Matt Phillips REUTERS/Darren Staples

(Reuters) - WEST BROMWICH ALBION 1 ARSENAL 1

Arsenal were denied victory on their manager Arsene Wenger's big day as West Bromwich Albion snatched a dramatic late point in a 1-1 Premier League draw on Sunday.

In Wenger's record 811th game in charge, James McClean deflected in Alexis Sanchez’s 83rd-minute free kick to put Arsenal on course for three points.

Soccer Football - Premier League - West Bromwich Albion vs Arsenal - The Hawthorns, West Bromwich, Britain - December 31, 2017 West Bromwich Albion's Jay Rodriguez celebrates scoring their first goal Action Images via Reuters/Jason Cairnduff

But Calum Chambers was harshly adjudged to have handled in the penalty area and Jay Rodriguez converted an 89th-minute spot-kick to help his side climb off the bottom of the table.

The Arsenal players were furious with the decision and Wenger was spoken to by referee Mike Dean but his team did climb above Tottenham Hotspur into fifth place in the table.

“I did fight many years ago for referees to become professional, but unfortunately their levels do not go up. It is difficult to accept,” Wenger told Sky Sports.

Soccer Football - Premier League - West Bromwich Albion vs Arsenal - The Hawthorns, West Bromwich, Britain - December 31, 2017 Arsenal's Granit Xhaka in action with West Bromwich Albion's Jake Livermore Action Images via Reuters/Jason Cairnduff

A knee injury kept Mesut Ozil out of the Arsenal side and they missed the guile of the Germany international as they struggled to create any real openings in the first half.

After the break, Arsenal upped the tempo and Alexandre Lacazette twice went close to scoring, but was denied by a fine Ben Foster stop in the home goal before poking wide from close range.

Rodriguez then had space to shoot for goal, but his tame strike was easily beaten away by Petr Cech.

Soccer Football - Premier League - West Bromwich Albion vs Arsenal - The Hawthorns, West Bromwich, Britain - December 31, 2017 West Bromwich Albion's Jay Rodriguez scores their first goal from the penalty spot Action Images via Reuters/Jason Cairnduff

In the final 10 minutes, the game came to life.

Sanchez’s free kick found the net after taking a flick off McClean who was standing on the edge of the wall.

“You can’t turn your back on it like that,” West Brom manager Alan Pardew said. "It is there for everyone to see. So he will have to learn.”

Soccer Football - Premier League - West Bromwich Albion vs Arsenal - The Hawthorns, West Bromwich, Britain - December 31, 2017 Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger remonstrates with referee Mike Dean Action Images via Reuters/Jason Cairnduff

As West Brom pressed for an equaliser, Kieran Gibbs tried to clip a cross into the middle, the ball hit Chambers on the arm and Dean pointed to the spot.

Rodriguez stepped up and calmly drilled the penalty down the middle to ensure Arsenal have won just twice in seven league games.

Soccer Football - Premier League - West Bromwich Albion vs Arsenal - The Hawthorns, West Bromwich, Britain - December 31, 2017 Arsenal's Jack Wilshere applauds fans after the match REUTERS/Darren Staples

(Reporting by Peter Hall, Editing by Ed Osmond)

Soccer Football - Premier League - West Bromwich Albion vs Arsenal - The Hawthorns, West Bromwich, Britain - December 31, 2017 West Bromwich Albion's Gareth Barry in action Action Images via Reuters/Jason Cairnduff

Soccer Football - Premier League - West Bromwich Albion vs Arsenal - The Hawthorns, West Bromwich, Britain - December 31, 2017 West Bromwich Albion's Jonny Evans and Jay Rodriguez celebrate after the match Action Images via Reuters/Jason Cairnduff

Soccer Football - Premier League - West Bromwich Albion vs Arsenal - The Hawthorns, West Bromwich, Britain - December 31, 2017 West Bromwich Albion's Jay Rodriguez celebrates scoring their first goal Action Images via Reuters/Jason Cairnduff EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or "live" services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. Please contact your account representative for further details.

Soccer Football - Premier League - West Bromwich Albion vs Arsenal - The Hawthorns, West Bromwich, Britain - December 31, 2017 Arsenal's Alexis Sanchez scores their first goal from a free kick REUTERS/Darren Staples

Soccer Football - Premier League - West Bromwich Albion vs Arsenal - The Hawthorns, West Bromwich, Britain - December 31, 2017 Arsenal's Alexis Sanchez scores their first goal from a free kick Action Images via Reuters/Jason Cairnduff

Soccer Football - Premier League - West Bromwich Albion vs Arsenal - The Hawthorns, West Bromwich, Britain - December 31, 2017 Arsenal's Alexis Sanchez celebrates scoring their first goal with team mates Action Images via Reuters/Jason Cairnduff

Soccer Football - Premier League - West Bromwich Albion vs Arsenal - The Hawthorns, West Bromwich, Britain - December 31, 2017 West Bromwich Albion's Jay Rodriguez scores their first goal from the penalty spot Action Images via Reuters/Jason Cairnduff

Soccer Football - Premier League - West Bromwich Albion vs Arsenal - The Hawthorns, West Bromwich, Britain - December 31, 2017 West Bromwich Albion's Jay Rodriguez scores their first goal from the penalty spot REUTERS/Darren Staples

Soccer Football - Premier League - West Bromwich Albion vs Arsenal - The Hawthorns, West Bromwich, Britain - December 31, 2017 Arsenal's Alexis Sanchez celebrates scoring their first goal with team mates Action Images via Reuters/Jason Cairnduff

Soccer Football - Premier League - West Bromwich Albion vs Arsenal - The Hawthorns, West Bromwich, Britain - December 31, 2017 Arsenal's Alexis Sanchez celebrates scoring their first goal REUTERS/Darren Staples

Soccer Football - Premier League - West Bromwich Albion vs Arsenal - The Hawthorns, West Bromwich, Britain - December 31, 2017 Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger talks to Calum Chambers Action Images via Reuters/Jason Cairnduff