Lacazette strikes twice for Arsenal to see off West Brom
Soccer Football - Premier League - Arsenal vs West Bromwich Albion - Emirates Stadium, London, Britain - September 25, 2017 Arsenal's Alexandre Lacazette celebrates scoring their first goal. REUTERS/Dylan Martinez
LONDON (Reuters) - Arsenal kept up their 100 percent home record this season with a 2-0 win over West Bromwich Albion in the Premier League on Monday, with new club record signing Alexandre Lacazette grabbing both the goals.
West Brom had lost on their previous six visits to the Gunners but started the match brightly and were even denied a penalty after only seven minutes of play.
Gareth Barry, appearing in a record 633rd Premier League fixture and the Baggies' captain for the night, released the ball to Jay Rodriguez in the area who cut back and was brought down by defender Shkodran Mustafi.
Soccer Football - Premier League - Arsenal vs West Bromwich Albion - Emirates Stadium, London, Britain - September 25, 2017 West Bromwich Albion's Gareth Barry. Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Couldridge
However, no foul was given by referee Bobby Madley, much to the frustration of manager Tony Pulis on the touchline and Rodriguez himself.
"For me I felt contact and I went down and I was waiting for the foul to be given but it wasn't," the striker told Sky Sports. "For me it was a penalty, but you get them and you don't... It's difficult when it's 0-0 and if you get the decision you can get a goal which changes the game."
Arsene Wenger's side took the lead after 20 minutes, Lacazette heading in after goalkeeper Ben Foster had pushed Alexis Sanchez's free-kick on to the bar.
Soccer Football - Premier League - Arsenal vs West Bromwich Albion - Emirates Stadium, London, Britain - September 25, 2017 West Bromwich Albion's Gareth Barry and Arsenal's Petr Cech at the end of the match. Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Couldridge
The goal meant that the close season signing from Lyon became the first Arsenal player to score in his opening three home fixtures in the league since 1988.
The Frenchman scored his fourth of the season and Arsenal's second of the match from the penalty spot, midway through the second half, after a clumsy barge on Aaron Ramsey in the box by Allan Nyom.
After the final whistle, Welshman Ramsey was full of praise for his new free-scoring team mate.
Soccer Football - Premier League - Arsenal vs West Bromwich Albion - Emirates Stadium, London, Britain - September 25, 2017 Arsenal's Alexandre Lacazette shoots at goal. REUTERS/Dylan Martinez
"Lacazette is fantastic. He has lovely touches and knows where the back of the net is," he said.
Arsenal moved up to seventh in the league on 10 points, six behind both Manchester clubs at the top. West Brom dropped to 12th and have now gone five games without a win in all competitions.
The Gunners can continue their home run on Sunday against Brighton and Hove Albion, a day after West Brom host Watford.
Soccer Football - Premier League - Arsenal vs West Bromwich Albion - Emirates Stadium, London, Britain - September 25, 2017 West Bromwich Albion manager Tony Pulis. Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Couldridge
(Reporting by Christian Radnedge, editing by Pritha Sarkar)
Soccer Football - Premier League - Arsenal vs West Bromwich Albion - Emirates Stadium, London, Britain - September 25, 2017 Arsenal's Mesut Ozil comes on as a substitute to replace Alexis Sanchez. REUTERS/Dylan Martinez Soccer Football - Premier League - Arsenal vs West Bromwich Albion - Emirates Stadium, London, Britain - September 25, 2017 Arsenal's Alexandre Lacazette celebrates scoring their second goal. REUTERS/Dylan Martinez Soccer Football - Premier League - Arsenal vs West Bromwich Albion - Emirates Stadium, London, Britain - September 25, 2017 Arsenal's Alexis Sanchez. REUTERS/Dylan Martinez Soccer Football - Premier League - Arsenal vs West Bromwich Albion - Emirates Stadium, London, Britain - September 25, 2017 Arsenal's Alexandre Lacazette celebrates scoring their second goal. Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Couldridge Soccer Football - Premier League - Arsenal vs West Bromwich Albion - Emirates Stadium, London, Britain - September 25, 2017 West Bromwich Albion's Craig Dawson, Hal Robson-Kanu and Allan Nyom looks dejected after Arsenal's Alexandre Lacazette scored their first goal. REUTERS/Dylan Martinez Soccer Football - Premier League - Arsenal vs West Bromwich Albion - Emirates Stadium, London, Britain - September 25, 2017 Arsenal's Alexandre Lacazette applauds fans as he is substituted. Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Couldridge Soccer Football - Premier League - Arsenal vs West Bromwich Albion - Emirates Stadium, London, Britain - September 25, 2017 Arsenal's Alexandre Lacazette celebrates scoring their second goal. REUTERS/Dylan Martinez Soccer Football - Premier League - Arsenal vs West Bromwich Albion - Emirates Stadium, London, Britain - September 25, 2017 Arsenal's Alexandre Lacazette misses a chance to score. REUTERS/Dylan Martinez Soccer Football - Premier League - Arsenal vs West Bromwich Albion - Emirates Stadium, London, Britain - September 25, 2017 Arsenal's Alexis Sanchez in action with West Bromwich Albion's Jonny Evans. REUTERS/Dylan Martinez Soccer Football - Premier League - Arsenal vs West Bromwich Albion - Emirates Stadium, London, Britain - September 25, 2017 Arsenal's Alexandre Lacazette celebrates scoring their second goal with team mates. REUTERS/Dylan Martinez Soccer Football - Premier League - Arsenal vs West Bromwich Albion - Emirates Stadium, London, Britain - September 25, 2017 Arsenal's Alexandre Lacazette scores their second goal from the penalty spot. REUTERS/Dylan Martinez Soccer Football - Premier League - Arsenal vs West Bromwich Albion - Emirates Stadium, London, Britain - September 25, 2017 Arsenal's Alexandre Lacazette scores their first goal. REUTERS/Dylan Martinez Soccer Football - Premier League - Arsenal vs West Bromwich Albion - Emirates Stadium, London, Britain - September 25, 2017 Arsenal's Alexandre Lacazette celebrates scoring their first goal. Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Couldridge
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