Midfield dynamo features prominently in key figures from draw with Gunners
can tell us, there is certainly reason to be optimistic for the rest of the season.WhoScored.comANOTHER positive result on Sunday saw Albion make it four Barclays Premier League games unbeaten - and, as the guys over at
The Baggies heading into the international break somewhat disappointed to have only come away with a point from a game against the Barclays Premier League leaders is a sign of the times at The Hawthorns.
Steve Clarke’s men became only the second team to take points off Arsenal this term - and ended their away winning streak in the top flight with a second 1-1 draw against the Gunners in 12 days.
It took penalties for Arsene Wenger's men to knock Albion out of the Capital One Cup and a deflection to take a point from Sunday's game, as the home team so nearly made it six points from six, having beaten Manchester United at Old Trafford the weekend before.
A start to the season which saw the team take 360 minutes to first find the net is now long since forgotten.
It was an attacking display to be proud of, with Morgan Amalfitano again impressive and youngster Saido Berahino proving his worth.
Playing on opposite flanks, the duo had four shots and laid on four more chances, including the cross from the Frenchman from which Claudio Yacob scored the opener.
It was Yacob who impressed most, earning a WhoScored rating of 7.98.
On only three occasions in his Albion career has the midfielder had more shots in a match than he did against Arsenal (two), and he picked up his first goal for the Baggies as a result.
A threat with the ball, the Argentine was imperious without it, providing a fantastic screen in front of the defence alongside central midfield partner Youssouf Mulumbu.
They broke up play time and again before distributing it to the front four to start another break upfield, sharing attacking responsibilities while the other sat back and retained the shape of the team.
Yacob made a combined total of eight tackles and interceptions, a higher tally than any other player on the pitch while also making 50 passes, which only Mulumbu topped for the hosts.
The impact of the pair was such the Gunners were so restricted creatively they were lucky to head back to North London with a point.
Only a rather speculative and heavily deflected effort from Jack Wilshere could beat Boaz Myhill, while Albion had chances themselves to win it.
Before the match, it might not have been far-fetched to say the home team would have taken a draw, but by the end it was arguably the away side that were happier to share the spoils.
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