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West Brom 0 Arsenal 1 - Pictures and report

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Danny Welbeck's header condemned West Brom to a third successive defeat as the Hawthorns crowd turned on boss Alan Irvine.

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A section fans sang 'you don't know what you're doing' and booed Irvine's late decision to replace Stephane Sessegnon with Georgios Samaras.

That was after Welbeck's 60th-minute strike had given the Gunners victory in the lunchtime clash.

Albion have not registered a Premier League goal for more than five hours and it is exactly six since a Baggies player found the net – their last success was an own-goal by Leicester's Esteban Cambiasso.

Albion enjoyed some possession early on, but it was the Gunners who had the early half-chances.

Santi Cazorla sent a tame shot at Ben Foster in the Baggies goal and saw a fierce effort from the edge of the area charged down by Craig Dawson.

And in between those incidents Alexis Sanchez darted through the middle of the field before letting fly with an effort that gave Foster a routine stop.

Albion had an opening of their own when they worked a neat short corner and Graham Dorrans' far-post cross was headed across goal by Joleon Lescott, but Saido Berahino could not quite connect.

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But, after starting on the front foot, the Baggies were forced back by a spell of Arsenal pressure.

Cazorla had a shot saved by Foster after a smart exchange of passes by the Gunners on the edge of the Arsenal box.

And Aaron Ramsey then drilled a low shot just wide of Foster's post after Youssouf Mulumbu had been sloppy in possession on the edge of the area.

On the stroke of half-time Stephane Sessegnon skipped into the box with neat footwork but his cross was aimless.

Albion had a stroke of misfortune early in the second half when Saido Berahino was flagged offside as he raced onto a Craig Gardner pass, only for replays to prove the striker had timed his run superbly.

And Berahino blasted a shot into the side netting after another good ball from Gardner.

But it was still the visitors making the running and Sebastien Pocognoli had to make a fine, headed block to prevent Sanchez latching onto a left-wing cross.

So it was little surprise when Arsenal took the lead on the hour-mark through some weak Baggies defending.

Andre Wisdom failed to stop a cross from Cazorla, Welbeck was given a free header in the middle and goalkeeper Ben Foster seemed to misjudge his attempted save and could only push the ball into the roof of the net.

The Baggies made changes in a bid to find an equaliser but they earned Irvine the loudest abuse he has endured so far in his reign.

There was one late chance for the Baggies when Berahino met a right-wing cross and crashed a header against the bar.

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