Jara 52

                                                                                                             Thomas 73   

West Bromwich Albion inflicted a rare Emirates defeat on an Arsenal side badly missing the in-form but injured Cesc Fabregas.

Andrei Arshavin struck the post twice as he tried to force home an early Emanuel Eboue cross.

But the Baggies should have been ahead at half-time after Arsenal keeper Manuel Almunia upended Nigerian forward Peter Odemwingie in the 37^th minute.

Almunia redeemed himself with a fine save low to his right from Chris Blunt’s spot-kick.

However, Arsenal’s reprieve was temporary. On 50 minutes Odemwingie stabbed the ball home right-footed from close range after fine work down the left by former Gunner Jerome Thomas.

And two minutes later, Albion increased their advantage when Almunia embarrassingly failed to hold onto a right-foot shot by Chilean international Gonzalo Jara.

It was a sensational 3-0 on 73 minutes when Thomas converted Brunt’s right-wing cross with the Gunners’ defence all at sea.

Samr Nasri immediately struck the bar with a left-foot 20-yard effort and slid home a Bacary Sagna pass a minute later.

And Nasri made it 3-2 in the first of five minutes stoppage-time with a low right-footer from 15 yards. But Tomas Rosicky blazed over Arsenal’s only half-chance of completing a remarkable comeback.