The match kicked off at 20:00 yesterday evening in the Hawthorns for Round Two of the Cup.

Arsenal fans will be delighted to see their club captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang put in a man-of-the-match performance, scoring a hattrick. Their new signing, goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale also kept a clean sheet in goals.

Arsenal’s thorough and dominant 6-0 win does come with one large asterisk; West Bromich Albion were playing basically their third-choice team.

A great performance as we smash West Brom 6-0 to advance to the next round of the Carabao cup! A much needed stress free night for us #Arsenal fans pic.twitter.com/XTnfx1NVGm

— Arsenal News Channel (@Arsenalnewschan) August 25, 2021

The West Brom starting 11 included none of the players from their previous Championship matches. Perpetual loan players Alex Palmer and Adam Reach were given rare starts.

French manager Valerian Ismael seemingly has no care for small domestic cup competitions while he takes charge of the Birmingham side. He also gave the chance for returning and fringe players Robert Snodgrass, Kenneth Zohore, and Cedric Kipre.

West Brom’s main objective for the season is to get an automatic promotion which will not be neglected for any other tournament.

Arsenal can still take some joy in getting their first win in five attempts. The six goals scored yesterday were also the Gunners’ first scores in four games.

The full-strength side was essential for Arsenal, in need of a win. Starts were given to new players Martin Odegaard and Nuno Tavares while Alexander Lacazette reappeared from illness off the bench.

Mikel Arteta’s only worry from this game is that his squad may be tired for their Premier League tie against Manchester City, just three days later. They travel to the Emirates for 12:30 on Saturday, 28th August.

How good is it having this guy back?

#⃣ #WBAARS | #MØ8 pic.twitter.com/y7FaJYjQkD

— Arsenal (@Arsenal) August 25, 2021

Match Report

West Brom

Palmer (GK), Kipre, Taylor, Shotton, Ingram, Castro, Snodgrass, Reach, Fellows, Zohore, Gardner-Hickman.

Substitutes

King, Faal

Arsenal

Ramsdale (GK), Tavares, Kolasinac, Holding, Chambers, Xhaka, Elneny, Saka, Odegaard, Pépé, Aubameyang.

Substitutes

Maitland-Niles, Lacazette, Martinelli

Goals

Aubameyang 17′, 45′, 63′

Pépé 45′

Saka 50′

Lacazette 69′

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This match will start at 20:00 tomorrow, Wednesday 25th August in the Hawthorns.

West Brom are back on the up after a great start to their Championship season. The Boing-Boing Baggies are tied for the top spot after a four-game unbeaten start. They most recently beat Blackburn 2-1 away from home.

Their Irish stars Callum Robinson and Dara O’Shea have shone for the team making them definite starters on Valerian Ismael’s side.

Arsenal looks to be swapping places with West Brom at the end of the season. They started the campaign with two tough losses and face champions Manchester City next.

Manager Mikel Arteta is not helped out by the large injury list he has on the team. He needs to change his recent form to save his job and will be unable to rest his strong players tomorrow evening.

The Gunners won both fixtures handsomely when they faced either other in the league last season but this game is poised to be much closer.

What do you see in your dreams?

Albion fans: pic.twitter.com/PgaOeMGERO

— West Bromwich Albion (@WBA) August 18, 2021

Predicted Starting 11s

West Bromwich Albion

Formation

3-4-3

Starting Team

Button (GK), Ajayi, Kipre, O’Shea, Townsend, Mowatt, Livermore, Furlong, Grant, Robinson, Diangana.

Injuries

None

Arsenal

Formation

4-2-3-1

Starting Team

Ramsdale (GK), Tavares, Mari, Holding, Soares, Elneny, Xhaka, Pépé, Smith-Rowe, Saka, Aubameyang.

Injuries

Lacazette, White, Nketiah, Gabriel, Martinelli, Bellerin, Tierney, Runarsson, Partey.

Jamie Carragher on Smith Rowe:

"I am a massive fan. I loved watching him last season. I think he has been outstanding even though #Arsenal have made such a poor start to the season." #afc pic.twitter.com/2siU2SR73h

— Arsenal Harmony (@ArsenalHarmoni) August 24, 2021

Betting

West Brom are underdogs with odds of 11/4 to win in normal time.

A draw after 90 minutes has odds of 11/4.

Arsenal have odds of 9/10 to win the game outright.

Score Prediction

This will be the most interesting game of Wednesday’s EFL Cup fixtures; a high-flying Championship side against a ‘Big Six’ club in crisis. This game will be close and it seems that it will not be decided after 90 minutes.

In normal time, expect the game to end 1-1 but extra time could send this tie either way. West Brom will be the more confident of the sides so expect them to progress to the next round.

Stopwatches at the ready…

𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐭 is how you start a match!#EFL | @WBA pic.twitter.com/OP5bCWP0uz

— Sky Bet Championship (@SkyBetChamp) August 22, 2021

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Irish international Callum Robinson scored twice this afternoon as his West Bromwich Albion side dismantled Chelsea on their way to a 5-2 win.

Unfortunately, his compatriot Dara O’Shea was forced off in the 24^th minute with an injury. The injury is not thought to be of major concern. Nevertheless, it’s still a blow given O’Shea’s impressive form over the international break.

Chelsea opened the scoring through Christian Pulisic in the 27^th minute but just minutes later, Thiago Silva was sent off on his return to action which was possibly a determining factor regarding the outcome of the match.

Matheus Pereira scored two goals in quick succession just before half-time to make it 2-1 to West Brom going into the break.

One might have thought that Chelsea would come out firing in the second half and find a way to take all three points. That wasn’t the case, however.

Callum Robinson scored his first of the night in the 63^rd minute with a stunning – and powerful – half volley from just inside the box.

Mbaye Diagne then scored another for West Brom just minutes later before Mason Mount pulled one back for Chelsea in the 71^st minute to make it 4-2.

Callum Robinson all but wrapped up the three points with his second goal in the 91^st minute. He was played in by an accurate through ball from man of the match Matheus Pereira and he never panicked in front of goal, deftly chipping the ball over Edouard Mendy to make it 5-2.

Robinson has only scored five goals in his Premier League career. Amazingly, all of which have came against Chelsea. He scored another brace earlier this season in a 3-3 draw against The Blues – who were then under the guidance of Frank Lampard. Prior to that, he scored a singular goal against them for Sheffield United in the 2019/20 season.

The match finished at 5-2 in what was a much-needed win for Sam Allardyce and a surprise loss for Thomas Tuchel.

In fact, it was Thomas Tuchel’s first loss in charge of Chelsea. The German manager had gone an incredible 14 games without losing prior to this afternoon’s match.

Chelsea must now put their Premier League disappointment behind them with an important Champions League first leg coming up against Porto on Wednesday.

The Portuguese side will be no pushovers, having eliminated a Cristiano Ronaldo-led Juventus in the round of 16.

@WBA hit Chelsea for FIVE!

The #PL returns with an incredible match at Stamford Bridge#CHEWBA pic.twitter.com/GJinbjSdFU

— Premier League (@premierleague) APRIL 3, 2021

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The FA Cup, since it’s inception really, has been subject to the odd cup upset. There have been plenty of famous FA Cup incidents over the years, including; Wrexham’s victory over Arsenal in 1992, Histon’s win against Leeds in 2008 and Tottenham Hotspur – who were non-league at the time – lifting the cup in 1901.

Last Friday marked the beginning of the FA Cup 3^rd round, otherwise known as the stage where clubs from the top 2 division in English football enter the competition.

There were plenty of “David vs. Goliath” encounters in the 3^rd round. The most notable of the bunch featuring 2019 Champions League finalists Tottenham Hotspur against 8^th tier outfit Histon.

Here are the biggest shocks of the 2020/2021 FA Cup 3^rd round.

CRAWLEY TOWN 3-0 LEEDS UNITED

Arguably the biggest upset of the round came as League Two outfit Crawley Town defeated Premier League side Leeds United.

64 places separated the two teams going into the match. That fact clearly didn’t phase Crawley as they came out with a highly impressive 3-0 win.

Nick Tsaroulla opened the scoring in the 50^th minute with an incredible solo goal. He ran with the ball from well outside the box, swivelling past several defenders in the process before blasting into the bottom corner.

Ashley Nadeson doubled their lead just minutes later with a well-executed finish past the near post. Kiko Casilla could perhaps be criticized for his ‘keeping leading to the goal but take nothing away from Nadeson.

Crawley added insult to injury with a 3^rd and final goal in the 70^th minute. Jordan Tunnicliffe was the scorer this time around.

Crawley are now through to the 4^th round for the first time since 2012. They’ll travel to Championship side Bournemouth in the next round of fixtures.

IT IS OVER!

REDS 3-0 LEEDS UNITED

WE ARE MASSIVE. #TownTeamTogether pic.twitter.com/QzV85twPem

— Crawley Town FC (@crawleytown) JANUARY 10, 2021

CHORLEY 2-0 DERBY COUNTY

National League North side Chorley were the 2^nd lowest ranked team – behind Marine – in the FA Cup 3^rd round. They took on Championship side Derby County with hopes of progressing to the 4^th round.

Their chances were amplified as Derby were forced to field a youth side due to a COVID-19 outbreak within the senior squad. Chorley took the chance presented to them and defeated the young Derby side by 2-0.

The first goal didn’t take long to come, Connor Hall hit the net in the 10^th minute after a scramble in the box. Hall has now scored in his last 3 FA Cup matches.

Mike Calveley secured victory for Chorley in the 84^th minute with a close-range shot.

Chorley have been drawn at home against Premier League side Wolverhampton Wanderers for the next round.

Living the dream

#FlyMagpiesFly pic.twitter.com/daLuFHckoT

— Chorley FC (@chorleyfc) JANUARY 9, 2021

BLACKPOOL 2-2 WEST BROM (3-2 TO BLACKPOOL ON PENALTIES)

Blackpool are having an unremarkable but solid season in League One, sitting 13^th in the table. West Brom, on the other hand, have been struggling since transitioning from the Championship to the Premier League.

Sam Allardyce was yet to win a game as West Brom manager before the match against Blackpool and that stat would remain unchanged at the full-time whistle.

Blackpool managed a victory on penalties after a hard-fought 120 minutes of football.

Jerry Yates opened the scoring for Blackpool in the 40^th minute as he finished off an inviting pass from Bez Lubula. In truth, Blackpool were good value for their lead having been the better team up until that stage.

Semi Ajayi, as he has done previously in the season, equalized for West Brom with a towering header in the 52^nd minute.

Gary Madine struck cleanly from outside the box in the 66^th minute to regain Blackpool’s lead. The goal came after a fluid counter-attack from Blackpool.

West Brom were given a golden opportunity to equalize in the 80^th minute after a Blackpool player was adjudged to have handled inside the box. Matheus Pereira stepped up to the spot and made no mistake as he made it 2-2.

Full-time ended 2-2 and no further goals followed in extra time. 120 minutes finished with the teams on level terms meaning a penalty shootout was needed to decide a winner.

PENALTY SHOOT-OUT

Blackpool missed their first penalty but went on to score their next 3, meanwhile West Brom had 2 of their 4 penalties saved by Chris Maxwell in the Blackpool goal.

Sullay Kaikai stepped up to take Blakcpool’s 5^th penalty knowing if he scored, they would go through to the next round. Cruelly, though, he missed as he hammered his penalty off the post.

West Brom had to score their next penalty otherwise they would be knocked out of the competition. Matheus Pereira stepped up to take another penalty but this time he would be denied by shootout hero Chris Maxwell. His save meant Blackpool progressed to the FA Cup 4^th round.

They have been drawn away to Brighton & Hove Albion for the next round of the competition.

MAXWELL DENIES PEREIRA! THE SEASIDERS ARE THROUGH!!!

BPL:
WBA:

— Blackpool FC (@BlackpoolFC) JANUARY 9, 2021

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Liverpool took on West Bromwich Albion this evening as they looked to increase their advantage atop of the Premier League. Local rivals Everton came within two points of the reigning champions after their result last night meaning Liverpool needed to win today to ease mounting pressure.

In a shock result, though, West Brom managed to earn a draw after initially going behind. Sadio Mane opened the scoring for Liverpool before Semi Ajayi dramatically equalized in the second half. Here’s how it played out.

FIRST HALF

Liverpool predictably controlled much of the opening period. West Brom were pinned back into their own half and rarely ventured into the final third. West Brom attempted to contain Liverpool and they managed to do so for the opening 10 minutes as they starved Liverpool of chances despite their domination.

Liverpool’s quality eventually showed though. Sadio Mane opened the scoring in the 12^th minute. Joel Matip ventured high into West Brom’s half before receiving the ball and lifting a pass into the area. Sadio Mane controlled expertly with his chest to evade Semi Ajayi before applying the finish.

Liverpool continued to control the game after the goal. West Brom stuck with their game plan and defended deep in a desperate attempt at damage limitation. All 11 West Brom players could be found in their own third for large periods of the half. Even when West Brom regained possession they lost the ball almost immediately with swarms of Liverpool players pressing at will.

The first half ended 1-0 to Liverpool as while they dominated possession, they regularly failed to break down the West Brom backline. West Brom were still in the game going into the second half but needed to increase their attacking output if they had any hope of getting a result.

SECOND HALF

West Brom started the second half playing far more positive football than what was witnessed in the first. They managed to retain possession for longer periods and at times even looked capable of scoring.

West Brom’s improvement clearly agitated Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp. The German received a yellow card for his protests following a decision against his team in the 60^th minute.

They even almost equalized in the 72^nd minute. Karlan Grant was played through by a Romaine Sawyers long ball and was one-on-one with the keeper but Alisson produced a brilliant save to deny the Baggies forward.

The mounting West Brom pressure eventually paid off in the 82^nd minute. A ball was crossed into the box and Semi Ajayi rose highest in the box and headed into the net via the post. West Brom deserved a goal for their second half performance.

Liverpool had a great chance to equalize through Roberto Firmino in the 89^th minute as he headed towards goal but he was kept out by an extraordinary Sam Johnstone save.

The match finished 1-1 after a spirited second half West Brom performance. Tonight’s result signalled Sam Allardyce’s first point in charge of his new club.

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