Arsenal top table as Gibbs gets England call up for international break

Arsenal had to claw a goal back after falling behind to West Brom on Sunday; the first time I felt a little concerned this season for them since the opening couple of weeks.

They did well to draw level (1-1) and take a point in the end though as they continued their undefeated streak.

Jack Wilshere got his first goal in around three years for the club to avoid a disappointing result, in a game that might have swung either way. Both sides had spells and opportunities but nevertheless, Arsenal had to settle for the point that sees them joint top of the league alongside Liverpool.

It's the return of the internationals now with England (bore) up against Montenegro and Poland in the next week as they aim to qualify for the World Cup finals which take place next summer.

Gibbs has been called up, and deservedly so, to England's defence with Ashley Cole injured, though Leighton Baines is most likely to get the nod ahead of our left back.

Wilshere, who is buoyed by the returns of Rooney and Sturridge as the BBC are reporting, will aim to be the play-maker who can help to England qualify from Group H though Theo Walcott remains sidelined through injury.

Could the break deter Arsenal from their fine recent performances? A dip in form could always be around the corner for any good team as I wrote a few weeks ago. Regardless, I hope England will qualify and that all our players do well for their respected countries...and not pick up any more injuries in the process!

England's final fixtures:

v Montenegro (H) Fri 11th, 20:00 k/o BST

v Poland (H) Tues 15th, 20:00 k/o BST

Gibbs gets the call by Roy Hodgson

West Brom v Arsenal Preview

Arsenal fans will be in anticipation tonight (I'm less interested in Saturdays when we aren't playing!) as they look forward to seeing an in-form Arsenal side return to the Hawthorns tomorrow (6/10/2013, 4:00pm k/o BST).

The Gunners knocked West Brom out of the Capital One Cup at the Hawthorns only a couple of weeks ago (1-1; Arsenal won 4-3 on penalties), and I am sure Steve Clarke will be looking for his side to flip the result in the Baggies favour this time round.

League points are up for grabs this time, rather than a place in the next round of a cup, but we have seen Arsenal play this season as though every game is a cup final.

Ozil and Ramsey have been mesmerising, as a team we have been organised and defended really well, and Giroud is providing more for the team as well as getting goals himself.

Of course the likes of those we'd expect in Arsene Wenger's starting XI didn't feature in the cup fixture last month, so this game is bound to be very different from the last. However, I'd expect Arsenal to continue their fine form tomorrow and return to the top of the Premier League, following Liverpool's 3-1 win over Crystal Palace today which has put them currently a point clear.

After all the transfer talk and media attention it received, I feel I should comment  comment on the return of Luis Suarez. The Uruguayan has fulfilled his match suspensions, following his bite on Ivanovich last season, and has returned to Brendan Rodgers' first team.

He's been described as one of the top class strikers around and is on-par with Van Persie and on his day, I wouldn't disagree. He opened the scoring today and I know will be a big asset to Liverpool (yet again) this season.

However, I don't feel we have missed out. Arsene's £40,000,001 offer in the summer was rejected, but then he didn't exactly follow up with another offer. As a result, we have since seen Giroud be more consistent in front of goal and other players showing more attacking qualities (Ramsey springs to mind!) Yes Arsenal could do with another striker with injuries to Podolski and Walcott but Liverpool can stick with their number 7.

Bendtner played in the cup game and has since found a place on the bench, but should we really welcome someone back who said they would never want to put on an Arsenal shirt again? The there's Park...but I'm not even sure he's an actual footballer. Who else would make a decent back-up to Giroud?

Other injury news wise, Sagna will be out of action for a few weeks following an injury he picked up against Napoli last Tuesday. I have been impressed with the form of the French defender who has developed well to playing at centre-back when needed. Having come under some criticism, he has been excellent for us, like so many others, this year. Jenkinson will get another chance to prove himself in the right back position, starting with the trip at West Brom tomorrow and Arsenal will be looking to both extend their incredible away, and undefeated runs.

Target man: Giroud has impressed this season. Dare he get injured!

Sorry West Brom - it was Nacho night

First of all allow me to apologise for the title...I'm not usually a great fan of using puns. However it was Nacho Monreal's winning penalty kick that sent Arsenal through to the next round of the League Cup last night at the expense of West Brom.

It is bad enough listening to football on the radio, without the use of eyes as comfort to know exactly what is going on, but to say it was tense listening to a penalty shoot-out doesn't quite come close enough. I did a fist pump in celebration as the better half tried to watch TV; I don't think she understood how dramatic it was.

Anyhow, the Gunners will now play Chelsea in the fourth round at the Emirates, where they will hope the home tie will give them the edge over Jose Mourinho's side. But, on recent form, I would still give us chance if the tie was due to be played at Stamford Bridge!

Last night's cup game extended Arsenal's away winning form but it was a contest that, as the game progressed, might have swung one way or the other, before penalties could have been established.

The (and I use the word loosely) 'Great' Dane Nicklas Bendtner played in an Arsenal shirt for the first time since 2011 and he did okay. He has a point to prove, if he is as good as he thinks, and I believe Wenger will give him that opportunity as we now lack in striking options due to injuries.

His hair and facial hair has grown since we last saw him all of two-years-ago. Wilson!!

 I managed to catch the very brief BBC highlights late last night, and saw he should have scored late on when 1v1. However he slowed too much allowing an excellent recovering tackle by one of the Baggies' defenders, but from listening to the game as well, he appears to have the mentality and professionalism to come back to the side with the attitude to succeed. He definitely has some rustiness to shake off first!

West Brom looked threatening against an Arsenal side mixed with experience and new, young talent. They held their own against West Brom though which is a good sign. People knew what they would see in Wenger's starting XI and the youngsters impressed.

Bellerin, Miyaichi, Gnabry, Hayden, Olsson, Eisfield and Akpom all featured with Iwobi and unused substitute, alongside loanee keeper Viviano and forward Ju Young Park.

That's right, I said Park! Remember him? I still do not know why Wenger signed the South Korean who never gets a game. He couldn't even get on last night and I would love to question Wenger on where he stands at the club.

However, on the pitch Arsenal took the lead when Bendtner slipped a perfect pass to Eisfield, whose nice touch allowed to calmly slot the ball into the West Brom goal just after the hour mark.

The game had needed a goal, but it then got another ten minutes later. This time, West Brom were level when Saido Berahino found space in the box and headed past Fabianksi. The Baggies man was eager to continue his scoring form, following a hat-trick against Notts County in the previous round.

This made things tense as West Brom began to dominate against a young and tiring Arsenal midfield. They came close with the bar denying them but they could not be separated at the end of 90 minutes or after extra time.

Penalties would decide who would progress to round four.

Reid stepped up first four the Baggies who smashed it high into the roof of the night with Fabianki never having a chance (1-0). Bendtner cooly placed Arsenal's first (1-1), before Rosenberg went down the middle (2-1). Then it looked unlikely to be our night as Gnabry saw his poor effort saved (2-1) and West Brom added their third from Morrison's well placed spot kick (3-1). Olsson scored his penalty to prevent Arsenal's chances slipping away (3-2) but then McAuley hit his penalty wide of Fabianski's left hand post (3-2). Arsenal levelled through Akpom who sent Daniels the wrong way (3-3), Amalfitano then missed (3-3), and Monreal stepped up to strike Arsenal's fifth and winning penalty to send the Gunners through to the next round.

West Brom 0-0 Arsenal (Arsenal win 4-3 on penalties)

Arsenal play away to Swansea on Saturday evening (17:30pm k/o) in the Premier League. Swansea will be looking to move on from their League Cup exit last night, as they fell at the hands of Championship side Birmingham City 3-1.

Jubilance as Monreal's penalty secures a fourth round tie with Chelsea.