How Arsenal pulled this out of the bag will remain a Christmas miracle.
Had the Gunners fallen 11 points behind leaders Chelsea on Monday afternoon then the dream of winning their first title since 2004 was as good as over.
For 86 minutes here at the Emirates their championship ambitions looked dead and buried as West Bromwich Albion keeper Ben Foster produced a miraculous display to frustrate Arsenal.
Victory for Arsenal means they stay nine points behind Premier League leaders Chelsea after 18 matches
Olivier Giroud netted in the 86th minute to ensure Arsenal clinched a vital three points on Monday afternoon
Aaron Ramsey reacts with joy after French striker Giroud loops the ball over Ben Foster in the West Brom goal
Giroud brilliantly steers in a late header to give Arsenal a 1-0 victory over Tony Pulis’ West Brom
Giroud celebrates with the jubilant Gunners faithful after keeping them in the Premier League title race
Wenger. Solemn faced, he glanced at Steve Bould next to him before shaking his head. That summed up Arsenal’s opening 45 minutes.
Camped in West Brom’s half for virtually the entirety of the opening period, the Gunners players were left just as frustrated as their manager.
Their dominance in terms of possession, however, didn’t herald a glut of chances. Far from it.
Claudio Yacob reacts after missing a chance to put the visitors ahead during the second period in north London
The visitors’ defence held strong for the majority of the game but were finally penetrated in the 86th minute
Alexis Sanchez pictured looking dejected on Monday after missing a chance for the home side in the second half
Sanchez hits the post for the Gunners in the early stages of the second period at the Emirates Stadium
The Baggies rode their luck at time; while Jonny Evans was turning in the sort of performance that saw Wenger give serious consideration to signing him last summer.
But Pulis would have strode off at half-time satisfied that his team had not been out-played. Truth be told, and as harsh as it would have been on Arsenal, WBA could have even gone in a goal-up at half-time.
Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez – who was moved from his usual position as Arsenal’s central striker – saw early shots blocked by the away team.
If Hector Bellerin had shot instead of passing after latching onto Granit Xhaka’s excellent raking pass in the 13th minute, then maybe the first-half would have panned out differently.
Arsenal’s play in the final third was pretty, but it was all too intricate at times as they tried to pass their way through the heart of West Brom’s defence.
Evans produced a brilliant last ditch challenge to deny Olivier Giroud – who took Sanchez’s place in the No 9 role – in the 25th minute, denying a certain Arsenal opener.
It was one way traffic until the 32nd minute when Salomon London missed the Baggies’ best chance of the half.
French international Giroud pictured firing the ball low at goal but Foster saves well with his left foot
Chilean international Sanchez fires at goal as Gareth McAuley tries to get across to close him down
West Brom had chances of their own during the opening period in north London and could have taken the lead themselves
Alex Iwobi produces an effort at goal but his attempted chip is watched wide by West Brom goalkeeper Foster
Unmarked in the box, the striker couldn’t generate enough purchase on his backwards header from Nacer Chadli’s cross much to the relief of the Petr Cech, who gratefully gathered.
Sanchez forced a comfortable save from Foster moments later before Alex Iwobi’s cheek effort sailed narrowly over before half-time.
You could sense the apprehension among the home crowd as the half-time whistle blew. After two consecutive defeats, no wonder.
Arsenal, it seems, are always one result away from a crisis. Another loss here and they’d be well on their way to another.
Supporters’ mood improved inside the opening five minutes as the Gunners twice went agonisingly close to taking the lead.
First, Foster produced a miraculous double save to deny Iwobi’s arrowing volley before getting a vital touch to Sanchez’s rebound.
Arsene Wenger’s side were desperately looking for a victory after dropping six points in their last two top flight matches
Giroud pictured attempting an acrobatic bicycle kick for Arsenal as they looked to get back to winning ways
Foster gets the better of the French striker as Arsenal were desperately looking to break the deadlock
Tony Pulis was close to picking up a hard-fought point against the Gunners on Monday in the Premier League
And moments later Sanchez saw his effort hit the post after Foster failed to get a hand on Ozil’s resultant corner.
Sanchez was denied again in the 57th minute when his bullet from the edge of the area was spectacularly tipped over the bar by Foster.
Arsenal had created more chances in 10 minutes than they had during all of the first half.
But Foster was having one of those afternoons as he denied Giroud’s low close range shot with his left foot on the hour mark.
The former England goalkeeper was keeping his team in the game.
And Pulis’ side so nearly took a 70th minute lead. And it wasn’t like Arsenal hadn’t been warned.
French midfielder Francis Coquelin tackles Darren Fletcher in a tense affair in the Premier League on Monday
Mesut Ozil leaps to try and get hold of the ball as Foster closes in on the German playmaker in the opening stages
The Gunners had struggled to cope with two consecutive Matt Phillips corners before a third – taken by Chris Brunt from the opposite side – saw Claudio Yacob fire over from point blank range after Cech missed his attempted punch.
By now, Wenger had used all three substitutions; Aaron Ramsey, Lucas Perez and Nacho Monreal were on as the Gunners looked for a vital breakthrough.
And Perez came agonising rose to unlocking the door in the 76th minute when Giroud failed to get a toe on the Spaniard’s low cross.
The home crowd were clearing their throats ready for a chorus of full-time boos. But in the end they were cheering as Giroud stole victory for his team just four minutes from time.
Unsurprisingly, Ozil was the orchestrator, the German’s cross met by Giroud, who sent a looping header over Foster.
It was a sicker for Foster and WBA. But for Arsenal: relief.
Hector Bellerin attempts to challenge West Brom’s Yacob during the first half at the Emirates Stadium
Ozil, Giroud and Laurent Koscielny pictured waiting to kick-off their busy festive schedule on Monday
