Joao spot on as Albion hold Arsenal

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Skipper scores second-half penalty in 1-1 draw at the Amex.

Bruce Talbot

2025-01-04T19:15+00:00

Joao. Pedro. 📷 by Paul Hazlewood.

Joao Pedro scored his sixth goal of the season – converting Albion’s first Premier League penalty since last February – as we came from behind to hold Arsenal for the second time this campaign.

Joao was fouled by William Saliba on the hour and sent David Raya the wrong way from the spot as he ended a run of nine games without a goal.

It was reward for a strong second-half performance after Arsenal had gone in front through 17-year-old Ethan Nwaneri in the 16th minute. A sixth draw in eight games lifted Albion back up to tenth after they had briefly gone below Brentford, who beat Southampton 5-0 earlier in the day.

Joao scored a perfect penalty, sending David Raya the wrong way. 📷 by Paul Hazlewood.

Joao led from the front in more ways than one. Made captain in the absence of the injured Lewis Dunk, his energy epitomised Albion’s excellent response in the second half after Arsenal kept them at arm’s length in the opening 45.

Albion began well only to concede a disappointing goal on 16 minutes. Nwaneri’s run in the inside right channel went unspotted and when Riccardo Calafiori’s pass found him he had time to drill a low, left-foot shot past Bart Verbruggen from the right side of the six-yard box.

Simon Adingra missed our best first-half chance in the 34th minute. Carlos Baleba, who had another impressive game in midfield, won the ball back and found Matt O’Riley in the box. The Dane quickly shifted it sidewards to the unmarked Adingra who was off balance as he took aim and his right-foot shot went wide.

Joao Pedro notched his sixth goal of the season. 📷 by Paul Hazlewood.

Fabian Hurzeler’s men were very much in the game at half-time but needed more composure in the final third.

He brought on Yankuba Minteh and Georginio Rutter at the interval and on the hour Albion got a break – and an equaliser. Joao tried to turn in the box and William Saliba caught him on the side of the face trying to head clear. Referee Taylor took a few seconds before pointing to the spot and Joao coolly placed his penalty into the roof of the net.

Mitoma replaced Adingra and Igor limped off shortly afterwards with Adam Webster coming on for his first game since the 3-2 win over Spurs on 6 October.

Brajan Gruda nods the ball down for Matt O'Riley, but David Raya was first to the ball. 📷 by James Boardman.

The mood at the Amex was transformed. Albion had found more intensity and 14 minutes from time they went close to taking the lead. Minteh dazzled on the right and surged into the box but his low ball across the face of goal eluded both Yasin Ayari and Mitoma when the slightest touch by either would have gone in. Ayari curled a free-kick from 30 yards while Bart Verbruggen was rarely tested in the second half. Another draw… but a good point for Fabian Hurzeler’s team.

Albion: Verbruggen, Veltman, van Hecke, Igor (Webster 66), Estupinan, Adingra (Mitoma 62), Ayari, Baleba, O’Riley (Minteh 45), Gruda (Rutter 45), Joao Pedro.