After 105 days sidelined by the coronavirus pandemic, Albion made a glorious return to Premier League action thanks to a last-gasp Neal Maupay winner at the Amex.
The game appeared to be heading for a draw, following second-half goals from Nicolas Pepe and Lewis Dunk, only for the Frenchman to pop up with the winner five minutes into injury time.
It proved to be a crucial, if unexpected, three points from Graham Potter’s men, who showed real desire and determination to stay in a game which saw the visitors create a number of chances, primarily through Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
Potter made just two changes to the side that last played at Wolves on 7th March, with Ezequiel Schelotto and Pascal Gross in for Martin Montoya and Solly March respectively, but it was the visitors – making five changes to their 3-0 defeat to Manchester City on Wednesday – who started on the front foot.
Indeed, the Gunners created their opening chance straight from kick-off when the industrious Matteo Guendouzi released Pepe down the left flank, only for Aubameyang to miscue the resulting ball into the box. The livewire striker also fluffed his lines moments later when he pounced on a misplaced pass by Davy Propper, only to shoot high and wide from 20 yards out.
The Gunners continued their lively opening with Bukayo Saka curling a 25-yard shot past Maty Ryan only to see the ball cannon off the crossbar. Aubameyang then teed up strike partner Alexandre Lacazette inside the box but his low drive was expertly blocked by Dunk.
Albion rode out the storm and created their first chance on 20 minutes when Maupay broke forward but his shot from the left side of the box was comfortably saved by Bernd Leno. Leandro Trossard also played a neat one-two with Propper moments later, only to blaze his volley over the crossbar.
As the half wore on, the tempo – in the June sunshine – inevitably, dropped. A drinks break was a welcome distraction for both sets of players and having regrouped, it was the Gunners who again came close to breaking the deadlock.
Saka powered forward with pace and his low cross was headed goalwards by a stooping Lacazette, only for Ryan to pull off a superb save down to his left. Mikel Arteta’s side were left frustrated once again and the coach’s angst grew further when goalkeeper Leno was stretchered off with what looked like a twisted knee having collected the ball awkwardly under pressure from Maupay.
His replacement, Emiliano Martinez, was soon called into action, doing well to save a stinging drive from Aaron Mooy, who had met Gross's corner on the edge of the box.
Arsenal’s best play came down the left flank all game and Aubameyang, having cut inside, received a nice reverse ball from Lacazette, only for Adam Webster to intercept with a perfectly timed tackle.
Albion who created the final chance of the half when Schelotto flashed a ball across the face of the goal, having met a deep Gross cross, but the pace of the ball eluded everyone.
Arsenal created the opening chance after the break when Aubameyang skipped past Webster down the left but having surged towards goal, his resulting effort was again well saved by Ryan. He did have the have the ball in the net on 53 minutes, having latched onto Saka’s through ball, but the goal was ruled out for offside.
Albion then stepped up the pace, with Gross sending a couple of dangerous balls into the box – the latter falling to Maupay at the far post but his effort was beaten out by Martinez.
The Frenchman also did well to carve out on opportunity on 65 minutes but having switched feet inside the box, his shot was deflected away for a corner.
Aubameyang was again denied at the other end by his nemesis Ryan, this time saving with his feet, but the Australian could do nothing to stop the opening goal on 68 minutes. Pepe, having picked the ball up on the left side of the box and with substitute Solly March in front of him, let fly with a curling effort that flew into the top corner of the net.
To their credit, Albion’s heads failed to drop and they were back on level terms seven minutes later when March received the ball back following a short corner to Trossard. He then sent a low cross into the near post, which was flicked on by Maupay, and despite Rob Holding’s best efforts to keep the ball out, Dunk was on hand to poke the ball home for his third goal of the season.
Aubameyang again tested Ryan with a swerving effort that failed to catch Ryan out while Propper almost found the target from a near-impossible angle from the left-flank soon after.
As the seconds ticked down, there was to be late, drama, and what a superbly crafted winner it was too. Alexis Mac Allister played the ball into fellow sub Aaron Connolly, whose intelligent flick was met by Maupay, and he did superbly well to lift the ball home from a tight angle.
The win lifted Albion five points clear of the drop zone, with Leicester next to come on Tuesday night.
ALBION: Ryan; Schelotto (Montoya 71), Dunk, Webster, Burn; Mooy (March 45), Propper, Bissouma (Mac Allister 90+4); Gross (Connolly 71), Maupay, Trossard (Stephens 87).
SUBS NOT USED: Button, Lamptey, Duffy, Murray.