Craig Dawson struck twice for West Brom as they thumped a dismal Arsenal 3-1 at the Hawthorns today.
Before kickoff, Arsenal fans protesting Arsene Wenger went through with their fly-by as a banner demanding the Gunners manager leave was flown over the Hawthorns.
The visitors had Danny Welbeck start up front with Alexis Sanchez also in the attacking midfield three. Mesut Ozil, who missed the Liverpool game but returned for the FA Cup win over Lincoln, was absent again from the squad with a hamstring injury.
West Brom made two changes from the team that lost 3-0 at Everton. Chris Brunt replaced Claudio Yacob. Salomon Rondon returned up front in place of Hal Robson-Kanu.
The match kicked off with both teams seeking to attack. Theo Walcott was denied a tap in for Arsenal early on before Dawson scored the first of his brace on 12 minutes.
Dawson rose highest to glance the ball in to the far side of the net from a Nacer Chadli corner. This after James McClean's shot had been beaten away by Petr Cech.
It was dismal defending from the Gunners, but they were level less than two minutes later.
West Brom completely switched off at the back, giving Sanchez all the time and space in the world to collect a floated pass from Granit Xhaka, control, cut inside and fire into the roof of the net.
Minutes later, a second fly-by occurred, this time in support of Wenger, with the message: 'IN ARSENE WE TRUST. #RESPECTAW'.
Arsenal suffered a blow just before halftime when Cech was forced off with a calf injury, to be replaced by David Ospina. The first-half ended with the scores level at 1-1.
The second-half sparked into life after Tony Pulis hooked Albion striker Salomon Rondon less than ten minutes in. A minute later, his replacement, Robson-Kanu, had the hosts 2-1 ahead.
Robson-Kanu's first touch was to tap the ball into the net - a goal that had been abandoned by Ospina. The Gunners keeper came out to try and slide the ball away after a chipped ball into the box but succeeded only in finding Robson-Kanu, who slid the ball under him.
Ten minutes later, Welbeck thumped his header against the crossbar. But the game was taken away from Arsenal on 74 minutes thanks to Dawson's second.
From another corner, swung again straight to Dawson, who planted his effort firmly into the back of the net after shaking off weak marking from Aaron Ramsey.
Five minutes on, Wenger substituted Sanchez, who was limping, for Alexi Iwobi.
It was the last talking point of a dismal day for the Gunners, as West Brom finished comfortable 3-1 winners at the final whistle.
