Arsenal cling on to unofficial title West Brom 2 (Reid 3, Odemwingie 58), Arsenal 2 (Arshavin 70, Van Persie)

Arsenal's official title challenge suffered a blow as their late rally was only enough to secure a draw at West Brom.

Albion were 2-0 up just before the hour mark when Peter Odemwingie capitalised on a mix-up between Manuel Almunia and Sebastien Squillaci to add to Steven Reid's early header.

The Gunners staged a comeback with goals in the 70th minute from Andrey Arshavin and 78th from Robin van Persie, but they could not find a winner and are now five points behind Premier League leaders Manchester United, who beat Bolton 1-0. The Baggies, meanwhile, are a point above the relegation zone in 16th place as they were at the start of the day.

Arsene Wenger's team were in need of a lift following their League Cup final defeat and elimination from the Champions League and FA Cup over the last few weeks, but they made the worst possible start as West Brom took the lead after only three minutes.

Albion skipper Chris Brunt swung in a corner and Reid was allowed the space to jump and crash a header beyond Almunia for his first Premier League goal for nearly five years. Aaron Ramsey, starting a game for the Gunners for the first time since breaking his leg last season, appeared to be the main culprit in failing to mark Reid as Arsenal's defensive frailties were laid bare.

Moments later Jerome Thomas won the ball and broke forward, sending in a dangerous delivery that just evaded Odemwingie. The visitors started to gain more possession but were struggling to get a proper foothold and the game was temporarily halted after 20 minutes when Laurent Koscielny clashed heads with James Morrison, the latter having to come off for treatment.

While Morrison was off the pitch Arsenal showed some threatening signs, with only the head of Jonas Olsson preventing Ramsey getting on the end of a Gael Clichy cross. Arsenal should have then equalised when Van Persie's header came back off the bar. The ball dropped to Ramsey right in front of goal, but the Wales midfielder could only strike it straight at Scott Carson.

As Morrison returned with a bandage around his head the Gunners continued to press, Samir Nasri seeing a cross come off the legs of Abdoulaye Meite towards goal but Carson was able to avert the danger. Van Persie tried his luck just before the break but his shot was off-target.

There was a substitution for each side at half-time as Albion boss Roy Hodgson brought on Marek Cech for Paul Scharner, who had also taken a knock to the head, and Wenger introduced Marouane Chamakh in place of Denilson in an attempt to give his side more attacking impetus.

Chamakh soon sent a header goalwards but it did not trouble Carson and within minutes, the Baggies were almost 2-0 in front as Brunt slid in to meet Cech's cross, the captain just poking it the wrong side of the post.

Wenger bolstered his forward line again with Nicklas Bendtner coming on for Ramsey, but just seconds later West Brom did score again - thanks in no small part to Almunia. The Spanish goalkeeper came charging out of his box when Youssouf Mulumbu launched a long ball forward but completely misjudged it before getting in a tangle with Squillaci and Odemwingie gleefully slotted into the net.

The watching Jens Lehmann, back on the Arsenal bench after rejoining the club on a rolling monthly contract earlier in the week, looked less than impressed.

When Koscielny picked up a booking for a hefty challenge on Odemwingie and Van Persie blazed a free-kick over the bar, the Gunners seemed to be fading, but a slick move saw them suddenly pull a goal back through Arshavin, who played a one-two with Chamakh before turning and rifling a shot beyond Carson.

Marc-Antoine Fortune came on for Odemwingie but Arsenal began pouring forward and eight minutes after Arshavin's strike they found a leveller, with the Russian again the catalyst. His looping cross hit the post and Meite was unable to deal with the rebound before Van Persie bundled it over the line.

Arsenal now looked the more likely winners, but Fortune went close at the other end, cutting into the box and seeing his shot deflect wide. Play switched once more and the Gunners sent a succession of balls into the West Brom box, but there was no way through. Jack Wilshere shot over the bar and Carson saved from Clichy at the death as Albion hung on for a vital point.

LINE UPS:

WEST BROMWICH ALBION: 01-Carson, 03-Olsson, 07-Morrison, 11-Brunt, 12-Reid, 14-Thomas, 20-Shorey, 21-Mulumbu, 23-Meite, 24-Odemwingie, 33-Scharner SUBS USED: 04-Cech, 28-Fortune

ARSENAL: 01-Almunia, 03-Sagna, 06-Koscielny, 08-Nasri, 10-Van Persie, 15-Denilson, 16-Ramsey, 18-Squillaci, 19-Wilshere, 22-Clichy, 23-Arshavin SUBS USED: 29-Chamakh, 52-Bendtner

Todays other scores:

Aston Villa 0-1 Wolverhampton Wanderers: WW-Jarvis

Blackburn Rovers 2-2 Blackpool: BR-Samba, Hoilett; BP-Adam (2)

Everton 2-1 Fulham: EV-Coleman, Saha; FU-Dempsey

Manchester United 1-0 Bolton Wanderers: MU-Berbatov

Stoke City 4-0 Newcastle United: SC-Walters, Pennant, Higginbotham, Fuller

Tottenham Hotspur 0-0 West Ham United

Wigan Athletic 2-1 Birmingham City: WA-Cleverley, Figueroa; BC-Ridgewell

Carlos Vela joins West Brom Fee: Loan

WorldwideFootball understands Arsenal striker Carlos Vela has joined fellow Premier League side West Bromwich Albion on loan until the end of the season.
The 21 year old joined Arsenal in 2005 and has had spells in Spain with both Salamanca and Osasuna but hasn't managed to break into the Arsenal starting line-up and currently finds himself way down the pecking order at the Emirates.  Although he is a regular for the Mexican national team (making 33 appearances) if he is to continue leading the front line he needs to get games under his belt and Brom boss Roberto Di Matteo is the man to help the striker.
Although initially on loan it isn't known whether the deal could become permanent in the summer but one thing is for certain, at the age of 21 Carlos Vela needs regular football.  Will he be able to get that at Arsenal or could the 2011/12 season see the striker elsewhere?


Carlos Vela's career:


2005 - Arsenal - 29 apps (3 goals)
2006-2007 - Salamance (loan) - 31 apps (8 goals)
2007-2008 - Osasuna (loan) 32 apps (3 goals)

Scharner Joins Baggies Fee: Free

West Brom have bulked up their squad ahead of Tuesday's transfer deadline by signing former Wigan player Paul Scharner on a two-year contract.

Scharner, who can play in various defensive and midfield roles, joins West Brom as a free agent.

He has been earmarked for midfield duty by Baggies boss Roberto Di Matteo, with the club claiming they fended off competition from rival Premier League clubs to sign the 30-year-old Austrian.

Di Matteo told West Brom's official website: "I'm delighted to welcome Paul to the club.

"He is exactly the type of player we've been looking to bring in because he is a proven Premier League player, having performed consistently well in the top flight for the past four and a half years.

Paul Scharners career:

1998-2004 - Austria Wien - 84 apps (3 goals)

2004 - Salzburg - 18 apps (3 goals)

2004-2006 - Brann - 32 apps (7 goals)

2006 - 2010 - Wigan Athletic - 145 apps (14 goals)

International career:

2002 - Austria - 30 apps (0 goals)

West Brom Get Themselves A Fortune Fee: Undisclosed

Worldwide Football can reveal West Brom have confirmed the signing of Celtic striker Marc-Antoine Fortune from Celtic on a two-year contract.

The French hit-man enjoyed a successful loan spell with The Baggies in the second half of the 2008/9 season after joining on loan from Nancy.

He opted to join Tony Mowbray at Celtic permanently that summer, but has now rejoined West Brom after a year's SPL football.

Fortune played in Celtic's Europa League exit to Utrecht and has been registered in time to make his debut in Sunday's clash with Liverpool

Baggies boss Roberto Di Matteo is delighted to see Fortune back at The Hawthorns and believe he will have no problems settling back in again.  "I'm delighted to welcome Marco back to the club," he told the club's official website.

"The great thing about this signing is that it won't take him long to settle in because he knows the club inside out.

"He also knows what this league is all about.

"Marco got on really well with the other players during his loan here and they're all delighted to see him back.

"He is a powerful striker who can hold the ball up and bring others into play and having also signed Peter Odemwingie last week, we now have plenty of competition up front.

Marc Antoine Fortune's career:

1998 - 2002 - Angouleme - 63 apps (20 goals)

2002-2003 - Lille - 16 apps (0 goals)

2003-2004 - Rouen (loan) - 34 apps (10 goals)

2004 - 2005 - Stade Brest - 33 apps (10 goals)

2005 - 2007 - Utrecht - 53 apps (11 goals)

2007-2009 - Nancy - 72 apps (12 goals)

2009 - West Bromwich Albion (loan) - 17 apps (5 goals)

2009-2010 Celtic - 30 apps (10 goals)

Odemwingie In Baggie Switch Fee: Undisclosed

West Brom have completed the signing of Nigeria forward Peter Odemwingie from Lokomotiv Moscow for an undisclosed fee.
The 29-year-old passed a medical and agreed terms last Friday and the deal was finalised the next day but the player then had to secure a work permit and visa.
Odemwingie, who has signed a two-year deal with the option of a further year, arrived back in England on Friday night and could make his debut against Sunderland on Saturday if the club receive international clearance in time.
Odemwingie, who has dual Russian and Nigerian citizenship, has spent the last four seasons with Lokomotiv, scoring 21 goals in 70 starts.
Baggies boss Roberto Di Matteo told West Brom's website: "I'm delighted to welcome Peter to the club.
"He is an exciting international, has a great CV and I'm sure seeing a player of his calibre coming into the club will give everyone a lift.
"Peter has got great pace, is two-footed, scores goals and has good experience at a very high level. We've brought him in as a striker but he can also play out wide, which gives me options."
Odemwingie is Di Matteo's sixth permanent signing of the summer, following Steven Reid, Gabriel Tamas, Pablo Ibanez, Boaz Myhill and Nicky Shorey to The Hawthorns.


Peter Odemwingie's career:


1999-2001 - Bendel Insurance
2001-2002 - Pandurii Targu Jiu
2002-2005 - La Louviere - 44 apps (9 goals)
2005-2007 - Lille - 75 apps (23 goals)
2007-2010 - Lokomotiv Moscow - 75 apps (21 goals)


Nigeria - 47 apps (9 goals)

Chelsea Have Six Appeal Chelsea 6 (Malouda 6, 90 Drogba 45, 55, 68 Lampard 63) West Brom 0

Chelsea hold on to the "Unofficial Premier League" title belt today and showed the rest of the Premiership they are not hanging around in their bid to keep the official title by beating a lackluster West Brom at Stamford Bridge today.


It took Chelsea 6 minutes to get the ball rolling.  A freekick from just outside the area by Didier Drogba was to hot to handle for keeper Scott Carson who spilled the ball into the path of John Obi Mikel who struck straight at the West Brom keeper but the rebound fell to Malouda who rammed the ball home for to make it 1-0.


Chelsea had chances to make it 2-0 but it took until stoppage time for them to make their possession count.  Another freekick from Chelsea and again the wall broke as if I had built it and Drogba's shot went straight through the wall into the bottom corner.  Now the scoreline relflected matchplay.  Chelsea had yet to get out of second gear.


The second half started in much the same way, Chelsea with all the possession, intricate passing and pace down both flanks but West Brom striker had a 20 yard effort ruled out for off-side and in the 55th minute a Chelsea corner was headed goalwards by skipper John Terry, his effort was cleared off the line but only as far as Drogba who from 6 yards out grabbed his second of the match, just under 10 minutes later and it was Frank Lampards turn to get his name on the score sheet as he begins another season where he will probably get 20 goals.


3 minutes later Drogba might have completed his hat-trick.  For now he has the match ball but the dubious goal's committee might take it off him as his shot deflected of Gabriel Tamas and past Carson, I for one hope they give the Ivory Coast hitman his goal, his performance deserved it.


The Chelsea fans were in full voice, absolutely loving what they were seeing.  They evenstarted chanting the name of ex-Chelsea midfielder and current West Brom manager Roberto Di Matteo who must've been shell shocked at what he was seeing and just when he thought the game was over and he could get out of London Florent Malouda, who began the rout got a second after his shot went in off the post.


Chelsea were in awesome form and already after one goal I have seen enough to say whoever finished above Chelsea this season will win the Premier League, they were simply amazing.


Lineups:


Chelsea: 01-Cech, 03-Cole, 05-Essien, 08-Lampard, 11-Drogba, 12-Mikel, 15-Malouda, 19-Ferreira, 26-Terry, 33-Alex, 39-Anelka.  Subs: 02-Ivanovic, 10-Benayoun, 21- Kalou


West Bromwich Albion: 01-Carson, 04-Cech, 06-Pablo, 07-Morrison, 09-Bednar, 11-Brunt, 14-Thomas, 17-Dorrans, 21-Mulumbu, 30-Tamas, 36-Jara. Subs: 08-Barnes, 10- Miller, 31-Cox


Todays Other Scores:


Aston Villa 3-0 West Ham - AV- Downing, Petrov, Milner
Blackburn Rovers 1-0 Everton - BR-Kalinic
Bolton Wanderers 0-0 Fulham
Sunderland 2-2 Birmingham - SU- Bent (pen), Carr (og) - BC- Dann, Ridgewell
Tottenham Hotspur 0-0 Manchester City
Wigan Athletic 0-4 Blackpool - BP- Harewood (2), Taylor-Fletcher, Baptiste
Wolves 2-1 Stoke City - WW- Jones, Fletcher - SC- Faye