[Stairs]

I’ll take that!

A good defence and an attacking look with quick service.

Alan Pardew is making a positive difference and so let’s see what quick tweaks he will make now we are entering January.

Happy New Year folks. A positive end to the year

[talkSAFT]

Well played, Albion. Great battling performance. Get them in the Radox for a couple of hours, then early night!

ps Can some goalkeeping coach tell me a good reason why we don't put 2 players on the posts for free-kicks right in front of goal.

[valpayne]

obviously the media has said its all about the controversial pen and how boring the game was and how arsenal were dreadful and on and on blah blah blah lets not give albion any credit as per usual. You the media are boring tiresome and biased.

[WBA-Josh]

A good point and hopefully that goal will be the catalyst for a good 2018.

P.S. The ref is a cockwomble and Arsene Wenger is a moaning merde.

---

Talksaft, the general consensus is that the goalkeeper covers 2/3 of the goal and the other 1/3 is covered by the player on the post. Having one player on each post takes a crucial player away from marking or wall duty.

Happy New Year everybody and all the best for 2018.

[Ska'dForLife-WBA]

Soft penalty, but we were owed one from the Emirates. Ice-cool from J-Rod to put it away under immense pressure. Not sure it changes anything in the long run, but at least we're still treading water and not getting cut adrift.

[BaggieSteve]

A good point and hopefully that goal will be the catalyst for a good 2018.

P.S. The ref is a cockwomble and Arsene Wenger is a moaning merde.

Josh, could you be a little more specific

[BaggieMan]

A very good performance with the exception of McClean The wall had more holes than a sive not to mention McClean turning his back.
If we continue like this and tweak in the Window, we should be ok.

[BaggieSteve]

I was honestly delighted with a point as I watched the game expecting the inevitable Arsenal which duly, and fortunately for them, arrived. As I was watching it in the USA with no sound, it took me a minute to realise that marvellous man, Mr M Dean, had awarded us a penalty. Yes, it was highly debatable but had it been at the other end of the pitch and NOT given, you can guarantee that Wenger would have been screaming "we woz robbed", or whatever that is en francais. The referee had a perfect view of it so end of.

So the point is great but I don't think it should mask a pretty dire performance that, Phillips excepted, lacked any guile, creativity or pace. We also seem to lack some of the basics of control and passing so that, when we had the ball, we just gave it back to the Arse. We were powder puff up front and honest endeavour can never make up for inability in this league. If it did, we'd probably be comfortable. I think we all share the same view on Livermore; I don't have a clue what his contribution is. He's just awful. Likewise McLean, honest effort but chuff all else...and turning your back on a free kick is unacceptable, made more galling by the fact that it was going wide.

If Arsenal had been even remotely on their game, I believe we would have lost. We got a fortunate break and I'm grateful for that. But if ever a game illustrated our shortcomings and failings, this is was it. Let's hope January brings some much needed reinforcements

[Lord Snooty]

It was very similar to the one that Man Utd didn't get yesterday, which Mourinho swore blind should've been given. Until they bring in video refs we will always have inconsistency with decisions. Even then there'll be arguments as to whether it's hand to ball or ball to hand.

[drewks]

Would we have got a point v Arsenal with TP in charge?
Would we 'eck.
Against Liverpool? Everton?
Ditto.
'Nuff said.

I'm still delighting in actually having SOME possession in the opponent's half.

Still more green shoots, as I see it.

HNY folks, I'm off down the pub