Arsenal match-winner Olivier Giroud admitted it was a “big relief” to beat West Brom after the France international scored a late winner to secure all three points.
The Gunners went into the game on the back of two straight defeats, to Everton and Manchester City, and initially found it tough to break down a resolute Baggies side.
However, Arsene Wenger’s side were not to be denied and grabbed the win, with Giroud’s looping header beating Ben Foster with just four minutes of normal time remaining.
Speaking after the game, Giroud admitted it was an “amazing feeling” to score so late as Arsenal returned to winning ways to keep their title hopes alive.
“It has been a big relief. We pushed and pushed towards the end, and we kept believing in our game. It’s a big finish, an amazing feeling. It’s nice for us because we always try to find a good solution and we’ve been a bit unlucky recently. Thank God we succeeded,” he said via the official Arsenal website.
“At home you have to win, even more after two disappointing results. It was a very important game for us and we really wanted, we really needed, the three points. It’s job done today but it was very hard. We were playing against six at the back, three in midfield and then one up top, but we never gave up. It was a great feeling to score and a big relief too.”
The win keeps Arsenal nine points behind leaders Chelsea but moves them level with Liverpool who take on Stoke City on Tuesday.
The win will certainly come as a huge relief to supporters who feared dropping even further behind Chelsea until Giroud struck and will hope it is the start of another long unbeaten run.