TONY PULIS admits Olivier Giroud's late winner was hard to take after West Brom worked so hard in the 1-0 defeat to Arsenal.
Olivier Giroud started his first Premier League game of the season for Arsenal but it wasn't until the 86th minute that the France international found a breakthrough.
West Brom have had a tough run of fixtures this month having faced Chelsea, Manchester United and Arsenal in three of their last four matches.
Pulis stopped short of criticising his team for not holding onto a valuable point and instead chose to praise his players for frustrating Arsenal for so long.
"It is hard to take. The players worked so hard. Arsenal are a good team and had lots of chances but to concede so late is disappointing," said Pulis.
"Our supporters have seen the team work so hard to stop one of the best teams in Europe.
"Of course Ben Foster has made some great saves and we're disappointed not to see the game out.
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"Olivier Giroud has just outmuscled Gareth McAuley out of the way, he put his hand across him early and outmuscled him.
"I think if Gareth takes a step forward then he stops Giroud pinning him. Once he pinned him he is so strong and overpowers him.
"Gareth said Giroud has grabbed his shirt before the ball come over - I'm not sure if he did."