Christmas scarves, refereeing woes and American footballers: Ten things you missed from Arsenal v West Brom

  • It may not have looked like a classic, but Arsenal v West Brom had talking points
  • One Arsenal fan wore a Christmas-themed scarf - for a game on September 25 
  • Referee Bobby Madley was given a rough ride on social media for his decisions
  • New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees was among the spectators 

It may not have looked like a Monday night football classic on paper, but Arsenal against West Bromwich Albion threw up several talking points. 

Goals, missed chances and controversial moments came thick and fast, meaning there may have been several things you missed from the game. 

Never fear - Sportsmail is here to bring you the top 10 things that may have gone under the radar from the game at the Emirates Stadium.

It may not have looked like a classic, but Arsenal against West Brom had several talking points

It may not have looked like a classic, but Arsenal against West Brom had several talking points

Christmas in September


Remember the days when football scarves were an essential and inoffensive piece of sporting memorabilia, rather than a constant magnet for ire?

With the ongoing debate over half-and-half scarves (is it a debate - surely we all know they are very wrong?), one Arsenal fan upped the ante on Monday night. 

A Christmas scarf worn proudly - on September 25. They do say the festive season starts earlier every year...

A Christmas scarf  in September. They  say the festive season starts earlier every year...

A Christmas scarf in September. They say the festive season starts earlier every year...

A classic combination 

Knitwear is also a matter of debate on the pitch as well as off it, with players wearing gloves a subject always guaranteed to get certain ex-players frothing with rage.

Gloves were seen for perhaps the first time this Premier League season on Monday night - but rather than being worn by a soft Arsenal player, as would be the stereotype, it was West Brom defender Allan Nyom. 

Nyom was wearing the ever bemusing duo of short sleeved shirt and gloves. We know fingers feel the cold more than forearms, but it is still a weird look.

West Brom's Allan Nyom was wearing the ever bemusing duo of short sleeved shirt and gloves

West Brom's Allan Nyom was wearing the ever bemusing duo of short sleeved shirt and gloves

Gibbs goes home

While all the focus was on Gareth Barry breaking the Premier League appearance record - and we salute him - this was a personal occasion for another West Brom player.

Kieran Gibbs made his first return to his boyhood club since joining Albion from Arsenal in a £7million deal late in the summer transfer window.

Gibbs was deployed on the left wing, and seemed to get a fairly warm reception from the home crowd.

Kieran Gibbs made his first return to his boyhood club since joining Albion in a £7m deal

Kieran Gibbs made his first return to his boyhood club since joining Albion in a £7m deal

Madley doing badly

By the letter of the law, referee Bobby Madley may well have made the right call when not giving Jay Rodriguez a first half penalty - despite being clearly tripped, the West Brom attacker did then take a shot at goal.

That did not stop Twitter laying into the man in the middle however, with the accusations of bias towards the home side coming thick and fast. 

Sportsmail's own Ian Ladyman was not best impressed with Madley's performance either - and he was not the only one. 

Which league is this? 

In May 2007, the Premiership decided to re-brand as the Premier League, leading the way for the obnoxious EPL moniker used too often these days.

However, Tony Pulis is a man of tradition - and in his pre-match interview, continuously referred to the 'Premiership' when discussing the division. 

It is worth noting that when Pulis first entered the top flight - as boss of Stoke City in 2008 - the league had already changed its name - but as we said, tradition. 

Tony Pulis is a man of tradition - and in his pre-match interview referred to the 'Premiership'

Tony Pulis is a man of tradition - and in his pre-match interview referred to the 'Premiership'

Sold out?

As fans entered the Emirates Stadium on Monday night, they were greeted by screens proudly proclaiming the game was a complete sell out. No room in the inn. 

This was made a mockery of by the reality however - at kick-off, the TV cameras clearly picked out hundreds of empty places around the stadium.

It slightly filled up as the game progressed, but for many, even shelling out over £50 for tickets couldn't persuade them to enjoy the visit of West Brom on a chilly Autumn night.

As fans entered the stadium, they were greeted by screens claiming the game was a sell out

As fans entered the stadium, they were greeted by screens claiming the game was a sell out

At kick-off, the TV cameras clearly picked out hundreds of empty places around the stadium

At kick-off, the TV cameras clearly picked out hundreds of empty places around the stadium

Saints visit the Gunners

The NFL circus is in town, with New Orleans Saints set to take on the Miami Dolphins at Wembley the Sunday following this fixture.

Several Saints players, including quarterback Drew Brees, were guests at the Emirates and appeared pitch-side before the game. 

Brees, widely regarded as one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time, ingratiated himself with his hosts by wearing a Gunners shirt. 

Several New Orleans Saints players, including quarterback Drew Brees, were Arsenal guests

Several New Orleans Saints players, including quarterback Drew Brees, were Arsenal guests

Double ton for Pulis

The game may not have gone to plan for Pulis, but the baseball capped one did pass a Premier League milestone on Monday.

He became the eighth manager to take charge of 100-plus games for two different Premier League sides (West Brom and Stoke).

The other managers to do this are Sam Allardyce, Mark Hughes, Kevin Keegan, Roberto Martinez, David O'Leary, Martin O'Neill and Harry Redknapp (the latter did it with three sides).

Pulis is the eighth man to take charge of 100-plus games for different Premier League sides

Pulis is the eighth man to take charge of 100-plus games for different Premier League sides

Arsenal love playing the Baggies 

A round of applause

We return once more to Bobby Madley - and Allan Nyom - for the final thing you missed from this game. 

After Alexandre Lacazette tucked away the penalty given away by Nyom, the full back was spotted by the cameras sarcastically applauding the referee.

Given this is a sending off offence in the books of some officials, it is no surprise Nyom was taken off soon after, replaced by Matt Phillips.

After Alexandre Lacazette tucked away the penalty, Nyom sarcastically applauded the referee

After Alexandre Lacazette tucked away the penalty, Nyom sarcastically applauded the referee

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