...

'Chesney' the keeper: big, tall, confident, got down well to shots; I’d play him ahead of Mannone

Gilbert: got caught upfield a few times, but pretty solid

Senderos: vg, intercepted well, headed well, passed well; did v well to get to two outswinging corners from Wilshere; why can’t the first team do outswingers?

Silvestre: a bit pedestrian on occasion, allowed a couple of shots which should not have been allowed, but was pretty calm and assured; made a specific point of checking Wilshere was ok after being decked and the Baggies player being sent off

Gibbs: class in everything he did

Coquelin: tigerish in the tackle, will get a few bookings but looks the part

Ramsey: as per Gibbs

Wilshere: generally good, sometimes tries to go past one too many players, but looked fine and needs to have some time in the proper first team, eg against Fulham

Traore: ok, needs to sort out his crossing; missed a few tackles; I’d rather he became a winger than a full back

Sunu; couldn’t really see what he did in the first half – he was on the opposite side; then didn’t do much before taken off in the second

Watt: phenomenal work rate, could have scored two or three; I like his attitude and speed

Subs:

Randall: looked good, good range of passes, unlucky not to have scored when he hit the bar before Vela scored; but he came on when WBA were down to 10 and tiring … so I would like to see him in a full match from the off

Vela: made the real difference when he came on; took a stamp on the ankle at the end

Barazite: some nice touches, but he was on the far side and couldn’t really see him to well; still he looks big enough, strong enough, skilful enough; so he will be sold and we will have to put up with Diaby or Eboue instead

And finally a quick word for Roberto Di Matteo: I always liked you as a player and we once had a brief chat in a coffee bar in South Kensington when you played for Chelsea and drove a nice Alfa. You seemed a nice guy, but I think you need some glasses and a reality check. Blaming Wilshere for not shaking hands with Jerome Thomas after Thomas sent him flying? Look at the video, Thomas’ elbow is right in Jack’s face, then when Jack presumably asks if Jerome’s elbow is ok, there is no offer of a handshake from the ex-Gunner, just a grab around the throat. Load of Ballacks