Santi Cazorla Misses Penalty vs. West Brom: Post-Match Comments and Reaction

Santi Cazorla missed a penalty that would have drawn Arsenal level against West Bromwich Albion, as the Gunners lost 2-1 away from home in the Premier League.

The pocket-edition playmaker slipped as he made contact with the spot-kick, sending the set-piece gift soaring hopelessly over the bar at the Hawthorns.

The miss was reminiscent of John Terry's gaffe for Chelsea against Manchester United in the 2008 UEFA Champions League final. BBC Sport Twitter quickly made the comparison:

Bleacher Report UK saw the humour:

Trailing inside the final 10 minutes, the north London club were awarded the penalty when Baggies skipper Chris Brunt mauled Alexis Sanchez to the floor. The wasted chance condemned Arsenal to another defeat and meant they've lost vital ground in this season's title race.

In what's become depressingly trademark fashion, celebrity Arsenal fan Piers Morgan offered this bleak summary of the Gunners' current standing:

He also took aim at manager Arsene Wenger, a favourite Morgan target, chiding him for losing a battle of wits with Baggies counterpart, Tony Pulis:

While Morgan's views are rarely popular, it's tough to argue with the sour tone this defeat has created. What's really galling is how self-inflicted Arsenal's wounds were. They lost despite keeping the hosts virtually silent in an attacking sense, according to WhoScored.com:

Arsenal typically bossed possession and, ironically, it was Cazorla dictating play as the hub of passing, per Orbinho:

But like so many in Gunners' colours, Cazorla couldn't create enough chances. Nor could he take those opportunities presented to him.

A lack of guile in front of goal has haunted Arsenal several times this season. Missing Theo Walcott, Aaron Ramsey and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has well and truly caught up with Wenger's misfiring squad.