Santi Cazorla joins Wayne Rooney, Robert Pires, Steven Gerrard and Robin van Persie with awful penalty miss against West Brom
- Santi Cazorla suffered an embarrassing penalty miss against West Brom
- Spaniard slipped and scuffed the ball into his standing foot in 2-1 defeat
- Late penalty would have saved a point for Arsenal at The Hawthorns
- Wayne Rooney and Steven Gerrard among Premier League's penalty gaffs
- Robert Pires, Robin van Persie and Jason Puncheon also appear
Santi Cazorla's humiliating penalty slip-up on Saturday cost Arsenal a point on Saturday as the little Spaniard defied his usual technical prowess and kicked the ball into his standing foot.
His effort was so bad that an indirect free-kick was awarded to West Brom as the Gunners midfielder had illegally touched the ball twice before sending it flying over the crossbar, denying his side the chance to go top of the Premier League table
The fact that Cazorla ended up on his backside and that the miss denied his side a point has to put it among the Premier League's worst spot-kicks, but the Spaniard is not the only star to suffer embarrassment from 12 yards in the English top flight.
Santi Cazorla slips and kicks the ball into his standing foot while taking a penalty against West Brom
The Arsenal midfielder sends the ball flying over the crossbar as he falls to the floor after taking the kick
West Brom's Craig Gardener attempts to help up the embarrassed Spaniard in the game at The Hawthorns
Arguably the most memorable penalty gaff in Premier League history comes from another Arsenal star who again gave away an indirect free-kick with the failed conversion.
The Gunners were 1-0 up against Manchester City at Highbury in October 2005 when the Frenchman, having already scored a penalty, stepped up to put the game beyond doubt.
But instead of attempting to beat David James on his own Pires tried to play in Thierry Henry with a cheeky rolled pass, only to skim the top of the ball and leave it on the spot.
The pair were trying to recreate a well-worked set piece by Dutch master Johan Cruyff and Jesper Olsen at Ajax in 1982, but instead Pires incurred the wrath of a screaming Danny Mills as the City full back unleashed a four letter tirade into his ear.
Arsenal won the game 1-0 but Pires will forever be remembered for THAT penalty.
Thierry Henry (right) looks at Robert Pires (left) in shock as the Arsenal winger misses his attempted pass
The pair were trying to recreate a famous Johan Cruyff penalty during their victory over Manchester City
City right back Danny Mills (left) launches into an angry tirade at the Frenchman (right) in the game at Highbury
Further proof that even the best players can shank a spot-kick came in December 2010 when Wayne Rooney missed the chance to finish off Arsenal from 12 yards at Old Trafford.
United were 1-0 up after a first-half goal from Ji Sung Park, and the England striker stepped up expecting to make it 2-0 with 73 minutes gone.
But after a dramatic run up Rooney lashed the ball over Wojciech Szczesny's cross-bar and sent it flying towards the bemused home fans.
Thankfully for Rooney, United held on to their 1-0 lead to save the forward's blushes.
Another penalty miss that will have given Gunners's fans great pleasure was Robin van Persie's against Southampton in 2012.
Wayne Rooney sends his spot-kick well over Wojciech Szezesny's crossbar at Old Trafford in 2010
The Manchester United striker (right) was attempting to seal the win for his side with the game at 1-0
Manchester United were trailing 2-1 to the Saints at St Mary's when the Dutchman was brought down in the box with a third of the match still to play.
But rather than smashing the spot-kick into the corner as many would have expected Van Persie attempted to wrong-foot Kelvin Davis with a little dink into the left-hand corner.
To the former Arsenal man's horror the keeper was not fooled and easily scooped the ball away.
Thankfully for the striker, who had joined United that season for £24million, his two late goals completed a hat-trick that saw the Red Devils come out 3-2 winners.
Kelvin Davis (right) celebrates with Jose Fonte (centre) after saving Robin van Persie's (left) penalty in 2012
Van Persie tried to chip the ball into the corner but it was easily saved by the Southampton keeper
One star who didn't have the consolation of a win after spot-kick shame was Steven Gerrard in Liverpool's 3-1 defeat by Blackburn in January 2011.
The Reds' captain had scored a consolation goal after his side had been 3-0 down but then had a chance to move Liverpool within one goal with a penalty six minutes from time.
The ever-dependable skipper stepped up looking agitated and then ballooned the ball over the crossbar into a delighted Ewood Park crowd.
Another potentially game-changing penalty that never threatened the goal was Jason Puncheon's effort against Tottenham in January 2014.
Steven Gerrard skies his chance to get Liverpool back into the game during a 3-1 defeat by Blackburn in 2011
Jason Puncheon lashes his early penalty high and wide of Hugo Lloris's goal at White Hart Lane
The Palace attacking midfielder would have given his struggling Crystal Palace side a 1-0 lead
Crystal Palace were struggling in the relegation zone with just 17 points from their first 20 games when they visited White Hart lane, and were given a golden opportunity to take the lead when Marouane Chamakh was bundled over in the box by Mousa Dembele with just six minutes played.
Puncheon stepped up tentatively before unleashing a strike that summed up Crystal Palace's season up to that point, missing the goal on both counts and with the ball rising high and wide into the grateful Spurs supporters.
Goals from Christian Eriksen and Jermain Defoe handed Tottenham a 2-0 win before Palace went on an inspired run under Tony Pulis to finish well clear of relegation.
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