Arsenal midfielder Mikel Arteta has defended teammate Santi Cazorla against accusations that he dived against West Bromwich Albion at the Emirates on Saturday.

Cazorla went down under a challenge from Steven Reid inside the Baggies' penalty area to earn a spot kick for the Gunners in the first half.

Arteta successfully converted the spot kick and scored another penalty in the second half to secure a 2-0 victory in the Premier League.

"Santi is not a player who dives," he said. "He has taken a lot this year because of the way he plays. If he has done it [is] because he felt something and changed direction.

"But he is not that sort of player. I haven't seen the replay. Santi was saying that he felt something. The ref makes decisions, some right and some wrong.

"If there is a little [contact], it is contact. For me, it is not right to dive."

Arsenal are currently sixth in the Premier League table with 24 points from 16 matches.