please log in to view this image please log in to view this image It's the final game of the 2011-12 season, and Arsenal travel to the Hawthorns to take on West Bromwich Albion. Arsenal will go into the game knowing that a win will give them third place and the guarantee of Champions league football for next season. It's still somehow in Arsenal's own hands and the Gunners can't afford another slip up because this time it could be fatal. This game is also the last for Roy Hodgson as West Brom manager. He was recently appointed as the England manager and it was well deserved for a man that has worked wonders with the likes of West Brom and Fulham. Both sides go into this fixtures on the back of a couple of draws. The Gunners could only get a point against Norwich City at the Emirates in what was a dramatic game. Arsenal went ahead thanks to lovely goal from Yossi Benayoun. But, Norwich hit back and levelled the scores, then Grant Holt put Norwich ahead just before half-time. Robin Van Persie started the fight back with his 29th goal in the league and then he hit his 30th goal to put the Gunners into the lead. Sadly, that was not the last goal as Steve Morison made it all square with a neat finish into the corner. Arsenal have failed to win in their last four games and it's been hugely frustrating for the Arsenal fans who have had to endure a lot of difficult moments this season. Now, a nail biting final day game awaits them. With Newcaslte and Tottenham still in the hunt for the champions league places, Arsenal have to make sure that they do not throw everything away in the final game of the season. West Brom produced a stunning comeback against Bolton to earn a point at the Reebok Stadium. The Baggies trailed by two goals with twenty minutes left, but Chris Brunt found the net to get them back in it before James Morrison struck in the stoppage time to earn a dramatic point for the Baggies. That game displayed West Brom's fighting spirit, with nothing to play for they could have easily given up but they were having none of it and fought until the end. That is the sort of work ethic, Arsenal will encounter this Sunday. Arsenal won the reverse fixture at the Emirates. It was one of the more easier games for the Arsenal this season. An easy 3-0 win, in which West Brom rarely troubled the Arsenal defence. But, this Sunday, the Baggies will be looking to set that record straight and if they do it could have serious repercussions for Arsenal. West Brom achievement's this season has gone under the radar a bit as people have focused more on the likes of Norwich City and Swansea when it comes to analysing the teams outside the top six. Under Roy Hodgson, West Brom are currently sitting in tenth place and for a club that had the reputation of being a so called yo-yo club, it's nothing short of astonishing. They have also not had much investment in their squad when compared to the likes of Stoke City and Liverpool. Yet, they are comfortably above Stoke and are only two points behind Liverpool. It's little wonder, the FA have turned to Roy Hodgson, because his work at West Brom has been top class. Before, Hodgson became manager of West Brom, the Baggies looked in serious trouble last season after a poor run of form under now Chelsea boss Roberto Di Matteo. Appointing Hodgson was a master stroke by Jeremy Peace, the West Brom chairman. It will be interesting to see how they cope without Hodgson next season, because West Brom have never been a stable premier league club. Whoever takes from Hodgson will have his work cut out, as he will always be compared to the excellent Roy Hodgson. Jonas Olsson, is the main man at the back for the Baggies. The Swede has led by example and has been of the most underrated players in the league. A tough center back who will be trying to stop Robin Van Persie on Sunday. Peter Odemwingie has been West Brom's top scorer this season in the league with ten goals. The quick forward has caused Arsenal plenty of problems in the past and he will a constant threat with his attempts to beat the offside trap that Arsenal always try to set. In midfield, the tough tackling Youssuf Mulumbu will be trying to disrupt Arsenal's passing game. But, if Arsenal can match the worth ethic and intensity of West Brom, then they should be able to impose their style of play on the game. The 2011-12 season has been an eventful season for the Arsenal. A terrible start, which was mainly down to a terrible of summer and Arsenal looked on course for their worst season under Arsene Wenger. The game that summed up everything was the 8-2 drubbing against Manchester United, that was one if not the lowest point in Arsene Wenger's time at Arsenal. Everything that could have gone wrong, did. At that point, it was hard to see how Arsenal could salvage something from this season. But slowly, yet surely they started to recover and started to put the points on the table. From October to December, Arsenal only lost twice and the performances might not have been stunning but they did pick up plenty of points. The highlight in that period, was without a doubt the 5-3 win at Stamford Bridge. That was Arsenal and Robin Van Persie at their stunning best when it comes to the attacking side of the game. January was a shocking month for Arsenal in the league, no wins and three straight defeats to Fulham,Swansea and Manchester United. Without any full backs, the Arsenal defence was all over the place and they got punished for a lack of squad depth in that month. The fight back was started in February after Arsenal trashed Blackburn 7-1 to register their biggest win of the season. But the best win of the season was without a doubt against Tottenham Hotspur at the Emirates. Going into the game, Tottenham had a ten point gap over Arsenal and they found themselves two goals up with only twenty minutes gone. Everything looked bleak and after going out in two cup competitions in the previous week, it really was breaking point, but the fight back to match all fight backs was started by Sagna and ended with a Theo Walcott brace. In no time, Arsenal put five goals past Tottenham and that gave them the chance to rescue something from the season. Arsenal went on a five game winning run after the Spurs game and overtook their bitter rivals in the league table. Now, with one game to go, Arsenal have a one point lead over Tottenham, so it's all come down to the final week. Theo Walcott could return for the game against West Brom, but Bacary Sagna is out of the game after suffering yet another leg break. Arsene Wenger's men will go into the game knowing that everything is in their own hands and if they do their job then, it's mission accomplished. This final game of the season, unlike previous seasons has things riding on it and Arsenal still have everything to play for, so they will have to give it everything they got and end the game without any regrets. Arsenal will again look to Robin Van Persie for some inspiration, the Dutchmen has scored 30 league goals this season and has matched Thierry Henry's record for most league goals in one season. But, Van Persie has one game left to beat that record and he will need to score if Arsenal are to win it seems. One of the biggest problems for Arsenal has been the lack of goals from midfield and Arsenal will need to address that if they are to progress next season. West Brom showed against Bolton that they are not going to relax until the last second of the season, so Arsenal will have to expect a tough game against a team that has excelled at home this season. Arsenal have their own fate in their own hand, and that is all you can ask for at this stage of the season. Third place has become more important thanks to the presence of Chelsea in the champions league final. The Gunners have not won in four league games and Sunday will be a perfect time to end that run. In a season of highs and lows, a win against West Brom will an undoubted high and it will end the season on a much needed positive note, so come on you Gunners. Team News: Arsene Wenger: Form Guide: please log in to view this image Three Key Match-ups: please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image Overall Record vs West Brom: Played: 131 Wins: 66 Draws: 31 Losses: 36 For: 232 Against: 170 Goal Difference: 62 Last 6 Meetings: Arsenal 3 - 0 West Brom West Brom 2 - 2 Arsenal Arsenal 2 - 3 West Brom Arsenal 2 - 0 West Brom (Carling Cup) West Brom 1 - 3 Arsenal Arsenal 1 - 0 West Brom please log in to view this image Managers View: Arsene Wenger on potentially sealing third place: My Team: please log in to view this image Final Score: please log in to view this image Thanks to everyone that commented on my match threads this season. Hugely appreciated.
I think this game is fairly simple, if Ramsey starts we have no chance. If he doesn't play am confident of a win.
i like your line-up, although I would like to see Oxo instead of Gervinho (who hasn't been that great lately). walcott on the bench if he's fit to give us another option off of the bench. coquelin should excel in Arteta's role, although I have a feeling that he will play RB with Ramsey in the middle
Chelsea being torn a new one - I guess that means it's 3rd or bust this season (unless Bayern win the CL final)
Please make sure all John Terry banter is put into the official laugh at john terry thread I have made Piskie
I have us down as drawing this game. Woy will want to go out with a bang, and if ramsey plays, we're doomed.
Poor Aaron! I'd not start him but I'd certainly not be adverse to bringing him on with 20 minutes to go. Really tough game this as we've managed to draw one of the few teams with something to play for and we're somewhat ravaged by injuries. I can see this being a draw or loss unless we approach this in the right frame of mind.
Some teams news for this game, for us, Walcott will have a fitness test ahead of the game. For West Brom, Chris Brunt is not going to play, also Odemwingie and Thomas are doubts for the game. Those are three of their main attacking players.
Don't want to be a downer, but I think Wenger will start Ramsey. As I've said in other threads related to Aaron, Wenger has too much hype invested in him throughout the years. It's a matter of pride to him when it comes to Ramsey, and you can see that in all his interviews (same with Walcott). So I don't think his consistently bad form will have much impact on Wenger's decision. We will win it regardless though, we haven't been playing bad necessarily. Even last game I didn't consider that we "bottled" it like many said, we just conceded some soft goals (wasn't the keeper's day particularly).
