please log in to view this image Venue: The Hawthorns KO: 20:00 GMT Date: 25th August 2021 Overall Record: Wins: 74 Losses: 38 Draws: 31 Last six meetings: Arsenal 3-1 West Brom West Brom 0-4 Arsenal West Brom 1-1 Arsenal Arsenal 2-0 West Brom West Brom 3-1 Arsenal please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image Team News: West Brom defender Matt Clarke's hamstring injury will be assessed after he was withdrawn early against Blackburn, but Ismael has already ruled out the prospect of the Brighton & Hove Albion loanee returning before the international break. Semi Ajayi should earn an immediate recall to the backline in that case, and Ismael should still put out a relatively strong side in the hope of claiming an EFL Cup giant killing. Adam Reach and Grady Diangana are both options for change on the left-hand side, though, while Cedric Kipre will be hopeful of earning some minutes in defence. Arsenal welcomed Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang back from a bout of coronavirus at the weekend, but Willian, Alexandre Lacazette, Alex Runarsson and Ben White are still affected while Eddie Nketiah, Gabriel Magalhaes, Hector Bellerin and Thomas Partey are all injured. Kieran Tierney and Gabriel Martinelli both had to come off against Chelsea with minor issues and are unlikely to be risked in midweek, while it remains to be seen if Martin Odegaard's visa issue will be sorted in time for him to make his second debut. One man who should feature for the first time in Arsenal colours is Aaron Ramsdale, while Reiss Nelson and former West Brom loanee Ainsley Maitland-Niles should be in line for starts as well.
Looking forward to seeing Ramsdale in goal. Also will be good to AMN at RB. With Bellerin looking like he's off we could do worse than to hang on to AMN, he's a versatile player and whilst he hasn't been brilliant. He's always come across as an assured player. Defo one with room to improve. Hopefully Auba can get a goal too and restore some of his shattered confidence.
Most of the reports suggest that we're going to field a fairly strong line-up. For confidence if nothing else. I have to say though. This won't be a walk in the park. West Brom's new manager is very good, they're playing good football and have also won 3 and drawn 1 of their opening 4 games. We obviously should be expecting to win, but I can't see it being easy, especially with how low on confidence we are currently.
Sounds bad but I really couldnt give a **** about this game. I've already lost my enthuesiasm for the Season.
Di Ditto. I can't think of anything to look forward to. We aren't winning anything and we play mind numbingly boring and inneffective football.
I know it gets dismissed a lot, but I would like us to win the League Cup. We haven't won it since 1993 (before I was even born FFS). We've been in 8 League Cup finals and lost 6 of them. I get that it's not seen as a 'big' trophy, but right now, we're in a position where beggars can't be choosers. We have no European football too, so I'd like us to go far in the domestic cups.
Arteta is desperate for any win, he would probably name a strong team for this game, and risk further injury to his misfiring players!
He has indeed named a very strong team: I don't understand why we're starting Kolasinac when he's in talks to move. He clearly has no desire to be at the club, so why play him? It's just stupidity. Arteta did the same thing in pre-season where he was giving minutes to players who evidently aren't in our plans moving forward. Don't get it.
WBA make 11 changes from their last league game and Arsenal play their strongest team. Which is the premiership side? Arteta has nowhere to hide now. If Arsenal don’t comprehensively beat this second string championship side then Arsenal’s problems are even deeper than they seem.
Not watching the game, but it seems WBA youth were on top in the early exchanges, also had 3 bookings so far. If we win tonight against the Championship youth team (a few players making their debut!), doubt it will make a difference with Arteta's position!
I know we’re winning (Aubameyang got his 2nd as we speak), but this has been far from convincing. We don’t look comfortable playing out from the back, too many loose passes and still look uncomfortable clearing the ball.