please log in to view this image please log in to view this image Arsenal travel to the Hawthorns on Saturday afternoon to take on West Bromwich Albion in the Premier League. The Gunners have won five of their previous six league games, so they are a team in good form. Their latest win came against Reading at the Emirates, and it was a very comfortable afternoon for the Gunners. Gervinho opened the scoring after he got on the end of a shot come cross from Santi Cazorla and it was the Spaniard who got Arsenal’s second goal after the half-time break. Olivier Giroud scored the third goal of the game to all but seal the win. Reading got one goal back, but a Mikel Arteta penalty gave Arsenal their three goal gap back, as the Gunners cruised home. West Brom were away to West Ham in their previous league game, and it was a testing afternoon for the Baggies as they lost 3-1 the Hammers. In the defeat to West Ham, Youssouf Mulumbu got himself sent off and will therefore miss West Brom’s game against Arsenal. When they met earlier on in the season, Arsenal beat West Brom by two goals to zero at the Emirates, and it was story of two penalties. Santi Cazorla took a clear dive to win Arsenal’s first spot kick, which Mikel Arteta duly converted, and then Alex Oxlade Chamberlain was taken down in the penalty area to earn Arsenal’s second penalty. Arteta again scored, and West Brom were left frustrated by the antics of Cazorla. So he can expect a lot of abuse from West Brom fans when he visits the Hawthorns on Saturday. West Brom have nothing much left to play for in this season, as they currently sit in eighth place and well clear of the relegation dog fight. Their chances of reaching Europe are slim, so it’s going to be interesting to see how they approach the game on Saturday. Unlike West Brom, Arsenal do have something to play as they chase that Champions League spot and after Chelsea lost last weekend, the Gunners are close to getting back into that top four, but they must maintain their excellent league form. West Brom have had an excellent season, as they have punched above their weight all season. They currently sit in eighth place and are above some clubs that have far more resources than them. But thanks to some shrewd business in the transfer window, they have managed to sign some excellent players for a bargain. The likes of Claudio Yacob, Youssuf Mulumbu, Jonas Olsson and Shane Long are key members of the West Brom squad, and they were all brought in on the cheap. Steve Clarke has to be a candidate for manager of the year for the work he has done this season, and it’s remarkable to think that this season was his first as a manager. Clarke is a man that has always been highly respected within the game, but he earned that respect for his work as a coach at clubs like Chelsea,Liverpool and West Ham. But now he has got plenty of admiration for his work as a manager. Getting Romelu Lukaku on loan from Chelsea was a brilliant piece of business from the Baggies and Lukaku this season has proved why he is rated as one of the best young players in the world. The nineteen year Belgian has thirteen league goals to his name and with his power and pace, he can test even the best defenders. Lukaku has been compared to Drogba, and he was a man that gave Arsenal nightmares over the years. Lukaku can do his parent club a massive favour by helping West Brom beat Arsenal on Saturday. But he does face an Arsenal defence that have looked rejuvenated over the past weeks. Since dropping Thomas Vermaelen and Wojciech Szczęsny, the Arsenal defence has had an assured look in the previous three games. But on Saturday, they are going to be in for a test when they come up against the likes of Shane Long and Romelu Lukaku who between them have nineteen leagues goals this season. Against Reading, Arsene Wenger gave Thomas Rosicky a rare start, and he did not disappoint after he put in a very solid performance. But it was Gervinho that stole the show against Reading after he scored one and made two. The Ivorian has scored in his previous two leagues, and with Theo Walcott out injured, he should get the chance to score for a third consecutive league game. Santi Cazorla is starting to find his best form again and the little Spaniard was instrumental in Arsenal’s last two league wins. Jack Wilshere is expected to miss the game against West Brom, so Aaron Ramsey is likely to get another start in the heart of the Arsenal midfield. Arsenal have won their previous three leagues games against West Brom and with the form they are in, the Gunners would fancy their chances of getting another on Saturday. It should be excellent game and just like every other game in Arsenal’s run in, this is a massive game and one that Arsenal can’t afford to lose. Team News: (To Be Updated) 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: 133 Wins: 68 Draws: 31 Losses: 36 For: 237 Against: 172 Goal Difference: 65 Last 6 Meetings: Arsenal 2 - 0 West Bromwich Albion West Bromwich Albion 2 - 3 Arsenal Arsenal 3 - 0 West Bromwich Albion West Bromwich Albion 2 - 2 Arsenal lArsenal 2 - 3 West Bromwich Albion Arsenal 2 - 0 West Bromwich Albion (Carling Cup) please log in to view this image Manager's Views: (To Be Updated) My Team: please log in to view this image
jenkinson was playing really well. didn't see the need to drop him against swansea, so would still like to see him a few more times this season. also, gibbs is back, and monreal has been at fault for a couple of goals recently. not saying he should be dropped, but something for the manager to think about certainly.
Podolski seems to be out of favour with Wenger at the moment, not sure if it's an injury or just bad form.
Wilshere and Walcott are still injured, but they are back in 'light training', and have an outside chance of playing against Norwich. http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2013/apr/04/arsenal-jack-wilshere-theo-walcott
Arsenal.com ‏@Arsenal 6s Arsenal: Fabianski, Sagna, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Monreal, Arteta, Ramsey, Rosicky, Cazorla, Gervinho, Giroud #WBAvAFC
Good team selection, sticking with the back 5 that have been performing well. Jenkinson could probably argue for inclusion but Sagna has been good as well, the competition is obviously good for both of them. I like Rosicky and Cazorla playing together with one of them wide as they interchange and are both capable of that final pass. Ramsey has been playing well and so i'm happy he retains a spot in the team. It's good to see him regaining his form. And hopefully today we will see Gervinho push on and have a big impact. Consistency is what we need from our front line and Gervinho and Giroud will need to really get at the WBA defence from the start, get them worried. I think we will start strong and nick an early goal or two and it will be a comfortable victory.... but then when do Arsenal ever give you what you expect!
Goalkeeping calamities seem to be a feature of this fixture. See the fixture the Emirates where we lost 2-3 and Almunias nightmare, and then in the return at the Hawthorns where we drew 2-2. And then there was last season with Fulopgate. Hope we see a decent game today and no goalkeeping howlers in sight.... *touches wood*
I've got Irish Setanta coverage for some reason. Where's the normal Premier League coverage gone? I want to insult Tony Gay-le.
Here we go. Here's our chance to get back into the top four and one point behind the spuds Come on Arsenal
