Arsenal travel to the Midlands to
take on West Bromwich Albion at
the Hawthorns on Saturday
afternoon looking to maintain
the pressure on the top-four.
We head into this weekends
action in fine form having won
five of our last six games,
leaving us just two points off
fourth placed Chelsea and four
behind third placed Tottenham –
but we hold a game in hand over
our north London rivals.
With both Chelsea and
Tottenham not playing until
Sunday, this game gives us a
great chance to put the pressure
on and move into the top-four
with a win.
Last week’s 4-1 victory over
Reading was as easy a game as
your likely to get in the Premier
League and it wouldn’t have
flattered us if we’d have scored
double figures. While the visitors
were poor opposition that day,
we played some great stuff and
more of the same on Saturday
should give us a great chance of
claiming another three points.
West Brom are coasting to the
finish line having already
secured their place in the top-
flight for another year but with
Steve Clarke’s men sitting in an
impressive 8th position in the
table, they won’t be taking
games lightly and will want to
finish as high as possible this
season.
They lost 3-1 at West Ham last
weekend but have been a
difficult side to beat at home, so
it’s not going to be an easy game
by any stretch of the
imagination.
Team News
Unfortunately, Jack Wilshere
and Theo Walcott are once again
missing with ankle and thigh
injuries. However, the pair are
back running outside and could
return next week against
Norwich.
Nacho Monreal is expected to
play after shaking off a minor
knock picked up when he
smashed his knee into the post
trying to prevent Reading’s
consolation goal last weekend.
Kieran Gibbs is pushing him for
the left-back spot and may come
in if Arsene Wenger decides to
shake things up.
Abou Diaby is our only major
long-term injury concern and I
can’t see the boss making too
many changes from the side that
eased past the Royals. That
means Thomas Vermaelen and
Wojciech Szczesny are likely to
continue on the bench.
Gervinho and Tomas Rosicky
were impressive last week and
probably deserve to keep their
places but Alex Oxlade-
Chamberlain and Lukas Podolski
are waiting in the wings if
Wenger makes any changes.
WBA will be without midfielder
Youssouf Mulumbu for the game
after he stupidly got himself sent
off last week for kicking the ball
at an opponent against West
Ham last week. James Morrison is
expected to step in after
recovering from a hamstring
problem.

. . During dis match last season, wenga 4 nearly die of hat atack! . . COYG! . .