Arsenal continued their recent run of good form last weekend with a well deserved 4-1 win over Reading at the Emirates, and will be hoping to carry this form into Saturday’s meeting at the Hawthorns against Steve Clarke’s West Brom.
While it was a comfortable and complete performance against Reading last time out, West Brom will undoubtedly prove to be a tougher test for the Gunners.
Arsenal Team News
Arsenal are still without England stars Jack Wilshere and Theo Walcott, though Steve Bould has suggested that the duo could be back for next week’s game against Norwich, so it looks likely that Gervinho and Ramsey will retain their places, especially as Diaby will be out for the foreseeable future.
Nacho Monreal went off injured against Reading last weekend, however, he only suffered bruising so is fit for the West Brom match. This leaves Wenger with the option of starting Gibbs or Monreal, either of whom Arsenal fans would feel relieved to see start.
Lukas Fabianski continued his good form last week, as he stakes his claim to the Number 1 jersey in place of fellow Polish international Wojech Szczesny. If Fabianski keeps up the best form of his Arsenal career to date, then Szczesny may have to make do with warming the bench for a while.
Predicted Line-up
Following the great performance put in by the players last week appears unlikely that Wenger will want to tinker too much with the side for this match.
Fabianski; Sagna, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Gibbs; Arteta, Ramsey, Rosicky; Cazorla, Giroud, Gervinho
The Opposition
Under Steve Clarke, in his first managerial position, West Brom have gone from strength to strength, and are sitting comfortably in 8th place in the table, still in with a slight chance of making the European places, a far-cry from their former tag as a ‘yo-yo club’.
It is fair to say that the Baggies best player so far this season has been on-loan Chelsea striker Romelu Lukaku, who has tormented defences with his physical presence and is currently the clubs top goal scorer with 13 to his name so far. At only 19 years old the Belgian still has plenty to learn, though is already looking a great player.
West Brom will be without midfielder Youssoff Mulumbu for this fixture due to his comical red-card picked up in their 3-1 loss to West Ham last weekend. The midfielder has been an important member of the Baggies squad this season, so his absence can only benefit Arsenal.
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