Arsenal vs West Bromwich Albion Preview, Possible Lineups & Prediction

Arsenal vs West Bromwich Albion  Preview, Possible Lineups & Prediction

West Bromwich Albion welcome Arsenal  to The Hawthorns on Saturday, with both clubs looking to bounce back from two successive defeats in the Premier League.Arsenal return to domestic action on Saturday after an impressive 2-0 victory over Borussia Dortmund in the UEFA Champions League  on  Tuesday. Gunners fans will be hoping their side can end a two-game losing streak in Premier League. West Brom (3-4-5) have dropped within three points of the relegation places after suffering back-to-back 2-0 losses at home to Newcastle United on Nov. 9 and away to Jose Mourinho's Chelsea last Saturday while Alan Irvine’s side’s only victory in their last six has come at Leicester City.

Eighth-place Arsenal (4-5-3) lost their last two Premier League matches, 2-1 at Swansea and 2-1 at home to Manchester United, but have had success in Europe.The Gunners made it through to the second stage of the Champions League for the 15th successive season after beating Borussia Dortmund 2-0 at the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday with goals from Yaya Sanogo and Alexis Sanchez.

Gunners defender Per Mertesacker has called on his Arsenal teammates to build on their victory against Dortmund when they travel to The Hawthorns.

"We were very convincing (against Dortmund)," Mertesacker told his club's official website. "We have to show character and that is what makes me really happy for the next few games, because we have to sharpen up in the Premier League as well."Saturday is a good chance to show everyone that we are still alive. We have secured Champions League (last-16) football and that gives us a life, but that has nothing to do with the Premier League."

The all-time Premier League record is Arsenal 11 wins, West Brom two wins and three draws, with the Gunners outscoring Albion 34-17 in the 16 meetings

Team News

West Bromwich Albion

West Brom will be without the suspended Yacob,  while centre-back Jonas Olsson has been out for most of the season and is not due back until the new year. West Brom signed a number of defenders over the summer and it’s English duo Joleon Lescott and Craig Dawson who have partnered in the middle for most of the season so far. 

Arsenal

More bad  news on the injury front for Gunners fans this week as it was confirmed that Jack Wilshere will be out for three months with an ankle injury.

Goalkeeper Wojciech Szczęsny missed the midweek action with a rib injury but the Polish goalkeeper is expected to be fit enough for this one. Summer signing David Ospina continues to be ruled out through injury. Should Arsenal’s first choice not return, Damián Martínez kept a clean sheet versus Borussia Dortmund.

Laurent Koscielny was an unused substitute midweek as the French centre-back returned to the squad after a lengthy layoff. Provided he’s fit to start this one, Nacho Monreal will be back on the substitute’s bench. Mathieu Debuchy is still sidelined.

Along with Wilshere, a number of Wenger’s first-choice midweek are out. Mesut Özil is a long-term absentee and Mikel Arteta is out after picking up an injury against Dortmund. Theo Walcott is a doubt with a groin injury. Abou Diaby and Serge Gnabry have been out for a while.

Olivier Giroud marked his return with a consolation goal in defeat to Manchester United last weekend and is pushing Danny Welbeck to start this one.

West Brom play a conservative way under Alan Irvine – they often have a good defensive shape and don’t throw too many players forward. Youssouf Mulumbu hasn’t played too much recently but will surely be considered to knock Arsenal’s slight midfield off the ball. Saido Berahino offers pace on the counter and should be a useful threat with Arsenal so poor at defending on the counter-attack and with a huge pace advantage versus Per Mertesacker.

Laurent Koscielny returning is a boost to the Arsenal defence. Despite a large number of midfielders on the books, Arsène Wenger is getting shorter on options with the number of injuries his side are picking up. Mathieu Flaimini has been poor protecting his back four this season but going forward Arsenal will control possession and create chances with this midfield. 

Possible Lineup

Arsenal:

Szczesny ,Gibbs ,Mertasacker ,Koscielny ,Chambers ,Flamini ,Oxalade Chamberlian ,Ramsey ,Sanchez ,Cazorla ,Welbeck

West Bromwich Albion:

Foster ,Wisdom ,Dawson ,Lescott ,Pocognoli ,Mulumbu ,Gardener ,Brunt , Sessegnon ,Dorrans ,Brahimo

Key Matchups

Alexis Sanchez vs Craig Gardner

Alexis Sánchez has terrorised most defences this season and should the Chilean start behind the striker it won’t bode well for the home fans. Craig Gardner is prone to picking up cards and Sánchez loves to run at his opponents. Arsenal’s biggest summer signing is a very favouable match up here – neither centre-back is the quickest in the world either. 

Danny Welbeck vs Joleon Lescott

The Arsenal striker has the advantage when it comes to pace in this one. Joleon Lescott is prone to errors and the former England international could easily be exposed in this match by an Arsenal side who are likely to get in and around the West Brom penalty area several times in this match. Welbeck is far from any sort of form of late but should see a few chances in this game provided he starts. 

Saido Berahino vs Per Mertesacker

One favourable matchup West Brom do have in this match is the pace and goalscoring form of their striker Saido Berahino. The young Englishman certainly has the beating of Per Mertesacker when it comes to pace and isn’t a bad shout to find the back of the net in this one with the Gunners looking so poor at defending counter-attacks this season. 

Previous meeting: Arsenal 2 WBA 0

Prediction: West Brom 1-2 Arsenal

Both sides out of form in the league but we’re going with Arsène Wenger’s side to take three points from the Hawthorns on Saturday. Not an easy ground to go too but with the quality of Alexis Sánchez and that attack there’s enough fire power to outscore the struggling home side.