Arsene Wenger and the Arsenal players are under severe pressure after crashing out of the Champions League and slipping out of the top four of the Premier League in recent weeks, although there is the cushion of knowing that we have two games in hand on fourth placed Liverpool and would go back above them if we win them.
However, the away game against West Brom managed by one of Arsenal and Wenger’s often problematic managers in Tony Pulis is no easy task and so I am expecting a tough test for the Gunners today. After the Baggies lost thier two previous EPL games, though, conceding five without reply to Everton and Crystal Palace, our manager seems to expect them to be set up to defend and stifle our creativity, so he has responded by dropping the combative Francis Coquelin and opting for a central midfield of Xhaka and Ramsey instead.
Cech
Bellerin, Koscielny, Mustafi, Monreal
Ramsey, Xhaka
Walcott, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Sanchez
Welbeck
Subs: Ospina, Mertesacker, Gabriel, Coquelin, Elneny, Iwobi, Giroud.
I like the fact that our manager has gone for the pace of Welbeck in the centre forward role, with Giroud back on the bench and ready to perform his super sub heroics if called upon. It is good to see Elneny back in the squad after hi8s injury problem as well and to have the Ox fit again, but where is Mesut Ozil?
Anyway, let’s get down to business and hopefully see Arsenal back to something like the attacking fluency that has been lacking of late.
Bob.