Arsenal will go into this away game with West Brom on a real high after beating Borussia Dortmund and qualifying for the next round of the Champions League. The manner of the victory could be just as important as well, because it will have proved to the players that Arsenal can defend and keep a clean sheet against a very good side as well as creating chances and scoring goals.
But there have also been a lot of injury worries for Arsene Wenger to deal with and this may have affected the Gunners preparations for this early kick off. There is some good news for the Arsenal squad, though, as Danny Welbeck has recovered from his knee and hamstring problems and is fine to start.
The fit again Olivier Giroud also starts, so it will be interesting to see how Arsenal line up with the two strikers on the pitch, either in a 4-4-2 formation or with the England forward moved out wide. I suspect the latter as young Chamberlain also drops to the bench, as does Nacho Monreal with Laurent Koscielny back alongside Per Mertesacker.
UNfortunately however, our first chopice keeper is not ready to come back into the side so young Martinez keeps his place and will hopefully be as calm and assured as he was on Wednesday night.
Martinez
Chambers, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Monreal
Ramsey, Flamini, Cazorla
Alexis, Giroud, Welbeck
Subs: Macey, Gibbs, Bellerin, Rosicky, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Campbell, Podolski
Arsenal should win this one if we play like we have in the last two games, but with us this season, you never know…