West Bromwich Albion gave their own match preview for the upcoming Arsenal match on their official website, but did not sound confident of getting result today.
Albion’s season continues on Boxing Day as they make the trip to North London to face Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium.
The opposition
After successive defeats, Arsene Wenger’s men have dropped to fourth in the Premier League. 2-1 reverses at Everton and Manchester City have prompted yet more speculation about the Gooners title credentials. But Wenger will be looking at a run of three fixtures in eight days, starting with the Baggies, as an opportunity to get back on track.
Last time out
Having already secured their Premier League status for another year, Albion were undone at the Emirates in April last season by a first-half double from Alexis Sanchez.
image: http://www.wba.co.uk/cms_images/jt-ars-i151-3481928.jpg
THREE AND EASY: Jerome Thomas wraps it up for Albion at Arsenal in 2010
Team news
Jonny Evans remains a doubt for the Baggies after missing the last two games through injury.
Arsenal’s injury list is substantially larger. Welbeck, Cazorla, Mertesacker, Debuchy, Mustafi and Oxlade-Chamberlain all look likely to miss out.
Stats
Eighth at Christmas with 23 points, Albion have made an impressive start to the campaign. With the Baggies conceding just 1.24 goals per game, Claudio Yacob has played a key role in shutting out the opposition. Since his move to The Hawthorns, Yacob has made 432 tackles in the Premier League, a club high.
Arsenal’s Alexis Sanchez is second in the rankings for both goals (12) and assists (6) in the league this season. Only Diego Costa has scored more (13), with Kevin De Bruyne leading the way for assists (9). Theo Walcott, meanwhile, has scored three in his last five.
From the archive
Robert Earnshaw bagged the equaliser as Albion came from one nil down to draw with Arsenal at Highbury in 2004.
It’s nice for West Brom to be reliving positive days, but all this says to me is that they have done well so far this term, but expect to get absolutely nothing from today’s match-up.
Should they have more confidence given our recent losses?
“West Brom unconfident of beating Arsenal”
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Yeah….somewhat how the story begins
why then does it end differently?
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Well today, i’m anticipating an Arsenal win whilst hoping for a chelski, citeh and manure slip-up
*Tough prayer request tho*
Say that to the players.
Let them get enough confidence to win the match since the 8 million a year manager can’t do that.
@soopa ,pray that we win daily and don’t wish a downfall for anybody or else you fall yourself.
Play your own game and win
Time will tell.