Arsenal vs West Bromwich Albion – English Premier League – Preview

Posted on April 21, 2016 by Sreya

Arsenal hosts West Bromwich Albion at the Emirates on 21st April, Thursday as the Gunners aim to hold on to their spot in the top four of the English Premier League. Having failed to win four of their last six matches in the league, Arsenal have not only lost the race to finish in top two, but have put themselves in a precarious position to qualify for next season’s UEFA Champions League.

Arsenal are on the fourth position with sixty points from seventeen wins, only one point ahead of Manchester United who have played a game more. West Bromwich Albion are on the fourteenth position with forty points courtesy their ten victories in the league so far.

Arsenal played out a 1-1 draw against Crystal Palace in their last game. West Bromwich Albion, who have won only one of their last five games, lost to Watford by a 1-0 scoreline in their previous match.

Team News

Mikel Arteta is sidelined with an injury while Jack Wilshere, Santi Cazorla, Tomas Rosicky and Alex-Oxlaide Chamberlain are yet to regain match fitness. Chris Brunt and James Morrison are the only absentees due to injuries for West Bromwich Albion.

Arsenal Possible Starting Lineup: Petr Cech, Hector Bellerin, Per Mertesacker, Laurent Koscielny, Nacho Monreal, Francis Coquelin, Aaron Ramsey, Alexis Sanchez, Mesut Ozil, Alex Iwobi, Danny Welbeck.

West Bromwich Possible Starting Lineup: Ben Foster, Craig Dawson, Gareth McAuley, Jonny Evans, James Chester, Claudio Yacob, Darren Fletcher, Stephane Sessegnon, Craig Gardner, James McClean, Salomon Rondon.

Thoughts From Both Camps

“The season is far from over. It depends on who you play and the commitment you face. Against West Ham and Crystal Palace we were not efficient enough. That is a regret. It’s my job to get the team 100% ready. Every time it doesn’t work you question yourself, it is part of the job. In the end it is always down to me and I stand up to that.”

– Arsene Wenger, Arsenal.

“We get to go to these football grounds and play against great players, great football teams, at great stadiums. You relish it, you shouldn’t be nervous or worried about it. We’ve got the points to keep us in the Premier League, so we should really look forward to these games.”

– Tony Pulis, West Bromwich Albion.

Contributor’s Pick

According to Head-2-Head statistics, Arsenal have won four and lost only one of their last six encounters with West Bromwich Albion. In fact, Arsenal have won seven of their last eight home matches against West Bromwich Albion in all competitions.

West Bromwich Albion have failed to win ten of their last eleven away matches in the Premier League. Arsenal remain firm favorites to win this fixture, with a 2-0 result in favor of the hosts being the most probable outcome.