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Preview: Arsenal v West Brom, duo passed fit, starting XI + prediction

By on September 25, 2017

Arsenal get back to Premier League action tonight as we welcome West Bromwich Albion to the Emirates Stadium.

We edged into the fourth round of the League Cup after beating Doncaster Rovers 1-0 last time out in what was an unconvincing performance from the ‘B team’.

I’m sure Arsene Wenger was expecting a far more comfortable night against the League One outfit but his focus will now now be on league matters as we look to close-in on the top four.

Our morale-boosting 0-0 draw at Chelsea last weekend showed we can put-in competitive performances away to our rivals but we still sit 12th in the table having won just two of our five games so far.

All of our so-called rivals won over the weekend, however, we can climb above West Brom and up to seventh – one point behind fourth-placed Tottenham – with a win tonight so let’s not mess it up.

Team News

Ozil has been passed fit to return to the squad after recovering from a knee injury that kept him out of the Chelsea and Doncaster games.

Walcott is also expected to be available despite limping off with a minor knee problem last week while Sanchez improved his fitness with 90 minutes in the League Cup clash.

Welbeck has been ruled out until after the international break with a groin injury so he’s out along with Coquelin, Chambers and Cazorla.

Wenger is set to recall his big-guns with the likes of Koscielny, Cech, Mustafi, Monreal, Ramsey, Bellerin, Kolasinac, Xhaka and Lacazette all expected to come back in after being rested.

As for West Brom, they will make late decisions over Brunt, Chadli and Burke as they are all classed as minor doubts.

Preferred line-up

Obviously it will be a blow to lose Welbeck but we could finally see Sanchez, Ozil and Lacazette all starting together in attack. Mustafi played in the middle of the back three last week but I’d like to see him on the right with Koscielny through the centre.

Bellerin and Kolasinac should be recalled in the wing-back positions while Ramsey deserves to start alongside Xhaka after his MOTM display at Chelsea.

It was great to see Wilshere back in an Arsenal shirt against Doncaster so he could be an option from the bench tonight.

This would be my line-up:

Prediction

We should know what to expect from Tony Pulis’s West Brom. They’ll be well organised, compact and hard to beat with the visitors being a threat from set pieces. However, we have a terrific record against the Baggies having beaten them in each of our last six meetings at the Emirates so I’m confident of another three points tonight. No doubt we’ll make it difficult for ourselves somehow, but I’m going for a 2-1 win. Arsenal 2-1 West Brom