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Preview: West Brom v Arsenal: trio ruled out, Welbeck to start + prediction

By on December 30, 2017

danny welbeck arsenal

Arsenal desperately need a win to keep the pressure on the top four when we take on West Brom at the Hawthorns on Sunday afternoon.

Liverpool came from behind to beat Leicester 2-1 today so they’ve opened up a four-point advantage in fourth place meaning we have to close the gap tomorrow to stay in touch.

We held on to secure a 3-2 victory at Crystal Palace on Thursday night to sit level on points with fifth-placed Tottenham and it was certainly a much-better performance from the players.

Hopefully we see more of the same tomorrow as I’m expecting a tough game against a West Brom side who are fighting for their lives at the bottom of the table.

They haven’t won in their last 18 Premier League games but you just know they are going to be right up for this game so I hope the players don’t take anything for granted.

Team news

We’ll continued to be without Aaron Ramsey as he’s still nursing a hamstring injury while Nacho Monreal is also out with an ankle problem.

Olivier Giroud has been ruled out until mid-January with a hamstring injury and his absence will be a big blow tomorrow as this is the type of game he’d have been useful for.

As for West Brom, they’ll be without Nacer Chadli as he’s been ruled out for two months with a hip injury while Salomon Rondon is a doubt with a hamstring problem.

Preferred  line-up

I’d like to see us go with a back four and I think it would be wise to give Laurent Koscielny’s Achilles a rest before it goes again. We have Chelsea on Wednesday so it’s important we don’t pick up any injuries.

Granit Xhaka was able to train today so it seems the injury that forced him off on Thursday wasn’t serious while this period of games will be a big test for Jack Wilshere. Let’s hope he can come through unscathed.

By going four at the back it gives us an extra man in attack and I’d like to see Danny Welbeck given a chance with Mesut Ozil playing in a slightly deeper role.

Alexis Sanchez was back in form against Palace so let’s hope that continues tomorrow while I’d love to see Alexandre Lacazette back among the goals as he hasn’t scored for five games.

This would be my line-up:

Likely West Brom XI: Foster; Dawson, Hegazi, Evans, Gibbs; Phillips, Livermore, Barry, Brunt; Robson-Kanu, Rodriguez

Predicted score

We’ve had some poor results at the Hawthorns recently having lost on our last two visits but I’m confident we can get back to winning ways tomorrow. The Baggies have been woeful for most of the season and if we play with the pace and intensity we did against Palace then we’ll win this game. West Brom 0-2 Arsenal