WBA vs Arsenal Preview, Team News, Likely Line-ups & Predicted Score

Arsenal travel to the Midlands to take on West Bromwich Albion at the Hawthorns on Saturday afternoon looking to maintain the pressure on the top-four.

We head into this weekends action in fine form having won five of our last six games, leaving us just two points off fourth placed Chelsea and four behind third placed Tottenham – but we hold a game in hand over our north London rivals.

With both Chelsea and Tottenham not playing until Sunday, this game gives us a great chance to put the pressure on and move into the top-four with a win.

Last week’s 4-1 victory over Reading was as easy a game as your likely to get in the Premier League and it wouldn’t have flattered us if we’d have scored double figures. While the visitors were poor opposition that day, we played some great stuff and more of the same on Saturday should give us a great chance of claiming another three points.

West Brom are coasting to the finish line having already secured their place in the top-flight for another year but with Steve Clarke’s men sitting in an impressive 8th position in the table, they won’t be taking games lightly and will want to finish as high as possible this season.

They lost 3-1 at West Ham last weekend but have been a difficult side to beat at home, so it’s not going to be an easy game by any stretch of the imagination.

Team News

Unfortunately, Jack Wilshere and Theo Walcott are once again missing with ankle and thigh injuries. However, the pair are back running outside and could return next week against Norwich.

Nacho Monreal is expected to play after shaking off a minor knock picked up when he smashed his knee into the post trying to prevent Reading’s consolation goal last weekend. Kieran Gibbs is pushing him for the left-back spot and may come in if Arsene Wenger decides to shake things up.

Abou Diaby is our only major long-term injury concern and I can’t see the boss making too many changes from the side that eased past the Royals. That means Thomas Vermaelen and Wojciech Szczesny are likely to continue on the bench.

Gervinho and Tomas Rosicky were impressive last week and probably deserve to keep their places but Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Lukas Podolski are waiting in the wings if Wenger makes any changes.

WBA will be without midfielder Youssouf Mulumbu for the game after he stupidly got himself sent off last week for kicking the ball at an opponent against West Ham last week. James Morrison is expected to step in after recovering from a hamstring problem.

Likely Line-ups

Predicted Score

We have fond memories of this fixture from last season when Martin Fullop helped us to a 3-2 win on the final day and with it securing 3rd place in the Premier League which eventually consigned Tottenham to the Europa League. Hopefully history will repeat itself! WBA 1-3 Arsenal

What would be your starting eleven and whats your score prediction for the game?  Get involved in the comments section below.