WBA vs Arsenal – Match preview, team news & lineups

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March 18, 2017

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Arsenal travel to West Bromwich looking for a way out of the crisis against always unpleasant WBA.

West Bromwich Albion host Arsenal in the opening game of Premier League’s 29th round at their Hawthorns.

The Baggies are enjoying their best season under Tony Pulis, but they have slowed down after reaching 40 points. Although they remain in the eighth position, they have lost their last two matches and that will fill Arsenal with confidence.

WBA’s latest drop in form coincided with injury of their most creative player, Matthew Phillips who produced eight assists and created seven big chances for his team-mates.

The Gunners are in a pretty bad place right now as they’ve lost three out of last four Premier League and fell to the fifth place on the table with one point above sixth-placed Manchester United and three points more than seventh-placed Everton.

Arsenal fans are more and more frustrated with Wenger and given the current atmosphere around the club and player form it wouldn’t be much of a surprise if Arsenal fail to bring home all three points.

Head to Head

The Gunners have lost just one of their last 12 Premier League games against West Brom, winning nine.

Match Facts

Arsenal have scored in all 21 of their Premier League meetings with West Brom; their best such 100 per cent record in the competition.
All three of Olivier Giroud’s Premier League goals versus the Baggies have been headers; with two of those proving to be match-winning strikes (Boxing Day 2016 and May 2014).
West Brom have currently suffered 599 home defeats in their league history – only Notts County (633) have lost more since 1888.
Alexis Sanchez has been involved in 26 Premier League goals this season (17 goals, nine assists) – more than any other player in the competition.
Since Tony Pulis took charge of WBA in January 2015, the Baggies have scored a higher proportion of goals from set-pieces (47.8% – 43/90) than any other team in the Premier League
In fact, only Sergio Ramos has scored more than Gareth McAuley of all center-backs in the top five leagues.

Team News

Already mentioned Matt Phillips is definitely out, while James Morisson is doubtful as he picked up an ankle injury, but will probably be ready enough to start the game.

Team News

Oxlade-Chamberlain sufferd a hamstring injury against Lincoln City and is doubtful for the WBA game, while Giroud might be given a chance up front as Iwobi didn’t impress lately so Alexis could return on the left wing. Mesut Ozil is finally 100% ready for the visitors.

WBA: Foster; Dawson, McAuley, Evans, Nyom; Livermore, Fletcher; Brunt, Chadli, Morrison; Rondon.

Arsenal: Cech; Bellerin, Mustafi, Koscielny, Monreal; Xhaka, Ramsey; Walcott, Ozil, Sanchez; Giroud.