Englsih Premier League Preview: West Bromwich Albion vs. Arsenal
The 16th placed West Bromwich Albion will host second placed Arsenal in an English Premier League encounter at the Hawthorns on the 19th of March, Saturday. The Gunners are placed three points behind league leaders Manchester United
and also have an extra game in hand.
West Bromwich Albion
West Brom’s recent performances have been pretty decent after arrival of new manager Roy Hodgson as the Baggies have lost just once in their last five matches. Lady Luck has been on their side in the recent games, as they have been able to snatch wins with
the help of late goals from on-loan striker from Arsenal, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Carlos-Vela-c8558. The Mexican star will not come to their rescue in this game, as he is ineligible to play against his parent club.
The Baggies will be looking to do a double over Arsene Wenger’s side for the first time in their history. They beat the Gunners 3-2 in the corresponding fixture at the Emirates, earlier this ongoing 2010-11 season.
Arsenal
Arsenal will be looking to put the FA Cup quarter-final defeat against United behind them and will hope to collect all three points from this game. The Gunners’ prime focus will be on the Premier League now, as they have been knocked out of other three competitions
in space of two weeks.
The North Londoners have the best away record in the Premier League this season, as they have won seven out of the 13 games on travel and have lost only twice. Arsene Wenger’s side has been in a poor run of form recently, having won only once in their last
five outings.
Team News
West Bromwich Albion
The Baggies will dearly miss Vela and he will be replaced by Marc-Antoine Fortune upfront. In-form midfielder Graham Dorrans will miss this game due to an ankle injury and http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Somen-Tchoyi-c33772 is expected to take his place. Yussuf Mulumbu will undergo a fitness
test ahead of the match after recovering from a calf injury.
Arsenal
The Gunners are facing a host of injury concerns, as Skipper Cesc Fabregas has joined seven other first team starters on the long term absentee list. Arsenal have re-signed former goalkeeper http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Jens-Lehmann-c18297 on a short term deal after injuries to three of their
regular keepers. The German will play as an understudy for http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Johan-Djourou-c18779, who dislocated his shoulder against United last weekend.
Players to Watch
Sebastian Squillaci
The French International has impressed very few since joining from Spanish side Sevilla at the start of the current season. The former Lyon man has had a poor season to say the least, as he has kept only four clean sheets in 17 starts in the league. He will
replace Djourou, who has not conceded a goal in 11 out of his 15 starts for the Gunners this season.
His performance will have a lot to say if the Gunners are able to snatch all three points at the Hawthorns.
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Peter-Odemwingie-c29794
The Nigerian striker has done a decent job upfront for West Brom and is their leading goal scorer this season. He has nine goals and four assists to his name this season and his overall play has been influential in the Baggies performances.
Prediction:
Having won the earlier fixture at the Emirates this season and injury worries for Arsenal, West Brom are expected to give the Gunners a full run for their money at the Hawthorns. However, Robin Van Persie’s goal scoring prowess this season might help Arsenal
to edge out a close win. Prediction: 1-2
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