After managing to stitch a 12 game unbeaten streak in the Premier League early this season, Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal are currently in a mini slump as they have lost both their previous games, playing away from home. Everton and Manchester City walked away from all three points in the last two fixtures against the Gunners and this has pushed them down into the 4th place, more than 10 points away from the top of the table. However, Wenger will have his chance of getting back to winning ways this week as the Gunners take on Tony Pulis’ West Brom side on Boxing Day. The Baggies are currently in the 8th place in the points table and are fresh from a loss at home against Manchester United. Wenger is expected to play his strongest side in search of all three points and here is the preview of this game along with the team news, predicted lineups, predictions and betting odds:
The League game between Arsenal and West Bromwich Albion, will be played on Monday, the 26th of December at the Emirates in London. The kick off is scheduled at 3:00 pm BST (8:30 pm IST)
Team News:
Wenger was given a great boost after star striker Danny Welbeck is back in training after a long term injury. He is not expected to play this game alongside Alex Oxlade Chamberlain, Shkodran Mustafi, Santi Cazorla, Mathieu Debuchy and Per Mertesacker who are all out injured. Midfielder Aaron Ramsey will undergo a late fitness test before he can be passed fit for this game.
Tony Pulis also has a few injuries to worry about ahead of this game. Saido Berahino and James Morrison are still sidelined while Jonny Evans might return back to action after two weeks.
Expected lineups:
Arsenal:
Cech; Bellerin, Koscielny, Gabriel, Monreal; Coquelin, Xhaka; Walcott, Ozil, Iwobi; Sanchez
West Bromwich Albion:
Forster, Dawson, McAuley, Olsson, Nyom, Fletcher, Yacob, Chadli, Brunt, Phillips, Rondon
Key Battles:
Alexis Sanchez vs Gareth McAuley:
The Chilean international has been in sublime form playing in a false-9 role and he is expected to be the biggest threat for West Brom in this game. But McAuely, West Brom’s first choice center back, has also been solid in the last few games and will make it hard for the Arsenal man to have an effect on the game. Surely, it is a battle that can decide the outcome of the game.
Solomon Rondon vs Laurent Koscielny:
Arguable the most entertaining battle in this game will be between Arsenal’s man mountain Koscielny and West Brom’s top scorer Rondon on Monday. The French international is easily one of the best defenders in world football at the moment but Rondon is in sizzling form for his side and can easily get the better of him. Surely, Koscielny needs to have we good game if Arsenal are to take anything from this game.
Key Stats:
West Brom’s only away Premier League win versus Arsenal came in September 2010, as they ran out 3-2 winners at the Emirates (D1 L8).
The Gunners’ 4-0 defeat to Southampton last season was their heaviest defeat on Boxing Day since 1910 against Manchester United.
The last time West Brom played Arsenal on Boxing Day was in 2002 – going 1-0 up before losing 2-1 to the Gunners.
West Brom have lost two consecutive league games played on December 26th; they’ve not lost three Boxing Day fixtures in a row since 1987.
Arsenal are the only team to have lost three Premier League matches that they have been leading in so far this season (vs Liverpool, Everton and Manchester City). In 2015/16, they only lost twice in this manner all season.
The Gunners have lost their last two Premier League games (vs Everton and Man City) – they haven’t lost three successive Premier League matches since January 2012. This is also the last time that they lost as many as three league games in the same month.
Betting Odds:
Arsenal: 1/3
Draw: 4/1
West Bromwich Albion: 8/1
Predictions:
After two back to back losses, Arsenal, will hope to get back to winning ways but West Brom have shown that they can be hard to beat this season and will surely put on a fight away from home in this game. The Gunners are playing at home and might be expected to take all three points but Pulis’ side will make it as hard as possible for the home side.
Our Prediction: Arsenal 2-1 West Bromwich Albion