Another three points look certain for Arsenal as West Brom come to the capital
Arsenal 1.21; Draw 6.35; West Brom 14.36
Its a must win game for Arsenal.
Already four points behind Chelsea and with a fixture against the current Premier League leaders in two weeks, Arsenal could find themselves seven points off the pace early in the season. Although not insurmountable the psychological scars of another defeat to Chelsea, plus a big gap between the two clubs will chime ominously for Arsene Wenger.
Surely it would take a fool to bet against Arsenal taking all three points against the Baggies at the Emirates this Saturday. The statistics tell the whole story. In the last ten meetings between the two clubs, Arsenal have won eight times with West Broms solitary victory coming in a game at the Hawthorns in 2004. Arsenal have scored ten goals at home this season and conceded just the once whilst West Brom have failed to score in their last four Premier League away matches.
Thomas Vermaelen is still struggling with an achilles injury so Laurent Koscielny and Sebastien Squillaci will form the centre of defence. The attack pretty much picks itself too. Fabregas, Walcott and Bendtner are all injured so the triumvirate of Arshavin, Nasri and Chamakh should start.
It is the midfield three that the Arsenal manager has an interesting decision to make. Song will definitely start but who will partner him? Denlson, Wilshere and Diaby will fight for the two remaining spots. Arguably the Englishman is head and shoulders above the other two in terms of ability.
Wenger may see this as the perfect opportunity to start Diaby so he is able to regain fitness for the Chelsea game. It seems implausible that the Arsenal manager will pick the Brazilian ahead of the mercurial Wilshere.
West Brom howe! ver, are enjoying their best ever start to the Premier League. They sit in tenth place and their points haul is the best that they have ever recorded in the Premier League after five games.
The Baggies began the season terribly with a 6-0 drubbing by Chelsea but Roberto Di Matteo has admirably raised his teams morale. Coming off a 3-1 win against Birmingham the players will be in high spirits, nevertheless it would be unwise for anyone to believe that the visitors can come away with even a point from this game.
The West Brom manager likes to encourage his teams to play good football but do not expect him to set his side up similarly to Ian Holloway. Di Matteo will probably play a 4-5-1 system with the lone striker looking to win free kicks and corners where Arsenal are susceptible to leaking goals.
Defender Jonas Olsson sounded bullish this week when speaking with regards to Saturdays match. He stated that:
Seven points after five games is pretty good and well go to the Emirates and try and get something out of that game.It will be difficult but we feel, like we did at Anfield, that on a good day we can get something out of any game..Well go there with confidence.
New signing Peter Odemwingie has made an excellent start to his career at West Brom. The Uzbek has already scored three times and looks like a promising player. He will most probably start up front on his own.
It may not be another 6-0 win for Arsenal but they should win by two or three.
101gg predicts: Arsenal 3 West Brom 0
Arsenal 1.21; Draw 6.35; West Brom 14.36
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