SOCCERSNIPERS BRINGS YOU PREVIEW OF TODAYS BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE.
TEAM NEWS
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has ruled out Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain with a groin injury and says he cannot put a timescale on the midfielder's return.
Jack Wilshere and Kieran Gibbs remain on the sidelines, while Bacary Sagna is struggling to overcome a knee problem.
West Brom defender Gareth McAuley looks set to return after missing the last two games with a calf injury.
Steven Reid is doubtful with a groin problem, while Liam Ridgewell and Zoltan Gera should return next week.
MATCH PREVIEW
Depending on Everton's result against Manchester City, Arsenal might already be guaranteed a Champions League place for the 17th year in succession before they kick off against West Brom. If Everton lose this weekend, then Arsenal qualify whatever happens, while a point will be enough for the Gunners if Everton have drawn. An Arsenal win would make Everton's result irrelevant anyway.
The challenge for the title is long gone, but Arsene Wenger feels his team are getting back to their creative and confident best and there is, of course, the FA Cup final against Hull to look forward to as they seek to end their nine-year trophy drought.
West Brom finally won at home under Pepe Mel last weekend and what a time to do it. They were sliding uncomfortably close to the relegation zone but three points against West Ham at The Hawthorns has lifted them to the brink of safety on 36. Albion's form recently hasn't been too bad though, losing just one of the last five and that was 3-1 away at title-chasing Manchester City.
With Premier League football all but assured, the club will have a big decision to make at the end of the season. Namely, do they move forward with Mel at the helm and back him as he tries to rebuild with his own ideas and personnel?
Albion's record in London is poor, with only one win from 19 games in the capital since they last won at Arsenal, 3-2, in September 2010. They did, however, manage a 1-1 draw in the reverse fixture at the Hawthorns, but with Arsenal unbeaten at home in their last 17 matches, West Brom will have their work cut out.
MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head
- Arsenal have lost just two of their last 15 Premier League meetings with West Brom, and they're unbeaten in the last six.
- The Gunners have found the net in all of their 15 Premier League clashes with the Baggies.
Arsenal
- Arsenal haven't lost at home in the league since the opening day of the season, with 12 wins and five draws from their last 17 matches.
- The Gunners have won three successive league games. This follows a run which saw them win just two of their previous nine.
- This weekend could see Arsenal guarantee a top-four finish for an 18th consecutive season. They last finished outside the top four in 1995-96.
- They have the second best record in the league against teams in the bottom half of the table. Out of their 18 matches they have won 15, drawn two and lost just once.
- Arsene Wenger's side have kept 15 clean sheets in the league. Only Chelsea, with 17, have kept more.
West Bromwich Albion
- West Brom haven't won back-to-back league matches since September, when they beat Sunderland 3-0 at home and then won 2-1 against Manchester United at Old Trafford.
- Eight of West Brom's last nine league goals have come before half-time.
- The Baggies are one of three Premier League clubs who are yet to receive a red card during this campaign. Aston Villa and Southampton are the other two.
- West Brom are unbeaten in all five league matches when Saido Berahino has scored this season, winning four of them. He scored his first goal since 1 January in the win over West Ham last weekend
- Enjoy your weekend folks...soccersnipers.
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