Arsenal will be looking to keep up their top four challenge when they visit The Hawthorns to play West Bromwich Albion on Saturday afternoon. The Gunners (15-8-7) go into the latest round of Premier League games just two points behind fourth-placed Chelsea, but star man Theo Walcott has called on the team to work on their consistency to ensure future silverware. "If we get a bad result, you see a reaction," said Walcott.
"We shouldn't have to get a bad result and then perform well in the next game. It should always be there. The guys have got it. Mentally, they are very strong. It's realizing how we cope when we come back from those disappointing results. We just need to do it every week - it's as simple as that. "There's great potential there. We've had too much experience now to be challenging for fourth. We need to be challenging for the Premier League because that's what we want to be known for. We want to be in the history books… we need to win something now."
West Brom (13-5-13) are comfortably in mid-table, but remain with an outside chance of claiming a Europa League place, and goalkeeper Ben Foster has urged his team to finish the season strongly. "I think it will be a very big ask to qualify for Europe, but we've got seven games left with four at home and three away," said Foster.
"We know our home form has been very good so if we can get three wins from our four games we will be there or thereabouts. "Our aim is to reach the mid-50s. We're on 44 now and if we can pick up another three or four wins it keeps us in the mix, at least." Steve Clarke's West Brom have won three of their last six league games after a run of six without a win. The Baggies are the only team in the division to have an equal number of wins and losses (13), and are also on the same number of goals scored as goals allowed (41). Only the Manchester clubs have won more home games than West Brom's nine this season.
With just 14 goals conceded at The Hawthorns, the Baggies have the fourth best home defensive record in the league - behind only Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester City. The Gunners have won five of their last six and have allowed just four goals in that run - keeping three clean sheets. They have the best away defensive record in the league, with just 13 goals conceded in 15 games on the road. Arsenal won 2-0 when these teams met at the Emirates in December, with Mikel Arteta scoring two penalties after questionable decisions.
The Gunners have won their last three games against West Brom, outscoring the Baggies 8-2 in those matches, and haven't lost in four at The Hawthorns. West Brom have managed just one win in their last ten meetings with Arsenal. Arsenal's last game against Reading was relatively easy, at least that was evident from the overall statistics of the match, Reading were lucky to concede just four goals, however the game at Hawthorns won't be such easy, it will be a tougher test. It took a 'fumbling and floppy' Martin Fulop a very bad game for Arsenal to secure a 3-2 win last season, that game sealed 3rd place and an automatic Champions League spot, the Gunners may not enjoy such luxury of a bad goalkeeper from the Baggies, the team will have to be up for it from kick off.
Team News: WBA: West Brom have doubts over James Morrison (hamstring), but are without Grant Thorne (knee) and Zoltan Gera (knee) until next season.
ARSENAL: Nacho Monreal returns to the squad after knee injury concerns from last match, but Abou Diaby (knee), Walcott (groin) and Jack Wilshere (ankle) are all expected to miss out. Arsenal must continue with their record of conceding fewer goals away from home on Saturday if they are to have any chance of coming tops against WBA, considering Romelu Lukaku's exceptional form for the home team, he can take on defenders and punish any complacency in Arsenal's defense.
Opta stats
2.The Gunners are yet to lose a Premier League game that they have taken the lead in this season (W15 D2).
3. West Brom's pairing of Jonas Olsson and Gareth McAuley have made 32 blocks each this season. Only Ryan Shawcross (33) and Ashley Williams (42) have made more.
Arsenal must now forget their stroll against Reading and be weary of treas Europa League spot chasing Albions as they can pose on the day, or at least they will be aiming to want to secure their highest Premier League finish in history. Can the Arsenal soar high at Hawthorns and secure all three points?
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| Predicted Line Ups Via SkySports |
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