Arsenal VS West Bromwich Albion
Monday (26/12/2016)
16:00 (WAT)
Monday (26/12/2016)
16:00 (WAT)
It’s a big game for…
Arsène Wenger: Quite simply, after back-to-back defeats, the pressure is on Wenger to ensure Arsenal’s title challenge does not slide completely off the rails this Christmas.
Tony Pulis, his old bête noire, is unlikely to make it easy for him. His West Bromwich Albion side are in form and primed for an impressive finish this season.
TEAM NEWS
For Arsenal Danny Welbeck and Aaron Ramsey are both back in training but neither are likely to be fit enough for this match. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain also misses out with a slight muscle problem.
West Brom could welcome back Jonny Evans from a calf injury but James Morrison is a doubt with the flu.
MANAGER QUOTES
Arsene Wenger: "I always said that I will judge where I stand in spring and make my decisions then. And the club is free as well. It’s not because I am here a long time that I have any rights. We are both on the same boat."
"There are plenty of managers who [get to] the end of their contract. It happened to me before. I signed sometimes in March, April for longer contracts. So I don’t think it’s a problem."
Tony Pulis: "I don't want to say any more other than confirm our bid (Morgan Schneiderlin). We have to be fair to Manchester United and the player. We have made bids for about five players.
"Doing business with people should be done directly with them. We aren't going to try and do everything in one window. It might take a couple of windows to get the quality in that we want."
MATCH FACTS
- Arsenal have lost just one of their last 11 Premier League games against West Brom, winning eight of them (D2).
- The Baggies’ 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 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. 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.
- West Brom have won two and lost two of their four games so far in December. The Baggies haven’t won three Premier League matches in the same month since November 2012 (4).
- Matt Phillips has had a hand in seven goals in his last seven Premier League appearances (three goals, four assists).
- Alexis Sanchez has been involved in 18 goals in 17 Premier League appearances for Arsenal this season (12 goals, 6 assists); one more than he managed in 30 league appearances last season (17 – 13 goals, 4 assists).
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