West Bromwich Albion vs Arsenal 2011-12 Preview

With so much at stake for today's match, Arsenal travel to the Hawthorns for a tricky game against West Brom. Though we won with relative ease when we met earlier in the season, it will be an entirely different game with nerves jangling and the home support favouring our opposition. Form guide, league position and earlier meeting will not matter today.

After our cock up against Norwich last week, we are still fortunate that third place is still in our hands. At the end of today all that matters is that we finish third. The straightforward way will be to win today's match, or else we have to rely on prayers and miracles.

Match Thoughts:

• Its the last game for Pat Rice after 44 years with Arsenal. Hope we can give him a great farewell with three points today.
• Interesting team selection by Arsene Wenger. Three changes from last match with Jenkinson, Santos and Coquelin in for Sagna (injured), Gibbs (shocking defending) and Ramsey (loss of form) respectively.
• With Bacary Sagna out, it will be interesting to see how Jenkinson fills the right back role. At the opposite full back position, Gibbs was shocking defensively (though Vermaelen was also a big culprit if you ask me) in the last game vs Norwich. Didn't surprise me too much that Santos was considered for this one.
• Wojciech Szczesny was also culpable for two of the three goals we conceded against Norwich. He needs to bring his A game for today's match. In fact, all eleven players out on the field as well as the three substitutes need to bring their A game today.
• We have really missed Arteta in the last four games, and it has shown with disappointing results where we have failed to win any of those matches. We have missed his passing, possession play and his rather underrated defensive positioning nous when we lose the ball. He's the vital cog in our midfield and it will be seen how we cope without him for one more match.
• Coquelin is a surprise selection for me. And it may turn out to be a masterstroke. With Ramsey horribly out of form it will be vital for Coquelin to perform the Arteta role for us today.

Team Line Ups:

West Bromwich Albion(4-4-2): Marton Fulop, Liam Ridgewell, Jonas Olsson, Gareth McAuley, Billy Jones, Graham Dorrans, James Morrison, Youssouf Mulumbu, Simon Cox, Shane Long, Marc-Antoine Fortune.

Substitutes: Luke Daniels, Nicky Shorey, Craig Dawson, Keith Andrews, James Hurst, Paul Scharner, Peter Odemwingie.

Manager: Roy Hodgson.


Arsenal(4-2-3-1): Wojciech Szczesny, Andre Santos, Thomas Vermaelen, Laurent Koscielny, Carl Jenkinson, Alex Song, Francis Coquelin, Yossi Benayoun, Tomas Rosicky, Gervinho, Robin van Persie.

Substitutes: Lukasz Fabianski, Kieran Gibbs, Johan Djourou, Aaron Ramsey, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Theo Walcott, Marouane Chamakh.

Manager: Arsene Wenger.


COME ON ARSENAL!!!

Arsenal vs Norwich City 2011-12 Preview

It is the last home game for us this season as we welcome Norwich City today. It will also be, as of now, the last home game for Pat Rice as assistant manager to Arsene Wenger. A big Thank You to Pat Rice from all Gooners. Match thoughts as follows:

• The stakes are high for us in this one. With Tottenham and Newcastle winning their games in hand in midweek, we are narrowly ahead of them in the points table. We need to make home advantage count and get a much needed win today.
• For Norwich City though, they have little to play for as they are assured of safety from relegation and possibly this has been the reason for their recent slump in form with three consecutive defeats. 
• However, it also means they can play uninhibitedly and play without any fear, and they can prove dangerous in this regard. Their last win was against Spurs and it just goes to show we will need to be at our very best to get our desired result.
• Arsene Wenger has named an unchanged side from the one that drew against Stoke last week. Hopefully the playing eleven will pull off more successful attacking combinations in today's match and get create better chances to score goals.
• Even though the manager has openly come out and asked van Persie to lead us over the line, the team still needs to put in a collective effort and take chances when they come. Not that I don't want van Persie to score, I just want others to contribute as well. But then again, I won't mind Robin scoring a hattrick as long as we end up winning(especially since Shrek is just two goals away from out captain in the leading goalscorers chart).

Team Line Ups:

Arsenal(4-2-3-1): Wojciech Szczesny, Kieran Gibbs, Thomas Vermaelen, Laurent Koscielny, Bacary Sagna, Aaron Ramsey, Alex Song, Yossi Benayoun,  Tomas Rosicky, Gervinho, Robin van Persie.

Substitutes: Lukasz Fabianski, Andre Santos, Johan Djourou, Francis Coquelin, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Ju Young Park, Marouane Chamakh.

Manager; Arsene Wenger.


Norwich City: Paul Ruddy, Kyle Naughton, Simon lappin, Ryan Bennett, Russell Martin, Bradley Johnson, Jonathan Howson, Elliott Bennett, Grant Holt, Simeon Jackson, Wesley Hoolahan.

Substitutes: Jed Steer, Elliott Ward, Aaron Wilbraham, David Fox, Anthony Pilkington, Andrew Surman, Steve Morison.

Manager: Paul Lambert.