EPL: West Brom v Arsenal preview
West Brom v Arsenal preview
Arsenal will remain without Olivier Giroud, Nacho Monreal and Aaron Ramsey for Sunday's trip to West Brom.
In his record-equalling 810th Premier League game, Arsene Wenger saw his side move to within a point of the top four with a 3-2 win at in-form Crystal Palace, and the Frenchman will be hoping for more of the free-flowing football on show at Selhurst Park as he moves past Sir Alex Ferguson's games-managed record at The Hawthorns.
However, talk of a rift in the camp has surfaced after the Arsenal players seemed to snub Alexis Sanchez's calls for a team celebration after the Gunners' opener against Palace. Wenger played down such talk and also rubbished claims Sanchez will be on his way in January.
Albion extended their winless run to 18 Premier League games following the 0-0 draw at home to Everton on Boxing Day. They are second bottom in the table and three points adrift of safety, while Alan Pardew is also yet to claim a victory in his first six matches in charge, but winger Matt Phillips believes the Baggies will stay up.
"I think you can see from the performance [against Everton] that we were really good and we created a lot of chances," he told the club's official website. "Sooner or later we're going to score one, two or three and win the game."
Thierry Henry and Graeme Souness discuss Arsenal's questionable celebrations after Alexis Sanchez looked confused as to why half of his team-mates did not join him after his goal
Giroud and Monreal are expected to be absent until mid-January, owing to respective hamstring and ankle injuries. Ramsey is also struggling with a hamstring problem.
West Brom's Nacer Chadli has been ruled out for up to two months after a recurrence of his hip problem.
Alan Pardew believes Alexis Sanchez, Mesut Ozil and Alexandre Lacazette would be a frontline good enough for any team in the world
The forward limped off in the 3-1 defeat to Stoke last weekend and is now unlikely to return until March for the Premier League strugglers, who face Arsenal on Sunday.
Striker Salomon Rondon is a doubt with a hamstring injury suffered in Boxing Day's 0-0 draw with Everton, while James Morrison (Achilles) remains out.
However, talk of a rift in the camp has surfaced after the Arsenal players seemed to snub Alexis Sanchez's calls for a team celebration after the Gunners' opener against Palace. Wenger played down such talk and also rubbished claims Sanchez will be on his way in January.
Albion extended their winless run to 18 Premier League games following the 0-0 draw at home to Everton on Boxing Day. They are second bottom in the table and three points adrift of safety, while Alan Pardew is also yet to claim a victory in his first six matches in charge, but winger Matt Phillips believes the Baggies will stay up.
"I think you can see from the performance [against Everton] that we were really good and we created a lot of chances," he told the club's official website. "Sooner or later we're going to score one, two or three and win the game."
Thierry Henry and Graeme Souness discuss Arsenal's questionable celebrations after Alexis Sanchez looked confused as to why half of his team-mates did not join him after his goal
Giroud and Monreal are expected to be absent until mid-January, owing to respective hamstring and ankle injuries. Ramsey is also struggling with a hamstring problem.
West Brom's Nacer Chadli has been ruled out for up to two months after a recurrence of his hip problem.
Alan Pardew believes Alexis Sanchez, Mesut Ozil and Alexandre Lacazette would be a frontline good enough for any team in the world
The forward limped off in the 3-1 defeat to Stoke last weekend and is now unlikely to return until March for the Premier League strugglers, who face Arsenal on Sunday.
Striker Salomon Rondon is a doubt with a hamstring injury suffered in Boxing Day's 0-0 draw with Everton, while James Morrison (Achilles) remains out.