“Arsenal are a wonderful football club, the tradition all the way through before Wenger was there and since he’s been there”.
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Arsene Wenger’s side travel to the Hawthorns on Saturday afternoon to take on the defensively sound and organised West Brom, looking to extend their unbeaten run and potentially move to the top of the Premier League table, should other results in the league go their way.
“You don’t even look at the table anymore because you know what you get”, Wenger said.
Right-back Hector Bellerin is available following a groin problem, but midfielders Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Aaron Ramsey (both hamstring) remain out this weekend and forward Theo Walcott (calf) is not expected back for “one or two weeks”.
The Baggies’ new first-team coach Ben Garner, who has joined Pulis’ backroom team from Crystal Palace, believes the players need to display more confidence in their own ability.
“They’ve got a great opportunity this year of winning the title”.
“There’s definitely a better relationship between us”. Be a little braver and a bit more positive in our attacking play because there is real talent in the group.
“They are up against a free-scoring Arsenal side who have 17 goals in their last six games and have won five of their six away matches in the league”.
Arsenal are the favourites to claim victory over the Baggies on Saturday, and former Gunner Merson feels that the north London side must win this game if they harbour serious hopes of lifting the Premier League trophy in May.
– Olivier Giroud has scored in four of his last six Premier League appearances.
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“We’re playing one of the great clubs in world football and not just in English football”, he said. – Including blocked, West Brom has fired in the fewest shots this season (113) while Arsenal has mustered the joint-most (221, level with Man City).
