Football News: Premier League Match Preview Monday 25th September 2017
Image from: kshs.org
Monday 25th September 2017
Arsenal v West Bromwich Albion 4pm kick off
Chambers (hip injury expected return mid-October) out
Welbeck (groin strain expected return mid-October) out
Coquelin (hamstring injury expected return mid-October) out
Cazorla (plantaris injury no return date yet) out
Ozil (knee injury) slight doubt
Bielik (shoulder injury) out
Walcott (knee injury) slight doubt
After all the optimism of the FA Cup win and then starting the season with a Community Shield win, both over Premier League champions Chelsea, followed by a league win over the previous season's champions Leicester City, things turned sour very quickly. All it took was two league defeats, against Stoke City and Liverpool, and the disgruntled fans were out in full force. Since then things have improved, an easy win over Bournemouth was followed by a Europa League win, easing the pressure on Wenger. In fact Arsenal are currently on a run of 4 games without defeat, 3 of those games being wins. It would not take much for the discontent to return, so the Gunners cannot let up and have to climb the table to put themselves in the leading group again.
Most important player: Alexandre Lacazette. The French forward is not lighting up the league as of yet, though he has shown some flashes of genuine quality at times. Today is a chance for him to prove himself to the Gooners, as a goal against the Baggies in a game like this are difficult to come by.
Brunt (calf strain) late fitness test
Burke (tight hamstring) late fitness test
Chadli (thigh strain) late fitness test
It has been a good start to the season for the Baggies, a bunch of winnable games to open the season with saw them lose just once, though Tony Pulis will be very disappointed with the way their form dipped after the first two wins. He will be particularly annoyed with the one defeat, which came at the hands of one of the newly promoted teams, Brighton. This will be a game Pulis will desperately want to win, as he loves putting one over on Wenger. Today would be as good a time as any for the team to move another 3 points closer to the 40 points they need to head off to the beach.
Most important player: Jay Rodriguez. As always with Pulis sides, West Brom are short on goals and they need Rodriguez to have his shooting boots on.
Defining Battle: as usual when Wenger and Pulis face off, it will be all about the physical battle in midfield. If Arsenal allow themselves to be bullied, as they so often have been in the past, then they are in trouble. If they can stand up to the physicality of West Brom then they should have no trouble picking up the win.
Editors' Predictions:
Ed002 - 6-3
Ed003 - 3-0
Ed004 - 3-1
Ed007 - 1-1
Ed018 - 3-1
Ed025 - 2-2
Ed033 - 1-1
Editor's Predictions Table
1= Ed007 - 22 points
1= Ed002 - 22 points
3. Ed018 - 21 points
4. Ed003 - 20 points
5. Ed025 - 17 points
6. Ed033 - 16 points
7. Ed004 - 13 points
*1 point is awarded for the correct result, 3 points for the correct score.
**updated 22nd September 2017
Written by Tris Burke September 25 2017 04:29:09
