Arsenal will look to reclaim top spot on the EPL ladder when they head to The Hawthornes to meet West Bromwich Albion. Join us for live scores and commentary from 2.00am AEST.
West Brom have injury concerns and could be without strikers Shane Long, Victor Anichebe, Nicolas Anelka – denied a game against the club he made his name at – and Scott Sinclair, who has been ruled out until after the international break with a hamstring problem.
The Baggies have lost two out of three at home so far, but look forward to the game in much better heart than they perhaps would have done only a few weeks ago.
While alot of the pre-match media focus may concentrate on Arsenal ahead of the game, West Brom were actually the stand-out performers in the EPL last weekend with their excellent 2-1 win over the champions of England at Old Trafford.
The win doubled Albion’s maximum points for the season.
With their previous win a 3-0 home victory over Sunderland, it may provide more evidence that the Baggies are settling down, after a less than stellar start which had witnessed a meagre two points gained from their first four games.
Forward Saido Berahino is in line to make his first Premier League start today after his match-winning performance against Manchester United last weekend.
Arsenal defender Bacary Sagna faces a three-week lay-off after picking up a hamstring injury in Tuesday’s Champions League victory over Napoli, where they outclassed the lacklustre visitors.
To cover the right back spot Carl Jenkinson is set to come into the team, while England midfielder Jack Wilshere is pressing for a recall after starting on the bench in midweek.
The recent League cup visit saw a 4-3 win on penalties for the Gunners (the match finished 1-1 after extra time), but there will be a vastly different line-up this time as Wenger’s side go for an 11th straight win in all competitions, having won their last eight away matches in the league.
Arsenal’s recent record at The Hawthorns is good, too, winning on three of their last four visits.
Arsenal have lost the EPL’s top spot by kick off at The Hawthorns after Liverpool’s win but nothing it seems can dent the positive vibes emanating from the club at the moment.
Even despite Jack Wilshere being photographed with a cigarette in his mouth in the early hours of Wednesday morning after the Napoli victory.
The discontent that exploded after the Aston Villa defeat on the opening day of the season now seems a long way off, as the club and its supporters have been buoyed with the signing of Mesut Ozil and an excellent run of form.
Expectations have been so heightened that Wenger has even found himself having to play down talk of a possible EPL title challenge.
The game at the Hawthorns will be Arsenal’s second visit to play the Throstles within two weeks, but Steve Clarke’s developing team are in good spirits after their timely, and ultimately well-deserved win against Manchester United last Saturday.
It promises to be a captivating game. Catch it here on The Roar from 2.00am AEST.
Follow Layth on Twitter @laythy29
Tom
Guest
Few draws will be so light on frustation for Arsenal fans. Top after two hard away trips with Tottenham thumped at home, and going into an international break with the promise of injured players returning soon after. You might be a lucky charm Mr Yousif. Keep on keeping us up to date.
Layth Yousif
Roar Guru
FT West Brom 1 Arsenal 1 So Arsenal go back to the top of the table on goal difference from Liverpool, both on 16 points, with Chelsea two points behind in third after their 3-1 win at Carrow Road earlier in the day. Southampton, confirming that the EPL is an open league this year, are a creditable fourth. Hull still reside a place above Manchester United in eighth and ninth respectively. And don't forget those Happy Hammers on their way back to the East End after their shock 3-0 trouncing of Spurs at White Hart Lane. It is proving to be an unpredictable season so far and long may it continue. Don't forget you can follow it all the way through on The Roar. Until next time thanks for reading, feel free to post a comment here or tweet me @laythy29 Cheers.
Layth Yousif
Roar Guru
In other news a stunned White Hart Lane saw West Ham win 3-0 with goals from Reid, Vaz Te and Morrison. Who could have forecast that?
Layth Yousif
Roar Guru
FT West Brom (Yacob 41) 1 Arsenal (Wilshere 62) 1 What an enthralling, entertaining game. Kudos to West Brom for weathering the early storm from Arsenal in the first half. Then again after conceding Wilshere's equaliser. Superb effort by the Baggies for really attacking the Gunners and looking for a winner. Arsenal for their part passed the ball around well, even if Ozil was rather quiet in the second half and WIlshere's temperament was tested. Thankfully he came through the test, with a great goal as well.
Layth Yousif
Roar Guru
90 mins + 4 FULL TIME And Lee Mason blows the whistle. FT West Brom 1 Arsenal 1
Layth Yousif
Roar Guru
90 mins + 4 Miles has asked dryly do we get extra time and penalties if it's a draw again?
Layth Yousif
Roar Guru
90 mins + 4 Can either side find a last minute winner in this entertaining game?
Layth Yousif
Roar Guru
90 mins Four mins added time announced. No neutral wants this game to end, even if both sets of tired players do.
Layth Yousif
Roar Guru
88 mins Mathieu Flamini has a right footed shot from outside the box which is saved in the middle of the goal by Myhill after Tomas Rosicky teed him up.
Layth Yousif
Roar Guru
88 mins Brunt comes on for a limping Amalfitano who appears to have tweaked a hamstring
Layth Yousif
Roar Guru
87 mins Arsenal passing it around leisurely. Are they happy with a hard earned point that according to my calculations will pout them back at the top of the EPL?
Layth Yousif
Roar Guru
85 mins Giroud off Bendtner on. Alan Green calls Bendnter a hippy, I much prefer the description of him from a friend who called him Pigsy from cult 70's TV show Monkey. Does anyone remember that programme by the way? Break in play. Both teams appears to have run out of steam having given their all on a hot afternoon.
Layth Yousif
Roar Guru
82 mins Wojciech Szczesny tries a through ball, but Olivier Giroud is caught offside.
Layth Yousif
Roar Guru
77 mins Substitution, West Bromwich Albion. James Morrison replaces Stéphane Sessegnon. Well done to the ex-Sunderland man who has given his all today.
Layth Yousif
Roar Guru
77 mins Wilshere has the ball inside the box about to shoot but Mulumbu comes thundering in and performs a superb tackle from behind. No room at all for error there. Perfect timing, excellent piece of defending from the West Brom man.
Layth Yousif
Roar Guru
76 mins Shane Long has a header from the centre of the box but misses the goal to the left. Amalfitano with the cross.
Layth Yousif
Roar Guru
75 mins Olivier Giroud's right footed shot from the right side of the six yard box is saved in the bottom right corner by Myhill. Wilshere played the through ball.
Layth Yousif
Roar Guru
News coming in that ex Manchester United player Ravel Morrison has just made it 3-0 to West Ham at WHL!
Layth Yousif
Roar Guru
73 mins West Brom 1 Arsenal 1 Down at WHL the news is that Vaz Te has doubled West Ham's lead. THFC 0 West Ham 2 AVB looks aghast. How much did he spend in the summer by the way?
Layth Yousif
Roar Guru
71 mins The intensity of this game is incredible. A credit to the EPL. West Brom have been brave and fearless taking Arsenal on.