Arsenal vs. West Brom Preview 24 September, 2010

Despite drawing against Sunderland last weekend we go into tomorrow’s game on a high after a moral-boosting 4-1 victory over Spurs. There’s nothing like beating the scum to lift the sprits, yet at the same time a loss at While Hart Lane would’ve been more damaging to our confidence. That’s probably a big reason why Arsene fielded a stronger side and it worked, we go into tomorrow’s match vs. West Brom full of confidence. Well I do anyway!

However it did take extra time to see off Tottenham and a number of players served 120 minutes. Eboue, Koscielny, Djourou, Denilson, Wilshere, Nasri and Lansbury were all on the pitch for the duration so I’m not expecting all of them to be involved tomorrow. We’re a fit squad but you can’t take too many risks especially with a midweek game next week too. On top of those names we have others out injured and only Diaby looks like returning:

“The only player who could come back is Diaby. He will have a test on Friday morning and we will see from there.

Kieran Gibbs is a major doubt of course but we are just happy that he has not broken his foot. He will be short-term, maybe Tuesday, we don’t know but we will see. It is only bone bruising, there does not look to be any ligament damage. Let’s hope.

Thomas Vermaelen will be out for the next two games. Cesc Fabregas is out 100 per cent for the next two games. We have a small hope he could be back against Chelsea.

Song is back after suspension. I rested Squillaci because he had a small muscle problem but he should be back.

We have some problems about Rosicky with his ankle and with Eboue’s knee. They will both have a fitness test tomorrow.”

I have no idea how today’s fitness tests went but we can only hope for the best. Diaby could be important but so too Squillaci with Djourou and Koscielny playing 120 minutes on Tuesday and Vermaelen still out injured. I can only guess at how players have recovered but here’s what I think anyway:

Almunia (c)
Sagna – Koscielny – Squillaci – Clichy
Song – Wilshere
Diaby
Arshavin – Chamakh – Vela

I’ve left out Nasri as a wild guess really. He’ll probably play but he’s just come back from injury and Wenger might feel he can beat West Brom without risking him and saving him for the Champions League. Rosicky could come into that front line in place of Vela if he passes a fitness test and I don’t be surprised if you see Djourou start if one of our two French centre backs doesn’t make it.

We’ve got quite a few players out injured now and it’s starting to take it’s toll on the team selection; I know that when I have to look at the squad pages on the official site to see what options we have! We’ve got Chelsea away next Sunday so hopefully we’ll have a few back before that one.

I really do fancy us for tomorrow, West Brom are a side we really should be seeing off especially with out home record – whether we score another six past them I don’t know but I do believe we should be taking three points off them. They’ll come and give us a game that’s for sure, another early goal would help tomorrow so lets start quick off the first whistle and push them back.

I’m back in London and I’ll be at the game tomorrow. I’m really looking forward to it, I haven’t been since the 6-0 thrashing of Blackpool. Let’s hope I’m some kind of lucky omen this season.

Thanks for reading.