Monday 26 December 2016 13:40, UK
Arsenal will be looking to avoid a third straight defeat in the Premier League when West Brom visit the Emirates Stadium on Boxing Day.
The Gunners find themselves nine points adrift of league leaders Chelsea after 2-1 defeats at both Everton and Manchester City, but Arsene Wenger's side will be confident of getting back to winning ways against West Brom, losing just one of their last 11 against Tony Pulis' side.
Pulis has admitted his side will have to be at their best to secure anything at the Emirates.
He said: "Arsenal have a wonderful squad that's capable of winning the Premier League this year. They have players to come back too.
"It's always a really tough test going down to Arsenal. You have to be at your best and they have to have an off day. We need things to go our way at Arsenal. Sometimes they do.
"It's always lovely beating one of the top teams and it would be great if we could go to Arsenal on Boxing Day and do that."
Team news
Aaron Ramsey faces a late fitness test for the clash with West Brom. The Wales midfielder has only made 10 appearances for Arsenal in an injury-hit campaign, and is bidding to shake off his latest hamstring problem.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has failed to beat his own hamstring issue in time to face West Brom, while Danny Welbeck is back in training after knee trouble but still some way off a return.
James Morrison is a doubt having suffered from flu this week. The midfielder did not train until Friday, when he remained separate from the main group, and the Baggies will assess him before the game.
Jonny Evans could return after missing West Brom's last two games with a calf injury while Saido Berahino is still unlikely to be in the squad as he tries to regain fitness having not played since September.
Opta stats
West Brom's only away Premier League win versus Arsenal came in September 2010, as they ran out 3-2 winners at the Emirates (D1 L8).
The Gunners' 4-0 defeat to Southampton last season was their heaviest defeat on Boxing Day since 1910 against Manchester United.
The last time West Brom played Arsenal on Boxing Day was in 2002 - going 1-0 up before losing 2-1 to the Gunners.
West Brom have lost two consecutive league games played on December 26th; they've not lost three Boxing Day fixtures in a row since 1987.
Arsenal are the only team to have lost three Premier League matches that they have been leading in so far this season (vs Liverpool, Everton and Manchester City). In 2015/16, they only lost twice in this manner all season.
The Gunners have lost their last two Premier League games (vs Everton and Man City) - they haven't lost three successive Premier League matches since January 2012. This is also the last time that they lost as many as three league games in the same month.
Merson's predictions
Flat-track bullies Arsenal win these games, don't they? West Brom have done well in recent weeks but they came unstuck against a very professional Manchester United side.
The Baggies could have got a result at Chelsea. They did well at Stamford Bridge and would have been well worth a draw. But I can't go against Arsenal when they play these teams.
PAUL PREDICTS: 3-1 (Sky Bet odds 15/2)
Betting
The Gunners are 1/3 to get their Premier League title bid back on track with victory over 8/1 West Brom at the Emirates, with the draw a 4/1 shot. No surprise to see Arsenal's man of the moment Alexis Sanchez head the first goalscorer betting at 11/4, with Olivier Giroud 3/1 and Theo Walcott 7/2. Mesut Ozil is 5/1, with Salomon Rondon rated West Brom's main threat at 10/1 followed by former Tottenham man Nacer Chadli at 12/1.
