Saturday 21 November 2015 14:57, UK
Arsenal have the chance to go top of the Premier League if they beat West Brom at The Hawthorns on Saturday.
The Gunners start the weekend behind Manchester City on goal difference, with City facing Liverpool later in the day on Saturday Night Football.
Arsene Wenger's side missed out on the chance to go two points clear before the international break as they were held at home by north London rivals Tottenham.
However, they will be hoping to get back on track at The Hawthorns ahead of a favourable run of fixtures that sees them face three teams in the current bottom six before they travel to Manchester City on December 21.
Wenger says he expects a physical game against the Baggies, who have lost their last two top-flight matches against Leicester and Manchester United.
The back-to-back defeats have seen the Baggies slip down to 13th in the table, with their scoring total of 10 the joint-worst in the league.
Team news
Laurent Koscielny and Olivier Giroud will be assessed by Arsene Wenger after playing for France during the international break, when terrorists struck in coordinated attacks in Paris.
Wenger says defender Koscielny, in particular, appeared affected in Tuesday's match with England at Wembley.
Right-back Hector Bellerin is available following a groin problem, but midfielders Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Aaron Ramsey (both hamstring) remain out and forward Theo Walcott (calf) is not expected back for "one or two weeks".
Gareth McAuley is suspended for West Brom after his red card against Manchester United so James Chester and Jonas Olsson could start.
Chester has struggled to break into the Baggies side since his summer move from Hull and voiced his frustration following Wales' 3-2 defeat to Holland last week.
Ben Foster remains sidelined with a knee injury but is closing in on a return after being out since March and remains boss Tony Pulis' only injury worry with Chris Brunt expected to be fit after a groin problem.
Opta stats
West Brom have registered just two wins in their 18 Premier League meetings with Arsenal (D3 L13), and are without a win against the Gunners in the last nine top-flight clashes.
The Gunners have scored in every one of those 18 games, the longest 100% scoring record of any side against a single opponent in Premier League history.
West Brom have averaged 0.5 points per game against Arsenal in the Premier League, their joint-lowest return against any side they've met more than twice.
The Gunners have taken 31 points from a possible 36 in the last 12 league matches on the road (W10 D1 L1).
Olivier Giroud has scored in four of his last six league appearances.
Since joining the club in 2012, Giroud has scored more headed goals than any other player in the Premier League (15), including one against West Brom in May 2014.
Merson's prediction
If you want to win Premier League titles, you have to go and win at the Hawthorns, but these are hard football matches because the manager has had the players for one day.
A lot of them have been away on international duty, and it could take its toll. But if they're going to win the Premier League they have to win this game.
West Brom boss Tony Pulis will set up his team perfectly, play very defensively and hope to pick them off on the break or through a set piece, but Arsenal should have too much for them.
PAUL PREDICTS: 0-2 (6/1 with Sky Bet)
Betting
West Brom, at 11/2, are the biggest priced of all the home teams in action this weekend with Sky Bet while Arsenal are odds-on for victory. The Gunners are unbeaten in their last five visits to The Hawthorns including a 1-0 victory last season and are 5/2 to win by exactly one goal.
The Baggies have lost their last two on the bounce but are 11/1 to win with both teams scoring. Our Sky Sports tipsters Matt Le Tissier, Charlie Nicholas, Phil Thompson and Jamie Redknapp are unanimous in their support of the Gunners with all going for an away win. Check out their tips here. The clash is part of this week's Super 6 line-up, with a bumper £1m jackpot up for grabs. Make your predictions here.
