England Premier League
Sunday 9th May 2021
Kick off at 7pm BST
Venue: Emirates Stadium
Match Preview:
Have Arsenal reached a new low? It does seem so. The club were knocked out of the Europa League at the semi-final stage by Villarreal in midweek as the teams drew 0-0 at the Emirates. Arsenal lost 2-1 on aggregate. What would be worrying is that this performance lacked urgency, Arsenal at home only needed 1 goal to go through to the final but they couldn’t do it. True they were unlucky hitting the post twice, but in all honesty did they deserve to get past Villarreal?
By winning the Europa League Arsenal could have found a back door into next season’s Champions League but with that dream dashed they find themselves in 9th place knowing that there will be no Champions League football for next season. Indeed it is likely that for the first time in 25 years Arsenal will not be in European competition at all as they are 5 points behind that objective, which comes in the form of Liverpool presently and the Reds also have a game in hand.
It has been a season to forget with a few speed bumps in between for the Gunners but they will want to try and finish it on a high. Playing West Bromwich Albion at home may present the Gunners with that chance and they did beat Newcastle 2-0 away from home last weekend. But consistency has really dogged the club all season.
West Bromwich Albion are in theory relegated, and that should be confirmed this weekend. The Baggies are in 19th place with 26 points and are 10 points from safety with 12 to play for. Form for the club has been very good for their standard with just 1 defeat in their past five games and they have picked up 8 points in that time. Maybe they will also take heart from their last trip to London which ended in a spectacular 5-2 win over Chelsea.
Team News:
Arsenal: David Luiz has an ongoing hamstring injury but is fighting hard to be fit soon and could well be assessed for this game. Granit Xhaka has a muscle injury and is only 50/50 for this game.
West Bromwich Albion: No new injuries for the club but Robert Snodgrass (back injury) and Branislav Ivanovic (hamstring) are out for the rest of the season.
Arsenal vs West Brom Head to Head:
Arsenal have scored 7 goals past West Bromwich Albion in their last 3 meetings.
The last time the clubs met here was in 2017 and Arsenal won 2-0.
West Bromwich Albion have not beaten Arsenal away in the league since 2010.
Arsenal vs West Brom Prediction:
Arsenal will be the favourites but West Brom are sure to fight hard here for some kind of result, this is their last stand. But Arsenal are wounded and will want to bounce back, they need to win this game to have any chance of European football next season in the Europa League.
We expect Arsenal to have much of the possession and grind the Baggies down and get the win needed. Back Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to score in the game also. He was so close in getting goals in midweek and he looks angry enough, in a positive way to take it out on the team in 19th place.
Arsenal have enough attacking options with almost everyone fit and manager Mikel Arteta will demand a commanding performance from his team.
Arsenal vs West Brom Betting Tips:
Asian handicap (-1 Arsenal) at 1.75
Anytime goalscorer: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang at 1.72
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