West Brom Result Depends On Getting Two Decisions Right
Sep 23rd, 2017 by 'holic
What a strange weekend this is turning into. Football was meant to be played on Saturday afternoons, maybe Sunday as a last resort. Instead he who pays the piper calls the tune and if Sky say we have to play on Monday evening three days before going away to Barysaw (don’t ask!), which in turn is three days before we return to Premier League action against Brighton, then that is what we have to do. Bollocks to the supporters. I think we can safely assume it will be very much a shadow squad which makes the journey to Barysaw (don’t ask!).
With Danny Welbeck ruled out with what looked like a bad groin strain at the bus stop in Fulham the boss has to choose between Olivier Giroud and Alexis Sanchez to replace him against the Baggies. Given the nature of the opposition then Alexis would appear to be the likeliest to get the nod. West Brom play with three centre-backs in a genuine back five and Giroud would give them a player to mark and battle with in the air. Alexis and Alexandre Lacazette being more mobile could cause them problems with playing off them with pace and trickery.
The manager also has one other potential change to the side that played so well at Chelsea. Does Mesut Ozil come in for Alex Iwobi, or do we maintain a formation that worked for us and gave Aaron Ramsey greater involvement at both ends of the pitch? If the youngster its retained I wonder how Ozil will take being on the plane to Barysaw (don’t ask!) on Wednesday. Why do I now hear Jethro in my mind saying “Plane don’t stop Barysaw Wednesdays”?
We start the match a point adrift of the visitors, and the match will see a rapid return to the Grove for Kieran Gibbs. His debut was a goal-less draw at home to West Ham and he was retained for the 1-2 EFL Cup defeat against Manchester City. The visitors started the season with single goal wins against Bournemouth and at Burnley before drawing with Stoke and the Hammers to get eight points on the board to our seven.
Another of our opponents is expected to break Ryan Giggs appearance record in the Premier League. Gareth Barry was a target for Arsene Wenger, as he confirmed this week, before the player went to Manchester City. If Ozil does start the match you can bet Barry will never be far from the German international playmaker.
The ‘holic pound
This is the bit where I regret being bullish on last Monday’s ABW podcast where I tipped a 3-0 win for the Arsenal. I’ll have to stick with that now although it would not be a surprise if the match turns into a war of attrition. Tony Pulis teams don’t do entertaining. I’ve managed to find my original selection at 9/1, a tad skinny methinks, but I’m on it.
As ever, if you are going have a wonderful evening. With holidays thin on the ground I will be in the warm watching in comfort and hopefully not getting riled by the commentary. Have a great one, ‘holics.
45 Responses to “West Brom Result Depends On Getting Two Decisions Right”
Cheers H!
Cheers to you, big man. Thanks for always being there.
You knows it! October 28th Swansea – should have Silva and hopefully the Big Yin with me.
Early goals settle nerves H
Let’s break the game open early so it doesn’t become a nail biter looking for a late winner against a stubborn 10 man defence.
They will be playing plenty of long balls into the box,so concentration required at the back for 90 minutes.
Have a good run of matches to get some of the old swagger back,so have to make the most of it.
Nice preview Guvna but yer erse is oot the windae with yer 3-0 bet as they would say in Bonnie Stirling.
I cannot see us scoring 3 against a well drilled Pulis defence. War of attrition is exactly right. I predict your old favourite 2-1 to the good guys and pray we get those three points..
You do realise that our mighty Bohs beat BATE in the CLQ a while back, before facing Rosenborg….
http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/brilliant-bohs-take-bate-to-land-trip-to-rosenborg-25940180.html
🙂
Did not know that Dubs, but a word to the wise …… Wrexham.
No complacency required.
We start this game only 20 goals shy of Shitty’s GD, and folk saying it will be close against the Baggies. It better not be. I don’t care how well drilled Pulis has his defence, if we can’t run rings around it with a front five of Rambo, Mesut, Alexis, OG and Laca we might as well sell the lot of them in January.
I really do sympathise with Danny suffering yet another injury, but having AW’s hand forced by it can only be a good thing as far as getting more in the ‘For’ column is concerned.
Thanks for the preview Guvna.
We’ve a good record at home
to Pukis teams over the years so
I think your 3-0 is a decent shout.
Just a feeling but I think AW will
go with
Cech
Mus, Kos, Nacho
Belly, Xhaka, Ramsey, Kola
Iwobi, OG, Laca,
In other words a bit more height
up front for set pieces.
A bench of Osp, Per, Rob,
Elneny, Ozil, Sanchez, Theo
gives us plenty of options to
change things up.
After the other results this weekend
just win is the main thing.
Come to think I think you’ve
more chance of the 3-0 result
than not getting riled by the
commentary GH 🙂
Barysaw sounds like a Welsh mining village.
I’d send Ozil out on that trip.
And leave him there.
It’s a bit annoying to be the
Monday game when we’re away
in the Ropey League the same
week.
Still, it’s only the other side of Poland
and closer than Moscow I suppose.
Plus I’m not that bothered about
the result. Kids plus Osp, Per, Elneny
and Theo will be fine. As Calum is
injured maybe a chance for Bielik.
@11. Will the misdirection campaign succeed? The only way to find out is to check every Welsh mining village to see if Ozil is sitting dejectedly on a slag heap.
Lucky you added ‘heap’ at the
end there 🙂
Cheers Holic !
Where’s Barysaw ?
Oh, sorry !
It don’t stop Camborne Wednesdays either 🙂
Thanks for the preview Holic. I am deputed to do the driving this week and the 8pm start will see us having played on Friday, Saturday ( Odd day for a match?) Thursday, Wednesday and Monday already. We play Brighton on Sunday so we only have to find a Tuesday match and we’ve gone through the week. As our last match finished just shy of 11 pm , convenience is in short supply for Arsenal punters this season.
Pulls will have them very well- drilled and I hope we can scrape a 1-0. I expect Alexis and Ozil to start and we may see Laca and Sanchez start together for the first time- after all it’s only almost October.
I’m hearing LJW is poised to join Ozil and Sanchez in walking out next summer. The winter window should be interesting!
I wish Alexis is the only change in place of Danny.
Özil & OG should watch from the bench, then introduce both during 70′ and get a couple of goals from both.
Eagerly anticipating Gibbs against us, never thought he had what Arsenal needed though but I think he was a ‘good’ bloke.
I’d go with a 3-1, even though I prefer the 3-0.
Can JW also get some minutes? ?
TTG,
If Jack walks out next summer, I guess he will at least have improved his summer fitness levels. * said with sadness, btw *
I really don’t know what to make of that. On the one hand, he will hardly be missed due to his terribly sad injury record, and it would spell the end, for us, of a player who looked likely to be the biggest talent of his generation.
On the other hand, is it an indictment of the club that yet another talent wants to walk away, or is he just another greedy player who shows no gratitude to the club that has given him several years to try to prove he can stay fit enough to contribute ?
Has anyone a clue what AW considers his #1 side? I would have thought something like:
Cech
Kos, Mustafi, Nacho
Hector, Rambo, Xhaka, Kolasinac
Ozil, Laca, Alexis
Not my pick, or even the format I’d favour, but what I would expect AW to put out for Prem games. But most here seem to have consigned Alexis to mid-week, and however much I criticise Ozil he has to start ahead of Iwobi or Jack surely? I am confused.
No need to comment on that last…
Arsenal (12) v. West Brom (10) in a clash of the mid-table titans. 12 and 10 are positions in the table, not the predicted score in this game. Just to alleviate additional confusion. 😉
Lacazette for the brace, surely.
Well played with your last drinks limerick, bt8.
Mid-table and two points closer to the bottom than the top currently. Why am I not surprised…
Chris,
Just a guess but I think AW will
hesitate to drop Iwobi after the
Chavs game. So Ozil will sit and
then come on around the hour
mark. And he might think OG
more suited to replace Danny
for this game and then push
Laca wide. I wouldn’t myself
but as I say my guess is AW will.
I agree with you on the No 1
line-up in AW’s mind. It is in
mine too in fact.
Viewing from dizzy heights in the Clock End tonight. Surprisingly difficult to get two seats side-by-side on Ticket Exchange and Her Nellieness almost missed out. 3-0 sounds ambitious, Holic but would be an excellent outcome. I fancy 2-1 to the good guys myself.
Enjoy.
No idea what team will start. No doubt WBA will play with 6 along the back and it will be up to us to try and break that down. Will we have the quality and vision to do that?
I hope that LJW features somewhere. He is one of the very few players we have that can make things happen.
After years of penny pinching I would love to hear the comments of the board if Ozil, Sanchez and Jack all walk away on frees at the end of the season. How we have got to this stage demonstrates mismanagement on a massive level. Totally and utterly ridiculous.
For those going tonight, enjoy.
Will Gareth Barry also break Giggs’ record for ‘number of wives you can steal off your brother’? I hope not, he seems too nice for to plumb those depths of immorality.
Definitely a must-win game tonight, but whatever happens you can expect an ambition-free ultra-defensive setup from Pulis so I would be very surprised to see a 3-0. More likely to see a last-minute 1-0 after a 90-minute bombardment of their goal, with their keeper turning in a MOTM performance.
Don’t ponce around, Arsenal. Just ******* win the thing, alright?
Really thought John Terry held the record for immorality, Porco.
BtM, Hope you and Her Nellieness enjoy a cracker. With all available spreads, of course. 🙂
Well bt8, I suppose if you take Terry’s crimes against decency and add on those of his parents I guess you do have an unassailable position.
The BeeGees are well represented in the West Brom side by Barry and Gibbs.
Just stayin’ alive I imagine.
Come on you Gunners! 😀
Got away with that one.
Looks like a lot of empty seats?
Lacazette!!!!
Great free kick by Sanchez and good follow up by Lacazette.
Great save by Monreal.
The number of scoring chances created by WBA is astonishing and shows how terrible our defending is.
This three at the back shit is … shit.
Miss Ozil big time
Treading on thin ice we need to sort this out and this exactly it it’s not just Chelsea away where we need to be solid and committed!
Hope we can have a better second half!
COYG!
Great conversion by Lacazette.
Get in!
Lacazette brace, surely. Not sure where I heard that before now. ?
I would love to complain, but no. If Arsenal can keep playing like this and win the league, then no issues. How dod Laca not get the f*cking hat trick though?
Three points in the bag. Good second half after a poor first. Seventh on the table.
3 points, clean sheet. Well done
boys.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>