West Bromwich Albion have been an attacking force at home this season, but on the road they’re an entirely different prospect. They travel to the Emirates Stadium on Boxing Day hoping to keep the Gunners from scoring and grind out another result.
This is going to be a very interesting clash of styles. Arsenal’s last five home games have had three or more goals apiece whereas nine of West Brom’s last eleven away games have had two goals or less.
It’s the unstoppable force against the immovable object, Wenger vs. ‘Pulis-ball’.
So what can Wenger do to get around the brick wall? It’s likely going to require a slight tinkering considering how they’ve been playing of late, especially after two frustrating performances against Everton and Man City.
Victory for the Gunners has rarely been more important – lose or draw and they could be knocked out of the title race completely and drop down to 5th.
Here are THREE ways Arsenal can get around West Brom’s brick wall…
Use Bellerin’s for width
Hector Bellerin made an instant impact when he returned from injury against Stoke. Within minutes he’d set-up Theo Walcott’s equaliser, with his overlapping run bamboozling the opposition.
He has the ability to deliver a deadly final ball and if the Gunners can exploit the wide areas of the Emirates pitch then there’s scope to get in behind the Baggies.
He could be the key player for Arsenal down that right-hand side.
Bring back the old Ozil
Ozil’s transformation into goalscorer instead of assist maker this season has been intriguing to watch. Allowing him to commit to playing further forward and taking the burden of creativity off of his shoulders has seen him reach some of the best form of his career.
The West Brom game is a different beast though and having him drop a little deeper to probe away at what will be a deep defence could be the best chance they have of cutting open Pulis’ side.
His passing and ability is going to be so important and that talent would be wasted trying to nip in behind the Baggies defence.
The Sanchez & Walcott effect
Theo Walcott and Alexis Sanchez have built up a devastating partnership in the Arsenal attack and playing them both through the middle against The Baggies could prove lethal.
Walcott has been deployed mostly on the right-hand side this season with Ozil supporting Sanchez through the middle.
With our ploy to have Ozil play a slightly deeper role, having Walcott and Sanchez running off each other’s lay-offs and through balls will be more important than ever.
The duo have scored 25 goals between them this season and if Wenger can get them working in tandem on Boxing Day, there could be nothing stopping the Gunners picking up a victory.
