BURNLEY, ENGLAND - AUGUST 19: Tony Pulis, Manager of West Bromwich Albion looks on prior to the Premier League match between Burnley and West Bromwich Albion at Turf Moor on August 19, 2017 in Burnley, England. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
Arsenal must be patient to ensure victory over West Brom
Arsenal will be eager to win at home but must be weary of the threats West Brom have at their disposal
After a rocky start, Arsenal have slightly turned their form around. They have won three of their last four matches in all competitions and are looking a much better side than they were just a few short weeks ago. The team now hosts West Brom in a Premier League fixture that could cause problems if Wenger does not manage his team the right way.
West Brom are a team that love to frustrate the opposition. They are very comfortable sitting back and allowing the opposing team to possess the ball for long periods of time.
Manager Tony Pulis is very much a defend first type of tactician. Often playing eight, nine, or even ten players behind the ball, Pulis hopes his team can win the ball back and aim for a target striker further up the pitch. He then hopes his team can launch counter attacks off of the hold up play from that target man, which this season has been Salomon Rondon.
Since West Brom do sit back so much, Arsenal need to be disciplined and well-organized if they want to win. The team already plays in a very pass heavy style and will need to play quite a few sideways passes during the course of the match to break down the stubborn West Brom defense.
Players like Lacazette and Alexis Sanchez will be vital in breaking down the Baggies. Their ability to get in behind the defense will prove harder to stop as the match goes on. With Ozil pulling the strings and the likes of Bellerin and Kolasinac making overlapping runs, Arsenal have plenty of weapons at their disposal. They just need to stay focused and diligent in their play.
A win would take West Brom into a big tie for fourth in the Premier League, while three points would see the Gunners move up to seventh. Pulis may be happy with even just a point in this fixture, but this Arsenal has proven already that they make questionable decisions at inopportune times. An early Rondon goal could spell disaster for Arsenal, so the team will need to avoid disaster and fight through to win this match.
