West Brom v Arsenal

Barclays Premier League
Venue: The Hawthorns Date: Saturday, 19 March Kick-off: 1500 GMT
Coverage: Watch highlights on Match of the Day; listen live on Absolute Radio and BBC local radio; text commentary on BBC Sport website and mobiles

TEAM NEWS

West Brom will be without in-form striker Carlos Vela as he is ineligible to play against his parent club.

Graham Dorrans is out with an ankle injury, with fellow midfielder Youssouf Mulumbu doubtful with a tight calf.

Arsenal have Nicklas Bendtner back in their squad after illness, with the re-signed Jens Lehmann also included.

Cesc Fabregas heads a long list of absentees that include Johan Djourou, Abou Diaby, Thomas Vermaelen, Wojciech Szczesny, Theo Walcott and Alex Song.

West Brom

Doubtful: Mulumbu (calf)

Injured/unavailable: Dorrans (ankle),
Vela (ineligible under rules of loan)

Arsenal

Injured: Djourou & Fabianski (both shoulder), Fabregas (hamstring), Mannone (thigh), Frimpong & Song (both knee), Szczesny (finger), Walcott (ankle), Vermaelen (Achilles)

MATCH PREVIEW

Just three weeks ago Arsenal’s young guns were eying up four trophies. Now after Carling Cup, Champions League and FA Cup despair, Arsene Wenger’s injury-hit squad are left simply focusing on the Premier League title if they are to end their six-year trophy-less baron spell.

We are on a long strong run in the championship and that’s what we want to keep on doing. For me we have a good opportunity to win the championship Arsene Wenger, Arsenal manager

Out of necessity Wenger has turned to an old head, and a familiar face, in Jens Lehmann as he looks to get the Gunners’ season back on track. The 41-year-old free agent will supply some much-needed goalkeeping cover and valuable experience. He was the match-winner the last time Arsenal won a trophy, saving Paul Scholes’ penalty in the 2005 FA Cup final.

The Gunners dropped two precious points last time out in a goalless home draw against Sunderland. It was a result that left Wenger “disgusted” after Andrey Arshavin had a goal incorrectly ruled out for offside. Now, three points behind leaders Manchester United but with a game in hand, the title is still there to be won if they can avoid future slip ups, such as another defeat to Albion, who outclassed the Gunners at the Emirates earlier this campaign.

Arsenal’s wobble in form has coincided with a four-game unbeaten run for West Brom; three under the guidance of new manager Roy Hodgson. It has been a long two weeks for Hodgson, who has been itching to build on his maiden victory as Baggies boss in the 3-1 win at fellow strugglers Birmingham.

The impending international break means that Hodgson will have another 14 days after this game before the club’s next fixture; a home game against Liverpool, the club that sacked him in January. Sunderland, Chelsea and Tottenham then follow in a daunting run of fixtures that will go a long way to deciding the Baggies’ Premier League fate.

MATCH FACTS

Head-to-head

• West Brom are looking to complete a first ever Premier League double over the Gunners. They have not beaten Arsenal both home and away since the 1961/62 season.

• Arsenal have won six of the last nine top-flight meetings.

• Thirty-one goals have been scored between the sides in the Premier League era – an average of 3.4 goals per game.

West Brom

• The Baggies are unbeaten in their last four league matches. It represents their best run of results since a six-match streak between October and November last year.

• Roy Hodgson has won only one of his last eight games as a manager against Arsenal. That was a 1-0 home win for Fulham in August 2008. His Liverpool side drew 1-1 with the Gunners at Anfield in the opening game of this season.

• If West Brom concede against Arsenal they will set a new unwanted Premier League record of 28 games without a clean sheet. They currently share the record with Burnley.

• If selected, James Morrison will be playing in his 100th league match for the club. He has scored in each of their last two games.

Arsenal

• Arsenal are unbeaten in their last 11 league matches – their longest run in two years since a 21-match streak between November 2008 and May 2009.

• Arsene Wenger’s side have not lost a league game in the month of March since a 2-1 defeat at Chelsea in 2008 (W7, D2).

• The Gunners have registered just one win in four games against last season’s promoted sides: a 6-0 home victory against Blackpool in August.

LEADING GOALSCORERS

West Brom

Odemwingie: 9 goals (9 league); Vela: 5 goals* (3 league)

*Includes 2 goals (0 league) for Arsenal

Arsenal

Van Persie: 14 goals (10 league); Nasri: 14 goals (9 league)

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Stuart Attwell

Assistant referees: Peter Kirkup & Martin Yerby

Fourth official: Tony Bates

LAST LEAGUE MATCH LINE-UPS

West Brom (W3-1 v Birmingham, a): Carson; Reid, Olsson, Meite, Shorey, Brunt, Mulumbu, Scharner, Thomas (Jara 66), Morrison (Tamas 77), Fortune (Odemwingie 46). Subs not used: Myhill, Tchoyi, Vela, Cox.

Arsenal (D0-0 v Sunderland, h): Szczesny; Sagna, Djourou, Koscielny, Clichy, Denilson (Chamakh 61), Wilshere, Nasri, Diaby (Rosicky 77), Arshavin, Bendtner. Subs not used: Almunia, Ramsey, Squillaci, Eboue, Gibbs.