Team News: Olivier Giroud starts for Arsenal

Olivier Giroud has made Arsenal's starting lineup for the Boxing Day visit of West Bromwich Albion to the Emirates.

The French striker makes a rare start leading the line for the Gunners, with Alexis Sanchez dropping back to an attacking midfield role as Theo Walcott misses out on the matchday squad with "a slight calf problem".

Sanchez partners Alex Iwobi and Mesut Ozil - making his 100th Premier League appearance - with Granit Xhaka and Francis Coquelin operating at defensive midfield.

There is one change in the back four as Kieran Gibbs is preferred to Nacho Monreal, who drops to the bench.

Aaron Ramsey is named among the substitutes after a few weeks out with a hamstring injury, while Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is left out as he recovers from a hamstring injury picked up during the 2-1 defeat at Manchester City last time out.

For Tony Pulis's visitors, there is just one change to the XI that started in the 2-0 defeat to Manchester United last time out, with Jonny Evans recovering from a calf injury to displace Jonas Olsson in the back four.

Salomon Rondon continues to lead the line, with support from Chris Brunt, Nacer Chadli and Matt Phillips.

James Morrison overcomes a late fitness test following a bout of the flu to be named among the substitutes.

Arsenal: Cech; Bellerin, Gabriel, Koscielny, Gibbs; Coquelin, Xhaka; Sanchez, Ozil, Iwobi; Giroud Subs: Ospina, Monreal, Holding, Elneny, Ramsey, Reine-Adelaide, Lucas Perez

West Bromwich Albion: Foster; Dawson, McAuley, Evans, Nyom; Yacob, Fletcher; Brunt, Chadli, Phillips; Rondon Subs: Myhill; Olsson, Robson-Kanu, Morrison, Gardner, McClean, Galloway

Follow all of the action from the Emirates this afternoon with Sports Mole's live text commentary here.