Alan Irvine focused on picking best team

Alan Irvine has insisted that he will be trying to select his best team rather than rotating his squad when West Bromwich Albion host Arsenal in the Premier League this weekend.

The Baggies have won just once in their last six matches, and face West Ham United just three days after their clash with the Gunners tomorrow lunchtime.

The manager told reporters: "As a head coach you try and pick the team that you think is best. It takes a long, long time to pick a team. It takes two or three minutes to pick somebody else's team.

"When you're picking your own there are all sorts of circumstances that you have to take into consideration. I don't know any manager who does not pick their best team for that particular game.

"We don't just try people because they haven't had a go yet, you always pick your best for that game at that particular time. I discuss every position with all of the other coaches. I pick the team and generally there is a common consensus."

The visit of Arsenal is the first of seven Premier League matches in four weeks for West Brom.