Preview: West Bromwich Albion vs. Arsenal

Arsenal travel to The Hawthorns on Saturday to face West Bromwich Albion, looking for three points to continue their pursuit of a Champions League spot.

The Gunners, who have won five of their last six games, are two points adrift of fourth-placed Chelsea.

Steve Clarke's West Brom side lost 3-1 at West Ham United last time out, which damaged their hopes of securing European football for next season. The result leaves them nine points adrift of Arsenal, who occupy fifth place in the table.

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger will be without midfielder Jack Wilshere as he continues his recovery from an ankle injury, while Theo Walcott is likely to miss out with the groin injury he picked up while on England duty two weeks ago.

Gervinho could keep his place in the starting XI after scoring the opening goal in last Saturday's 4-1 win over Reading.

Baggies midfielder Youssuf Mulumbu will miss the match after picking up a red card at West Ham last week, while James Morrison faces a late fitness test on the hamstring injury which saw him sit out the defeat at Upton Park.

Recent form

West Brom: WWLWDL

Arsenal: WWWLWW

Possible starting lineups

West Brom: Foster; Olsson, McAuley, Ridgewell, Jones; Brunt, Dorrans, Morrison, Yacob; Long, Lukaku

Arsenal: Fabianski; Sagna, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Monreal; Rosicky, Arteta, Ramsey; Cazorla, Giroud, Gervinho

Sports Mole says: 1-2