Arsenal will be feeling the pressure, their season and future could hinge on winning at the Hawthorns on Sunday.
No mistaking it, this is a huge weekend in the Premier League, and a massive game for Arsenal.
Just the thought of it will frustrate Gunners fans, because had they won at home to either Wigan or Norwich, it all would have been done and dusted. Only time will tell how crucial their two dropped points last weekend will be.
Here is our preview to prepare fans for what’s to come, in this rollercoaster season.
What’s at stake?
For Arsenal this games is as big as their Champions League qualifier last August against Udinese. A win will mean automatic qualification for next year’s competition via a third placed finish.
They are one point clear of rivals Tottenham Hotspur, who host Fulham, and two clear of Newcastle United who travel to Everton.
A worst case scenario could even see them slip to fifth, so failure to win is not an option, as it will take their destiny out of their hands.
Keeping Robin van Persie could depend on it too. The striker has been instrumental for Arsenal this season, and has been stalling over a new contract, and the wisdom is that he is waiting to see if the Gunners secure Champions League football or not.
A failure to get third, remember Chelsea can make fourth irrelevant by beating Bayern Munich, could also hamper the club’s chances of making top signings, and throw their summer plans into disarray.
Reasons to be fearful
Over the past month Arsenal have lost their focus, and have been really affected by Mikel Arteta’s injury. Norwich, a side of a similar standard to the Baggies made them pay last week with three well taken goals.
Travelling away on the last day of the season is always tough, the home side want to leave their supporters with happy memories as the campaign ends, and end on a high note.
The Roy Hodgson factor gives extra motivation to the club. Hodgson as the party pooper at the Reebok last week, as his side claimed a last gasp 2-2 draw. So after his appointment as England manager is unbeaten in all of one game, but his confidence would do wonders with an impressive result here. Arsenal should be extra wary.
Another worry is that with Theo Walcott out, if Robin van Persie is not scoring, who is their next best source of goals? The club will be relying again on the Dutchman to provide something special.
The Gunners should be wary too, as Hodgson’s West Brom almost beat them last year at the Hawthorns, claiming a 2-2 draw with goals from Steven Reid and Peter Odemwingie putting them 2-0 up before Arsenal staged a late comeback.
Reasons to be optimistic
Immediately glancing back to that 2-2 game last year, the reason Arsenal gave West Brom such an opportunity was due to some calamitous defending and goalkeeping from Manuel Almunia and Sebastien Squillaci.
Unless there is a bout of food poisoning affecting the Gunners first team, both of these players will be nowhere near the pitch this weekend, which will at least settle the fans’ nerves.
The main reason supporters should feel confident going into this game, is that Arsenal have performed best this season when the pressure is on.
From the away match in Udinese, to the 5-2 victory over Tottenham, when the pressure has risen, often the side have stepped up.
It was against QPR, Wigan and Norwich when the club thought they simply had to turn up to win that the side stumbled, and there is no chance of complacency here.
Arsene Wenger will have instilled just how important this match is to his players, but to be frank they should not need it explaining to them.
Will Arsenal clinch third or allow their rivals in?
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