Arsenal will be looking to end their eight days of agonising frustration when they host West Brom on Boxing Day. However, the Gunners will have to be extremely cautious they don’t fall back to their lacklustre displays yet again. Here are the 3 key battles, where Arsenal have to absolutely win if they want to get something out of the match.
Alexis Sanchez vs Jonas Olsson
Fans have offered innumerable suggestions on how to keep Alexis Sanchez happy and for the future at Arsenal. Some have even recommended cutting few weeks’ wages from Mesut Ozil and use that to keep Atom and Humber happy. Such has been the impact of Alexis Sanchez this season.
He has been the Gunners’ best player by far and the sight of him sitting haplessly on the ground after the City loss made many fans teary-eyed. Wenger will hope things don’t turn that way on Boxing Day and Sanchez gets regular service from the back.
Sanchez has had a hand in 27 goals in his last 27 Premier League games for Arsenal. He has 41 goals in 81 PL appearances for Arsenal and is fast drawing comparisons with Thierry Henry. Given that, Diego Costa remains out for the week serving a suspension, Sanchez has a glaring opportunity to go ahead of him in the top scorer table.
Pulis will have centre-back Jonas Olsson covering the Chilean. He had a decent game against United and he will look to continue his form at Emirates. With Evans, a doubt for the game, Pulis is expected to start with him.
He has only appeared six times this season and has made has made nine interceptions, 31 clearances and five blocks.
