Iwobi may captain Arsenal against West Brom

By Daily Sports on December 24, 2016

Arsene Wenger and Tony Pulis will lock horns once again when Arsenal play West Brom at Emirates Stadium on Boxing Day.

The two managers have a history of heated touchline disputes although Pulis admitted last season that they now have a "better relationship" than before.

Two consecutive defeats in the Premier League have seen Wenger's side go from top of the pile to nine points behind Chelsea in less than a fortnight and Pulis will be confident of getting something out of the game in north London.

Wenger spoke about the recent criticism of Mesut Ozil in his pre-match press conference and backed him to respond on the pitch.

“I don’t give him any leeway when the team doesn’t have possession,” said Wenger.

“He has to do his job like everybody else and usually he does it well.

“We have to respond. Mesut Ozil is an important player, a big player, and the big players always respond to criticism on the pitch.”

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has been ruled out of the game through injury but Wenger confirmed that his absence will be a matter of days, not weeks.

Aaron Ramsey and Danny Welbeck both returned to full training ahead of Sunday's match although it is likely to come too soon for both of them.

German defender Shkodran Mustafi is out until early January while Santi Cazorla and Mathieu Debuchy are still on the sidelines.

Arsenal have no suspended players for this game.

Alex Iwobi is expected to start in place of the injured Oxlade-Chamberlain against West Brom, although Lucas Perez could be involved with another game against Crystal Palace coming up in quick succession.

The central midfield partnership of Granit Xhaka and Francis Coquelin struggled to get a handle on the match at Manchester City last week but with Ramsey still out it seems unlikely that Wenger will disrupt the duo.

Theo Walcott will continue on the right hand side after netting six of his eight goals this season at Emirates Stadium. He's started all 16 Premier League matches he has been available for this season. (goal.com)

•Photo shows Alex Iwobi

Source Daily Sports

Posted December 24, 2016


 

You may also like...
Rivers United reach Confed Cup group stage

Ronaldo rejects offers to play at Club World...

Sports minister seeks financial support for Eagles ahead...

Ex-champion Parker wants Joshua rematch

Super Eagles focused on World Cup qualifiers –...

Okocha Named In Best 50 EPL Performances

 

Latest News Amaechi targets consistency at World Champs NPFL to probe more players over betting allegations Super Eagles’ Nwabali suffers injury ahead of World Cup qualifiers Over 6,300 athletes set for ninth national youth games in Delta Rasheedat Ajibade signs for Paris Saint-Germain until 2027 Rivers United won’t make last season’s mistake – Finidi Ocheme closes in on PFL Africa crown Oyede names Piety, Agboya, others for World Cup qualifiers Nigeria storm India for Commonwealth Weightlifting Championship Oshoala’s Bay FC set NWSL stadium record ASBSA Chairman, Madubuko Honoured By NBSL For Outstanding Contributions 2025 NBSL MD 7: Kada BSC, Anambra Warriors Shine as Round Two Concludes In Nnewi

 

Most Read Rangers International going, going . . . (56,306 views) Amaju Pinnick: A cat with nine lives (47,474 views) Second Term: Amaju Pinnick, Other NFF Heavyweights Home to Roost •How Pinnick Broke the Jinx (45,465 views) Current issues in Nigerian sports: Matters arising (45,056 views) Missing $150,000 IAAF Grant: Solomon Dalung’s Hide and Seek game (45,043 views) Sports Development: Zenith Bank on the zenith (45,042 views) Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje’s solid footprints, commitment to sports development in Kano State (44,860 views) NFF Presidency: Pinnick, Maigari, Ogunjobi, Okoye in Battle for Supremacy (44,404 views) Olopade, BET9A wave of revolution in NNL (43,510 views) Commonwealth Games 2018: Shame of Muhammadu Buhari, Solomon Dalung (42,122 views) Ibrahimovic’s Man U exit: Whose decision is it? And in whose interest? (40,554 views) John Mikel Obi: Segun Odegbami’s Outrageous Call! (39,978 views)

 

Phone numbers

Tel: +234(0)8066020976
+234(0)8055068145
+234(0)7013416146
+234(0)8094272884

Email addresses

info@dailysportsng.com
support@dailysportsng.com
publisher@dailysportsng.com

Office address

No 3, Adetoun Close, Off College Road, Ogba, Ikeja Lagos.
Website: www.dailysportsng.com

Social Media