West Brom v Arsenal preview: Gunners remain without trio for New Year's Eve Sky Live clash

Arsenal will remain without Olivier Giroud, Nacho Monreal and Aaron Ramsey for Sunday's trip to West Brom, live on Sky Sports Premier League from 4pm.

In his record-equalling 810th Premier League game, Arsene Wenger saw his side move to within a point of the top four with a 3-2 win at in-form Crystal Palace, and the Frenchman will be hoping for more of the free-flowing football on show at Selhurst Park as he moves past Sir Alex Ferguson's games-managed record at The Hawthorns.

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However, talk of a rift in the camp has surfaced after the Arsenal players seemed to snub Alexis Sanchez's calls for a team celebration after the Gunners' opener against Palace. Wenger played down such talk and also rubbished claims Sanchez will be on his way in January.

When asked by Sky Sports' Geoff Shreeves if there is a divide in the camp, Wenger simply replied: "No, not at all. I did not see that. I am not fearful [of a bid coming in], but that is a subject that will turn up because of his contract situation."

Albion extended their winless run to 18 Premier League games following the 0-0 draw at home to Everton on Boxing Day. They are second bottom in the table and three points adrift of safety, while Alan Pardew is also yet to claim a victory in his first six matches in charge, but winger Matt Phillips believes the Baggies will stay up.

"I think you can see from the performance [against Everton] that we were really good and we created a lot of chances," he told the club's official website. "Sooner or later we're going to score one, two or three and win the game."

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Team news

Giroud and Monreal are expected to be absent until mid-January, owing to respective hamstring and ankle injuries. Ramsey is also struggling with a hamstring problem.

West Brom's Nacer Chadli has been ruled out for up to two months after a recurrence of his hip problem.

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The forward limped off in the 3-1 defeat to Stoke last weekend and is now unlikely to return until March for the Premier League strugglers, who face Arsenal on Sunday.

Striker Salomon Rondon is a doubt with a hamstring injury suffered in Boxing Day's 0-0 draw with Everton, while James Morrison (Achilles) remains out.

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• The Baggies have won their last two home league games against Arsenal, as many as they had in their previous 23 against them at The Hawthorns
• Arsenal have scored in all 23 of their Premier League games against West Bromwich Albion, the best such 100 per cent record in the division
• This will be Arsene Wenger's 811th Premier League game in charge - the most of any manager in the competition. He will overtake Sir Alex Ferguson, whose 810th and final game in the Premier League came against West Brom at The Hawthorns (5-5)
• After an unbeaten three-game start in the Premier League against Arsenal (W2 D1 L0), Alan Pardew has failed to win any of his following 12 against them (W0 D3 L9)

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Merson's prediction

This is a massive game for West Brom. I keep reading that West Brom are unlucky in recent weeks, but they can't carry on like this. They have had more shots on goal since Alan Pardew arrived, but they really don't have many players to put the ball in the back of the net.

I'm worried for West Brom. I don't see them beating Arsenal. I do see improvements under Pardew, he's playing the ball forward more, but they haven't got a goalscorer! Rondon holds the ball up well, but can he put the ball in the net? You need a player who will score once from two chances.

PAUL PREDICTS: 1-3 (12/1 with Sky Bet)

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