After a late, wrongly given penalty denied Arsenal all three points at the Hawthorns, they will go into the Chelsea game looking to make up some ground on the top six – well, at least in the race for second.
Two positives came out of that game – firstly, Arsenal stretched their unbeaten run to six games, and secondly, the seasonal schedule blessed the team with some extra rest.
However, a hardened Chelsea side is no mean fixture. After Koscielny and Kolasinac were forced off injured on Sunday – and with Nacho Monreal sidelined – one would expect Arsene Wenger to switch to a back four, and perhaps place an extra combative midfielder alongside the Wilshere-Xhaka pivot.
However, Mesut Ozil – who had a fantastic December – should return to complete the fearsome front three once again.
