Dec 26, 2016 at 3pm UK at ​Emirates Stadium
Attendance: 59,925
Arsenal
1-0
West BromWest Bromwich Albion
Giroud (86')
Giroud (43'), Gibbs (65'), Ramsey (88')
FT(HT: 0-0)

Foster (83')

Team News: Olivier Giroud starts for Arsenal

Olivier Giroud celebrates during the Champions League game between Arsenal and PSG on November 23, 2016
© SilverHub
Olivier Giroud makes Arsenal's starting lineup for the Boxing Day visit of West Bromwich Albion.

Olivier Giroud has made Arsenal's starting lineup for the Boxing Day visit of West Bromwich Albion to the Emirates.

The French striker makes a rare start leading the line for the Gunners, with Alexis Sanchez dropping back to an attacking midfield role as Theo Walcott misses out on the matchday squad with "a slight calf problem".

Sanchez partners Alex Iwobi and Mesut Ozil - making his 100th Premier League appearance - with Granit Xhaka and Francis Coquelin operating at defensive midfield.

There is one change in the back four as Kieran Gibbs is preferred to Nacho Monreal, who drops to the bench.

Aaron Ramsey is named among the substitutes after a few weeks out with a hamstring injury, while Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is left out as he recovers from a hamstring injury picked up during the 2-1 defeat at Manchester City last time out.

For Tony Pulis's visitors, there is just one change to the XI that started in the 2-0 defeat to Manchester United last time out, with Jonny Evans recovering from a calf injury to displace Jonas Olsson in the back four.

Salomon Rondon continues to lead the line, with support from Chris Brunt, Nacer Chadli and Matt Phillips.

James Morrison overcomes a late fitness test following a bout of the flu to be named among the substitutes.

Arsenal: Cech; Bellerin, Gabriel, Koscielny, Gibbs; Coquelin, Xhaka; Sanchez, Ozil, Iwobi; Giroud
Subs: Ospina, Monreal, Holding, Elneny, Ramsey, Reine-Adelaide, Lucas Perez

West Bromwich Albion: Foster; Dawson, McAuley, Evans, Nyom; Yacob, Fletcher; Brunt, Chadli, Phillips; Rondon
Subs: Myhill; Olsson, Robson-Kanu, Morrison, Gardner, McClean, Galloway

Follow all of the action from the Emirates this afternoon with Sports Mole's live text commentary here.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain of Arsenal in action during the Barclays Premier League match between Newcastle United and Arsenal at St James' Park on August 29, 2015
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Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Chelsea19161242132949
2Liverpool19134246212543
3Tottenham HotspurSpurs19116236132339
4Manchester CityMan City19123439211839
5Arsenal18114339192037
6Manchester UnitedMan Utd19106329191036
7Everton197662523227
8West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom197572523226
9Southampton196671922-324
10Bournemouth197392631-524
11Burnley1972102129-823
12West Ham UnitedWest Ham196492333-1022
13Watford196492233-1122
14Stoke CityStoke195682232-1021
15Leicester CityLeicester195592431-720
16Middlesbrough194691722-518
17Crystal Palace1844102933-416
18Sunderland1942131735-1814
19Hull City1934121641-2513
20Swansea CitySwansea1933132144-2312
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