Premier League preview: West Brom v Arsenal

Arsenal can secure a berth in next season’s Champions League group stage with a victory away to West Bromwich Albion on Sunday.

The Gunners (67 points) are winless in their last four starts but can put third spot beyond the reach of Tottenham (66) and Newcastle (65) with three points on the final day of the season.

A loss or draw, however, would leave Arsenal sweating on the results of Tottenham’s clash against Fulham and Newcastle’s journey to Everton and could bundle the Gunners out of the Champions League altogether.

The West Brom faithful are expected to give new England manager Roy Hodgson a rousing farewell as he takes change of his last game at the Hawthorns before turning his attention to England’s Euro 2012 campaign.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has warned his players not to be overawed by the occasion.

“I believe that it will be an emotional departure, maybe, but I think what is important for us is to turn up with a good performance and win the football game,” Wenger said.

“It will be another tense week. When you consider the last three home games, we have taken two points, we have a lot of regrets. Let’s hope we will not pay the heavy price for that.

“We don’t know whether fourth will be enough. It is not Champions League (proper), it is a qualifier at best. Maybe not at all if Chelsea win the Champions League.”

West Brom striker Shane Long believes his Albion team-mates owe it to Hodgson to secure a top-half finish in the Premier League.

“It’s been a pleasure playing under Roy and I’m a better player for it because I’ve learned a lot of new things,” Long told the official West Brom website.

“He’s turned us into a stable club in the Premier League that are looking up rather than looking down.”

Arsenal were 3-0 winners last time the sides met in November with Robin van Persie, Thomas Vermaelen and Mikel Arteta all scoring at the Emirates.