Intro:

West Bromwich Albion head coach Alan Irvine looks ahead to Arsenal's visit to the Hawthorns in the Premier League.

Script:

SOUNDBITE (English) Alan Irvine, West Bromwich Albion coach:  (on West Brom's position in the league and how congested it is)

"I think everybody looks over their shoulder, you're always looking over your shoulder for some reason, whether you're fourth in the table and you're looking at who's coming in fith and sixth and seventh, or whether you're where we are at this moment, and looking over to see what's coming next. It's very congested really at the moment. We're not too many points behind Arsenal at this particular time, so this is a big game for us and a game where we could perhaps close the gap on them.
(on Arsenal's style of play and how they give the opposition the chance to attack them)
"Well, I'll certainly put them as a very good team. They are an exceptional team going forward, they are very, very creative. They've got fantastic individuals. They pass and move very, very well and they play a very open and expansive game. Those things give you problems, when they have the ball, but of course, they have been criticised for being open themselves in transition and it's difficult to be as open and creative as they are, without leaving something open when the ball changes hands. I think anyone who saw the game against Manchester United (last Saturday, United won 2-1 at Arsenal) last week will feel that on another day Arsenal could have won that game. I certainly feel that having watched them last night (Arsenal beat Borussia Dortmund 2-0 in the Champions League) that was a great performance against a very good team."