West Brom vs Arsenal team news: Olivier Giroud starts first league match of the season

The French striker starts alongside Danny Welbeck up front

Olivier Giroud is nearing a return from his broken tibia (Getty Images)

Arsene Wenger has selected Olivier Giroud for his first Premier League start of the season.

The Frenchman netted the Gunners' consolation goal in last weekend's 2-1 defeat at Old Trafford in his return to first-team action after sustaining a broken tibia against Everton in August.

He is partnered up front by Danny Welbeck, who missed out on Arsenal's 2-0 victory over Borussia Dortmund in midweek.

Arsenal also welcome back Laurent Koscielny, who has been out since the start of October with tendonitis, while Mathieu Flamini comes in the the injured Mikel Arteta.

Claudio Yacob is out for West Brom, serving the first of a three-match suspension after his red card in last Saturday's 2-0 defeat to Chelsea, and is replaced by Youssouf Mulumbu.

Sebastien Pocognoli comes in for Chris Baird at left-back, while top-scorer Saido Berahino retains his place despite the revelation earlier this week of the striker's arrest for drink-driving.

West Brom: Foster, Wisdom, Lescott, Dawson, Pocognoli, Gardner, Mulumbu, Brunt, Dorrans, Sessegnon, Berahino

Subs: Myhill, McAuley, Gamboa, Baird, Anichebe, Ideye, Samaras

Arsenal: Martinez, Chambers, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Monreal, Flamini, Ramsey, Welbeck, Alexis, Cazorla, Giroud

Subs: Macey, Gibbs, Bellerin, Rosicky, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Campbell, Podolski