Arsenal vs West Brom: Gunners' strength in depth means they can still challenge Chelsea, says Tony Pulis

The former Stoke and Crystal Palace manager believes Arsene Wenger's men have what it takes to challenge the Premier League's runaway leaders

Pulis' Baggies were broken despite putting up a stiff resistance (Getty)

Arsenal's strength in depth could make them realistic challengers to Chelsea for the Premier League title unless Chelsea strengthen in January, according to Tony Pulis, the manager of West Bromwich Albion.

Pulis's team has faced the two London clubs in successive away games, losing both in similar circumstances – conceding late winners after deploying blanket defenses in both games.

After going down to Olivier Giroud's 86th-minute header at the Emirates Stadium, Pulis suggested that Arsenal are far from out of the title race despite Chelsea's present nine-point advantage.

“If you look at the players who were not playing and not in the [Arsenal] team today, and then you look at Chelsea's, I think Arsenal have definitely got the stronger squad,” Pulis said. “So they have most probably got the staying power to see them through and it will be interesting to see what Chelsea do.

“I think Chelsea will spend. I don't think your man [owner Roman Abramovich] will sit back on what he's got, I think he will invest. So it will be an interesting window for the top four or five clubs.”

The best illustration of Pulis's point about Arsenal's strength was that Giroud, an established France international and the scorer of 87 club goals since joining the club in 2012, was making his first Premier League start of the season after ten appearances – and three goals – from the bench.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger praised Giroud's patience but also the different skills he brings to the team. “He always make a point when he comes on because he has scored many times,” Wenger said. “He has qualities in our squad that are needed and that the other players have not. He’s a fighter too, Olivier, and has a fantastic mentality.

“It has been frustrating for him because he didn’t always play but I think we have an honest relationship. I have big respect for him and he knows that he was not always playing but despite that he kept a strong motivation level.

“Part of the job of a player is to be always ready - the players who are always ready will be there and the players who feel sorry for themselves get their chance and they give you one more reason to justify why you didn’t select them. The fighters are always ready.

“We are competing and I think if I only have one striker everybody says: 'What are you doing?' We need two or three strikers and we have [Danny] Welbeck coming back so most of the time we have to make the decision depending on our opponent.

“Like today I knew they would play deep, and in the air Giroud could be the solution so I have to make the right decisions. We kept going and in the end when we couldn't make a difference on the ground we made it in the air with maybe the only player in our team who can do that.”

Pulis, who lost at Chelsea when Diego Costa bullied Gareth McAuley before scoring the only goal agreed, noting a feeling of deja vu as Giroud beat McAuley to Mezut Ozil's cross from the right. “Gareth has got pinned by Giroud and you can't allow him to do that because he's such a strong player,” he said. “He is excellent in the air and is untypical of what Arsene wants in lots of respects, but he has won them three points today.”

He added: “The game at Chelsea and here were very similar. We've played against a top team today, good players and we've worked very hard within a system and I'm desperately disappointed for them and the supporters who have travelled. Against these two teams you have to work and concentrate for as long it takes. The top teams win so many games in the last ten minutes. They are relentless. We're disappointed but we move on.”