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 vs West Brom player ratings Show all 22 1 /22 Arsenal vs West Brom player ratings Arsenal vs West Brom player ratings Petr Cech - 7 out of 10 LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 25: Jay Rodriguez of West Bromwich Albion shoots past Petr Cech of Arsenal during the Premier League match between Arsenal and West Bromwich Albion at Emirates Stadium on September 25, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images) Getty Images Arsenal vs West Brom player ratings Laurent Koscielny - 7 LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 25: Laurent Koscielny of Arsenal is faced by Hal Robson-Kanu and Kieran Gibbs of West Bromwich Albion during the Premier League match between Arsenal and West Bromwich Albion at Emirates Stadium on September 25, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images) Getty Images Arsenal vs West Brom player ratings Shkodran Mustafi - 7 LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 25: Hal Robson-Kanu of West Bromwich Albion and Shkodran Mustafi of Arsenal battle for the ball during the Premier League match between Arsenal and West Bromwich Albion at Emirates Stadium on September 25, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images) Getty Images Arsenal vs West Brom player ratings Nacho Monreal - 8 LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 25: Nacho Monreal of Arsenal clears the ball from the goal line during the Premier League match between Arsenal and West Bromwich Albion at Emirates Stadium on September 25, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images) Getty Images Arsenal vs West Brom player ratings Hector Bellerin - 7 LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 25: Tony Pulis, Manager of West Bromwich Albion shouts as Hector Bellerin of Arsenal take a throw in during the Premier League match between Arsenal and West Bromwich Albion at Emirates Stadium on September 25, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images) Getty Images Arsenal vs West Brom player ratings Mohamed Elneny - 6 West Bromwich Albion's English midfielder Gareth Barry (L) vies with Arsenal's Egyptian midfielder Mohamed Elneny during the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and West Bromwich Albion at the Emirates Stadium in London on September 25, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / Ian KINGTON / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo credit should read IAN KINGTON/AFP/Getty Images) AFP/Getty Images Arsenal vs West Brom player ratings Granit Xhaka - 6 LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 17: Granit Xhaka of Arsenal during the Premier League match between Chelsea and Arsenal at Stamford Bridge on September 17, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images) Arsenal FC via Getty Images Arsenal vs West Brom player ratings Sead Kolasinac - 7 LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 14: Sead Kolasinac of Arsenal controls the ball during the UEFA Europa League group H match between Arsenal FC and 1. FC Koeln at Emirates Stadium on September 14, 2017 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images) Getty Images Arsenal vs West Brom player ratings Aaron Ramsey - 7 LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 25: Aaron Ramsey of Arsenal is challenged by goalkeeper Ben Foster of West Bromwich Albion during the Premier League match between Arsenal and West Bromwich Albion at Emirates Stadium on September 25, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images) Getty Images Arsenal vs West Brom player ratings Alexis Sanchez - 8 Arsenal's Chilean striker Alexis Sanchez reacts during the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and West Bromwich Albion at the Emirates Stadium in London on September 25, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / Ian KINGTON / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo credit should read IAN KINGTON/AFP/Getty Images) AFP/Getty Images Arsenal vs West Brom player ratings Alexandre Lacazette - 9 LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 25: Alexandre Lacazette of Arsenal heads past Ben Foster of West Bromwich Albion as he scores their first goal during the Premier League match between Arsenal and West Bromwich Albion at Emirates Stadium on September 25, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images) Getty Images Arsenal vs West Brom player ratings Ben Foster - 6 LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 25: Aaron Ramsey of Arsenal is challenged by goalkeeper Ben Foster of West Bromwich Albion during the Premier League match between Arsenal and West Bromwich Albion at Emirates Stadium on September 25, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images) Getty Images Arsenal vs West Brom player ratings Craig Dawson - 5 BURTON-UPON-TRENT, ENGLAND - JULY 26: Craig Dawson of West Bromwich Albion looks on during the pre season friendly match between Burton Albion and West Bromwich Albion at Pirelli Stadium on July 26, 2017 in Burton-upon-Trent, England. (Photo by Nathan Stirk/Getty Images) Getty Images Arsenal vs West Brom player ratings Ahmed El-Sayed Hegazi - 7 LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 25: Alexis Sanchez of Arsenal and Ahmed El-Sayed Hegazi of West Bromwich Albion chase the ball during the Premier League match between Arsenal and West Bromwich Albion at Emirates Stadium on September 25, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images) Getty Images Arsenal vs West Brom player ratings Jonny Evans - 6 LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 25: Nacho Monreal of Arsenal takes on Jonny Evans of West Bromwich Albion during the Premier League match between Arsenal and West Bromwich Albion at Emirates Stadium on September 25, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images) Getty Images Arsenal vs West Brom player ratings Allan Nyom - 5 BURTON-UPON-TRENT, ENGLAND - JULY 26: Allan Nyom of West Bromwich Albion looks on during the pre season friendly match between Burton Albion and West Bromwich Albion at Pirelli Stadium on July 26, 2017 in Burton-upon-Trent, England. (Photo by Nathan Stirk/Getty Images) Getty Images Arsenal vs West Brom player ratings Jake Livermore - 6 West Bromwich Albion's English midfielder Jake Livermore (L) vies with Arsenal's Chilean striker Alexis Sanchez during the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and West Bromwich Albion at the Emirates Stadium in London on September 25, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / Ian KINGTON / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo credit should read IAN KINGTON/AFP/Getty Images) AFP/Getty Images Arsenal vs West Brom player ratings Grzegorz Krychowiak - 7 LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 25: Grzegorz Krychowiak of West Bromwich Albion is chased by Laurent Koscielny of Arsenal during the Premier League match between Arsenal and West Bromwich Albion at Emirates Stadium on September 25, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images) Getty Images Arsenal vs West Brom player ratings Gareth Barry - 6 LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 25: Gareth Barry of West Bromwich Albion is faced by Mohamed Elneny of Arsenal during the Premier League match between Arsenal and West Bromwich Albion at Emirates Stadium on September 25, 2017 in London, England. Gareth Barry is making a record 633rd Premier League appearance. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images) Getty Images Arsenal vs West Brom player ratings Kieran Gibbs - 7 LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 25: Kieran Gibbs of West Bromwich Albion beats Hector Bellerin of Arsenal during the Premier League match between Arsenal and West Bromwich Albion at Emirates Stadium on September 25, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images) Getty Images Arsenal vs West Brom player ratings Jay Rodriguez - 6 LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 25: Jay Rodriguez of West Bromwich Albion shoots past Petr Cech of Arsenal during the Premier League match between Arsenal and West Bromwich Albion at Emirates Stadium on September 25, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images) Getty Images Arsenal vs West Brom player ratings Hal Robson-Kanu - 6 LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 25: Hal Robson-Kanu of West Bromwich Albion and Shkodran Mustafi of Arsenal battle for the ball during the Premier League match between Arsenal and West Bromwich Albion at Emirates Stadium on September 25, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images) Getty Images

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.”