Chadli keen to kick on after Albion return

Nacer Chadli’s return to the West Brom team may have gone badly as the Baggies lost at Arsenal – but the midfielder says he was just glad to be in the thick of the action.

Olivier Giroud’s later header secured the points for Arsenal – who huffed and puffed for much of the match but could not break down West Brom’s strong defence.

Chadli, who joined Albion in the summer from Tottenham, enjoyed a fine start to his Baggies career – scoring four goals in his first five games.

Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images

But a spell on the sidelines, due to injury and the hot form of others, left him frustrated and he is now keen to kick on against Southampton on New Year’s Eve.

“I’m very happy to be back in the starting line-up,” he said.

“Honestly, I wanted to have a better performance against Arsenal but it was unfortunate to concede in the last five minutes.

“I was injured, I had the surgery. It was not something small. I had to get my fitness back, and now I’m good.

“I’m feeling 100 per cent, ready for those two games in three days.”