Albion boss Tony Mowbray will urge his players to take heart from one of their own darkest days when they try to upset the odds at Arsenal.

Mowbray is hoping to inspire his side, with memories of Leicester City’s shock 4-1 victory at The Hawthorns last season.

The Baggies manager reckons his team, who were favourites last season but head to the Emirates Stadium for their first game of the season as heavy underdogs, can do to the Gunners what Leicester did to the Baggies.

He said: “Let’s hope that we are the Leicester City of the division. They came and beat us 4-1 at home. They were a team that struggled all season and the perception is that we are going to be ‘little Albion’ struggling and fighting around the bottom of the league.

“Yet you can win. We were perceived as the top-of-the-table big team, but the team who are struggling can win on any given day if they get it right.

“That day we had a sending off and who is to say there won’t be one on Saturday. I don’t know what’s going to happen.

“All you can do is prepare thoroughly, be ready for the game, be mindful of how you hope it is going to go, give the players scenarios and send them out.”

Mowbray’s side will face a weakened Arsenal side, with Spanish star Cesc Fabregas one of several big names sidelined by injury. Yet the Baggies manager is urging his side to pay little attention to the Gunners’ problems.

He said: “There is no arguing the fact that Cesc Fabregas is very important to how they are. I do believe the strength of Arsenal is their team ethos and I don’t think anything changes.

“Fabregas goes out and whether Denilson or someone else comes in, the ball still moves from A to B to C and they still shift it around the pitch.

“Csec gives them that extra bit of direction and quality but they will play exactly the same way.

“They still have Adebayor and Van Persie up front, Walcott coming in off the wing and other great players all over the pitch.”

Mowbray is hoping the Baggies’ two Wembley appearances in the last two years will help them handle the occasion of the Premier League’s opening match of the new season, live on Sky TV.

He said: “Playing Arsenal on day one is fine for us. It’s on TV, it’s the first game in the Premiership, it’s a big occasion. The first game of any season is an occasion.

“Hopefully the recent Wembley appearances will have prepared the players mentally for the occasion, because that’s what the opening day of any season is, regardless of the level.

“The Wembley appearances of the last two seasons means our players should be prepared for the occasion. We will go there and give it our best shot.

“Arsenal are a team full of world class players, we know it will be a tough day when we’re out of possession.

“The opening day of any season is a big game for supporters and players. We know it’ll be 80-odd degrees, the grass at Arsenal will be beautifully manicured. There will be a lot of colour, a lot of noise, and we have to mentally ready for it.

Albion midfielder James Morrison is ready to show his team mates the way to goal – he has already found the net at the Emirates Stadium.

Morrison gave Middlesbrough a 1-0 lead in September 2006, before Thierry Henry earned the Gunners a point by converting a penalty.

The 22-year-old reckons staying calm is the key to Albion success tomorrow.

He said: “I scored there and got my goal, which was unbelievable. I can’t describe the feeling but I’m sure the lads will be wanting to do the same. I will certainly be wanting to do it again.

“It will be a great day out for us. Hopefully we won’t get overawed and get turned over. It’s a big game to start the season.

“You don’t get any tougher than Arsenal away but we will just take it in our stride and hopefully do a good job. There is excitement about getting the league started and getting back to playing again.

“We have got to be hard working, show concentration and play our own game. I’m sure we will be fine.

“We are here now, we are Premier League players and Premier League team. We have to be hard on ourselves and push ourselves. Rewards will come if we do.”