Steve Clarke tells his West Brom stars to think positive

West Bromwich Albion boss Steve Clarke today slapped a ban on "negative thoughts" as he rallied his troops for Saturday's trip to Arsenal.

The Baggies boss takes his fifth-place side to the Emirates Stadium looking to respond to back-to-back defeats in the Premier League.

But the Hawthorns head coach has told his squad to head for London with a spring in their step after their superb start to the season left them five points and five places above Arsene Wenger's struggling Gunners.

"I think the spirit at the club should be high at the moment and I said that to the players after the game on Saturday against Stoke," said Clarke. "We were disappointed to lose but all I said was that they should be pleased with their efforts given where we are.

"If at this stage in the season you'd have said that we'd have 26 points and we'd be level on points with Chelsea and Tottenham, towards the top of the league, I would have grabbed that.

"I've tried to tell the players that we're not in a bad place and we have to remain positive. There's no way we can allow negative thoughts to come into our heads."