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As it happenedended1514744938

West Brom vs Arsenal, Premier League - as it happened

Re-live all the action from the Premier League clash at the Hawthorns

Liam Corless
Sunday 31 December 2017 15:19 GMT
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(Getty)

Arsenal can end the year ahead of Tottenham if they beat West Bromwich Albion on New Year’s Eve with Arsene Wenger’s side looking to keep on the tails of Chelsea, Manchester United and Liverpool in the top four race.

With the Gunners 22 points behind leaders Manchester City and out of the title battle, a top four place is the best that the north Londoners can hope for in the league this season, and they will hope to pile further misery on basement club West Brom, who slipped below Swansea yesterday to the bottom of the table.

However, while the match represents the last of 2017 for both sides, Arsenal head into the new year with plenty of concerns surrounding their squad, with Alexis Sanchez, Mesut Özil and Jack Wilshere all out of contract in the summer and fresh reports that he could leave the club as early as next month.

Follow the live action below...


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The players are in the tunnel at the Hawthorns and kick-off is just moments away!

Liam Corless31 December 2017 16:26
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1' - We are underway in the final Premier League match of 2017!

Liam Corless31 December 2017 16:30
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4' - Arsenal almost create a great opportunity in the early stages but Alexandre Lacazette doesn't quite connect with his return pass to Alexis Sanchez deep inside the West Brom area and Kieran Gibbs makes a vital interception.

Liam Corless31 December 2017 16:35
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6' - Chance! Matt Phillips and Hal Robson-Kanu work the ball well down the right wing before Phillips sends a good cross into the box. Jay Rodriguez gets up well to meet it but his header is comfortably saved by Petr Cech. 

Liam Corless31 December 2017 16:38
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8' - Alexandre Lacazette plays a nice one-two with Hector Bellerin before shooting just wide of Ben Foster's goal via a deflection.

It's been a lively start at the Hawthorns, where it is pouring with rain.

Liam Corless31 December 2017 16:40
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Alexandre Lacazette holds off Jonny Evans 

Liam Corless31 December 2017 16:41
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16' - Close! Alex Iwobi receives the ball from Alexis Sanchez inside the box before turning and curling a shot just over the crossbar. The Arsenal man should've done better with that one.

Liam Corless31 December 2017 16:46
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20' - Jay Rodriguez gets on the end of Gareth Barry's pacy cross but he struggles to control his header and the ball loops well over Petr Cech's crossbar.

West Brom have started well here and you wouldn't think there were 14 places between these two sides in the Premier League.

Liam Corless31 December 2017 16:51
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26' - Shkodran Mustafi fouls Hal Robson-Kanu on the edge of the West Brom penalty area but Chris Brunt wastes the resulting free-kick, curling a shot well over the crossbar.

Liam Corless31 December 2017 16:57
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Jack Wilshere dribbles with the ball 

Liam Corless31 December 2017 16:58

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