West Brom vs Arsenal, Premier League - as it happened
Re-live all the action from the Premier League clash at the Hawthorns
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Your support makes all the difference.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.
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Good afternoon and welcome to The Independent's live coverage of today's New Year's Eve Premier League clash between West Bromwich Albion and Arsenal, brought to you live from the Hawthorns.
We'll have team news from the West Midlands for you in just five minutes' time!
West Brom vs Arsenal - last five meetings
- Arsenal 2-0 West Brom, September 2017 (Premier League)
- West Brom 3-1 Arsenal, March 2017 (Premier League)
- Arsenal 1-0 West Brom, December 2016 (Premier League)
- Arsenal 2-0 West Brom, April 2016 (Premier League)
- West Brom 2-1 Arsenal, November 2015 (Premier League)
Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville arrives at the Hawthorns ahead of kick-off
West Brom are yet to win a match since Alan Pardew took charge of the club last month.
Swansea's dramatic win at Watford yesterday saw the Baggies slip to 20th in the Premier League table so today would be a better time than ever for Pardew to put an end to that win-less run.
Arsenal, on the other hand, will move above Spurs and into fifth with a victory this evening.
Pre-match quotes from Arsene Wenger
On taking charge of a record-breaking 811th game as a Premier League manager: "I'm focused on today's game and that is the most important thing. What matters is the next game, this is a difficult place for us.
"Of course I am grateful and happy to serve this club for such a long time."
On Mesut Ozil's omission from the squad: "Ozil is injured and cannot contribute today. Iwobi comes in for him. Ozil has a little chance to play against Chelsea."
On the threat posed by the out-of-form West Brom: "You're always a little bit unnerved because every game is tricky. At the end of the day you focus on making sure that your performance is the best."
Quotes from Sky Sports
Pre-match quotes from Alan Pardew
On West Brom's recent struggles: "Seeing as it's the end of the year, it's been a tough year for us. Seven victories in the year sums up the problems the club has had. This group has responded well to me without getting the victory we need."
On how West Brom will adapt their style of play without the injured Salomon Rondon: "We've got to change our style a little bit. The two guys we've got playing up front today are a little bit more mobile and quicker so we need to be a little cleverer. If we can get the ball into them, we might cause Arsenal some problems."
Quotes from Sky Sports
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