Steve Claridge
Ex-Premier League striker on BBC Radio 5 live

It's an incredible amount of games for Arsene Wenger, but you can still see the criticism hurts him, especially last season when he came under a lot of pressure. But he deserves all the plaudits he gets, because he's been a wonderful manager over the years and a real pioneer at times.

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Arsene Wenger signs a couple of autographs as he takes his place in the dugout. Moments later the home side get us under way at The Hawthorns.

Joe Wedgwood: Arsenal bench looks wafer thin, reinforcements needed ASAP in January, especially if Alexis Sanchez leaves!

Ian: West Brom is north of Watford - poor old Mesut Ozil gets nose bleeds up there.

A slight knee injury is the reason behind Mesut Ozil's absence today.

The players are out on the pitch, giving each other high fives before-kick off. Just a couple of minutes away now.

In case you are wondering why the Gunners are wearing all red today...

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Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has been saying some nice things about midfielder Jack Wilshere's recent renaissance.

“Give him credit for what he has gone through – it demands some character,” Wenger said.

“I have a big respect for that because it is all nicey-nicey when you are super talented and everybody says you are the greatest player at 17. To come back to that level when you have gone through what he has gone through, shows a special character.”

Wilshere is in Wenger's starting line-up today.

Steve Claridge
Ex-Premier League striker on BBC Radio 5 live

I'm not pretending replacing Alexis Sanchez will be easy for Arsenal, but Arsene Wenger has to try and understand what that player wants. The club has to sit down with him and realise what Sanchez wants to do, because then they can start planning if they need to get someone else in, if he does want to leave.

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Rumbling on in the background as we head into 2018 is whether Alexis Sanchez will still be at Arsenal at end of the January.

If Gabriel Jesus' injury as serious as looked then it might crank up Pep Guardiola's desire to bring the Chilean to Manchester City in January.

Gunners boss Arsene Wenger, naturally, is getting a little irritated by being asked about the the forward's future.

He said: "I am not a psychologist to know what is in his head, if he is short-term or long-term. You turn up to play football, that’s it. After that you judge, did he play well or not well.”

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West Brom defender Craig Dawson is hopeful the club's luck in front of goal changes against the Gunners today.

"It's going to be a tough game against Arsenal but if we play like we did against Everton and have the fans behind us then we'll be fine," he said.

"The chances were there in that game, there were crosses great deliveries and we just need that one to go in. Hopefully it'll come soon."

The players are back in the dressing room getting their final instructions. Kick-off just 10 minutes away now.

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West Brom need goals - and desperately. Only Swansea City (13) have scored less than the 14 the Baggies have managed in the Premier League this season.

Part of the rationale for Alan Pardew's appointment is he will be able to bring more of an attacking approach to their play.

But so far they have followed the pattern set by predecessor Tony Pulis with just two goals in six games since he took charge.

Hamza Darby: How on earth does Jake Livermore keep getting picked! I think there's only three people in the world who rate him. Tony Pulis, Alan Pardew and Gareth Southgate!

Kesis Ng: As usual, Arsenal's team selection disappoints whenever Arsene Wenger is reaching a milestone...

Anon: Poor old Mesut Ozil - suffering from travel sickness again. What a joke!

Pranav: I really hope Mesut Ozil’s absence is not down to a completed transfer deal.

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Nice of Alan to say that. Although relations between him and Wenger were not so cordial back in November 2006.

The pair had a heated touchline bust up during West Ham's 1-0 win over Arsenal at Upton Park. Wenger refused to shake Pardew's hand after the game.

Both are a bit older and wiser these days, though.

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West Brom boss Alan Pardew plans to pay a quick personal tribute to Arsene Wenger's endurance at The Hawthorns later this afternoon.

“Before the game I’m going to shake his hand and say: ‘Well done’,” Pardew said.

“At top clubs you always have to win, that’s a different kind of pressure and Arsene has dealt with it with dignity for 20 years.

“Then hopefully at the end I’ll be able to shake his hand again and say: ‘unlucky’."

Both teams out on the pitch at The Hawthorns warming up. Arsenal's players knocking the ball about nicely in triangles. West Brom meanwhile are doing a few sprints and stretches.

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You only need to look around the Premier League to put Wenger's managerial longevity into some sort of perspetive.

After Wenger, Bournemouth boss Eddie Howie and Burnley manager Sean Dyche are the next two longest-serving managers in the top flight having taken charge of their respective clubs in 2012.

According to the League Managers' Association the average tenure of all of last season's managers is 2.68 years. Will we ever see anything like Wenger's dynasty ever again?