Steve Wilson
Match of the Day commentator

West Brom's long winless streak has continued under Alan Pardew, despite some signs of improvement, and scoring continues to be a massive problem.

The last time Albion managed to score more than twice in a league game was back in March -strangely against Arsenal.Excitement-starved Baggies fans have had only nine Albion goals to cheer at the Hawthorns in the 14 top-flight games played there since, and their side has failed to score at all in eight of those matches.

After an underwhelming December, Arsenal supporters will be desperate for a win to help see in the new year - and the start of a transfer window they're probably dreading.

Image source, Getty Images

Given Arsene Wenger edges past Sir Alex Ferguson's total of 810 Premier League games today it is worth glancing at how the two men measure up in those matches.

The former Manchester United manager has 528 victories and a win percentage of 65.2 while Wenger has 468 victories at 57.8.

Despite being renowned for their attacking style Wenger's Arsenal have scored 1524 goals in those games compared to the 1627 managed by Ferguson's United.

West Brom only make one change from the side that started in the 0-0 draw against Everton.

Striker Salomon Rondon makes way for Hal Robson-Kanu.

Image source, .

Arsenal also only make one change, from the side that defeated Crystal Palace 3-2, with Alex Iwobi in their XI for Germany midfielder Mesut Ozil.

Image source, .

Rob Nothman
BBC Sport at the Hawthorns

A rainbow to greet Arsene Wenger on his arrival at the Hawthorns for his record breaking 811th Premier League game in charge of Arsenal. Fill in your own thoughts about what the rainbow might signify. Back-to-back wins for the first time this season? A happy transfer window to come? Or could it signal a win for West Brom for the first time in 19 matches?

Image source, Getty Images

Back on 12 October, 1996 an unheralded and relatively unknown French manager took charge of his first league game for Arsenal against Blackburn Rovers.

7750 days later he is still in charge of the Gunners, and now oversees his 811th match.

The milestone takes him past Sir Alex Ferguson's tally of 810 matches in charge of Manchester United as Wenger becomes the greatest managerial marathon man of the modern era.

But before we go into that, the breaking team news is that midfielder Mesut Ozil is not in the Arsenal squad for today's match.

Thanks Saj, the fans are just starting to filter into The Hawthorns with kick-off an hour away. And this afternoon sees Arsene Wenger reach a managerial milestone which may never be beaten in the Premier League era.

That is that from me. Enjoy the rest of 2017 (or the start of 2018, depending on where you are).

I now hand you over to Timothy Abraham who will chat about all things WBA v Arsenal.

Christopher Pipe: Looking at a bunch of Man City fans moaning despite having a half billion pound team and a 14 point lead... Let us have our day, you're beginning to sound like the red side of Manchester...

Ryan: It shows how good this City team has been this season that a draw is being treated as a loss!

Manchester City

More from Pep Guardiola on the need for referees to protect players: "I admire the physicality in the Premier League but the referees have to protect the players. Not just the best players. All the players.

"I haven't spoken to the FA about it. They focus on diving on these kind of things. I know the contact is allowed here more than any other country but there is a limit. They don't have to change the way here. That's why it is so nice.

"There is a line where you go above and it is dangerous. We are lucky with the players in the recent past they are still here. Sometimes because the football is quicker and faster it happens, they don't want to hurt the other. But they can be out for a long time."

Manchester City

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola on whether he would move for Arsenal forward Alexis Sanchez in light of the injury to Gabriel Jesus said: "He is a player for Arsenal and I think he is going to stay there. In two days we have another game after that we have meetings. My feeling now is Alexis is an Arsenal player."

Pep on Arsenal's Sanchez coming up....

Manchester City

Manchester City right-back Kyle Walker, speaking to BBC Match Of The Day: "I have played against Wilfried Zaha a number of times and he always gives me a good game. So it's good to test yourself. It was a good battle.

"We set such high standards and have not got the win but full credit to the lads for the standards we set. It's good in a way to drop points to get us down to earth and get that motivation. A lot of teams defend deep with 10 men behind the ball. We have had to deal with a lot and have come out on top. Full credit to Crystal Palace. We can't let those standards drop. We as a team and the manager won't let that happen."

On Ederson's penalty save: "You have to trust your goalkeeper. All the penalty practice we in training helped him!"

Femi Oyedola: That Luka Milivojevic penalty miss reminds me of the Van Nistelrooy penalty miss late on at Old Trafford against Arsenal in the invincibles season. Is it an omen City will now go the entire season unbeaten?

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I'm sure you know this, but we have the final game of 2017 coming up right here.

It's Alan Pardew's WBA v Arsene Wenger's Arsenal.

Match kicks off at 16:30 GMT, and the year 2018 for our readers in Australia and New Zealand.

Manchester City

More from Pep Guardiola, speaking to BBC Match Of The Day about Jason Puncheon's tackle on Kevin De Bruyne: "Please, referees, they have to protect players. We were lucky against Tottenham and against Newcastle. Today we were not lucky.

"Referees have to protect. We know how strong physically it is England but teams miss big players, not just Manchester City. The replay speaks for itself. We have to protect players."

On the result: "Big credit to Crystal Palace. The first half we have action, they have action. In the second half it was much better. It was a deserved point for both teams and now we focus on the next one. I said many times it will be a long road, anything can happen in football.

"Of course we never give up and Crystal Palace fought hard but in the last period it was tough and we played well. We spoke many times about how they would play."

Crystal Palace

Image source, Getty Images

Crystal Palace midfielder Wilfried Zaha speaking to BBC Match of the Day: "I think we were unlucky, but it was a good save from the goalkeeper. We take the point as we played well and I will take that and move onto the next game. We had a game plan to get in their faces and stop they playing as they pass the ball and run off the ball and we needed to follow the runners.

“It is massive for our confidence. I know how talented this team is and if we all do our jobs and all focus we can do the job on the pitch. We worked hard to earn the point we got. There is talent around the team and if we can get the three points we will do. We need to keep the play the same way as we played against Manchester City."

And when asked if he will be staying at Crystal Palace ahead of the January transfer window: "Yep, I am."