Hello there and a warm Sports Mole welcome to you. We've got an intriguing encounter ahead of us at the Emirates Stadium this afternoon as Arsenal host West Bromwich Albion in the Premier League.

We've got some team news in...

West Brom: Myhill; Reid, McAuley, Olsson, Ridgewell; Morrison, Mulumbu; Odemwingie, Gera, Brunt; Long

Baggies boss Steve Clarke has made four changes to the side that lost 1-0 to Stoke last weekend as Youssouf Mulumbu, Peter Odemwingie, Chris Brunt and Liam "twenty quid" Ridgewell all come into the starting XI.

Arsenal: Szczesny; Sagna, Mertesacker, Vermaelen, Gibbs; Arteta, Wilshere; Cazorla, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Gervinho; Giroud

Meanwhile, Arsene Wenger has rung the changes as only four players survive from the team that lost 2-1 at Olympiacos in the Champions League on Tuesday.

Arsenal subs: Martinez, Jenkinson, Squillaci, Coquelin, Ramsey, Rosicky, Podolski

We'll have news on the West Brom subs as soon as we get it.

Today's match throws up a rare situation in that West Brom start the day in the heady heights of fifth place, while Arsenal are languishing in 10th. A third defeat on the bounce for the Gunners today would be catastrophic.

I'd go as far as to say that this is one of Arsenal's biggest games of the season. A draw wouldn't be the end of the world against a hugely-impressive West Brom side, but will that be enough to keep the fans off Arsene Wenger's back?

The Frenchman's tenure at the club has been called into question yet again in recent weeks, though a win today would bring some much-needed positivity to the Emirates Stadium.

For the record, Arsenal's defeat to Swansea seven days ago put them 15 points off league leaders Manchester United.

In contrast, it's been quite the season for West Brom. The Premier League's surprise package, eight wins for Steve Clarke's men have moved them up to fifth place in the table.

However, they will be concerned with a recent dip in form that has seen them lose their last two. Still, there's very little to complain about at the Hawthorns at the minute.

There was little joy for West Brom against the Gunners last season as they lost both at the Emirates and the Hawthorns. While they were edged out 2-3 on their home turf, they were brushed aside 3-0 in the capital.

West Brom's last victory over Arsenal at the Emirates was in 2010 when they claimed a 3-2 win.

Despite that rare triumph, the Baggies' record at Arsenal down the years has been a poor one. Out of 63 matches played between the two sides, the West Midlands side have come out on top just 12 times. Meanwhile, Arsenal have ran out winners on 37 occasions.

It's incredible to think that West Brom can move into the Champions League places if they avoid defeat this afternoon. Third-placed Chelsea are up against Sunderland at the Stadium of Light this afternoon, but with Spurs not playing tomorrow, West Brom could gatecrash the top four.

However, the highest that Arsenal can get with a win today is sixth place.

We're 15 minutes away from kickoff here at the Emirates!

Right, time to make a prediction for today's match. West Brom will be sensing that a win is theirs for the taking this afternoon against an Arsenal side who are less than convincing at the moment. However, the Gunners will be keen to give the fans something to cheers after last weekend's loss to Swansea so expect an improved performance. Basically, it's going to be a draw.

A score draw, might I add.

The fans are all wrapped up inside the Emirates today as winter starts to bite. The players should be out of the tunnel shortly.

There's definitely a feeling of tension from the Arsenal fans this afternoon as the two teams make their way out onto the pitch.

It'll be West Brom to get us underway. Here we go!

Not a bad start from West Brom here as they force Arsenal back. Long almost gets put through by Brunt, but Szczesny comes off his line quickly to clear.

CHANCE! Very nearly an opening goal for the Gunners. West Brom fail to clear their lines from a corner and it's Gervinho whose volley flashes across the face of goal and wide.

SUBSTITUTION: Bad news early on for West Brom as Liam Ridgewell comes off for Goran Popov. It's unclear what's wrong with Ridgewell, but it looks like it could be the recurrence of a knee problem.

Arsene Wenger gets a few cheers from the home fans as he returns the ball to Sagna with a cheeky flick. I didn't know the Frenchman had it in him. Wenger, that is.

Gera launches a decent counter attack for West Brom, but Reid is closed down by Gervinho just as he's about to shoot. At the other end, an Arsenal attack breaks down when Giroud fails to find Gervinho in the area.

CHANCE! Arsenal come forward again as Wilshere finds Cazorla and the Spaniard sees his 20-yard effort fly narrowly wide of Myhill's goal. A decent effort.

The hosts win another corner following some indecision from the West Brom defence, but Myhill eventually punches the ball well away from danger.

The hosts are cracking up the pressure now. They get a free kick out on the right which Cazorla whips in before the Baggies clear.

CHANCE! Wonderful play from Oxlade-Chamberlain as he manages to get a cross in with little space to maneuver, but Cazorla fluffs his volley on the penalty spot as the ball flies over.

The opportunities have dried up for West Brom at the minute as Arsenal tighten their grip on the contest. The Gunners midfield are first to everything at the moment.

There's a slight injury concern for West Brom as Brunt takes a knock, but he looks to be okay following some treatment.

A sniff or a chance for Arsenal there as Cazorla's through ball to Gervinho is cut out by McAuley. The defender had to be spot on with his interception there otherwise the Ivorian forward was in.

CHANCE! So very nearly a goal for West Brom! Mulumbu gets closed down just as he's about to pull the trigger, but Brunt hits a powerful effort at goal from the edge of the box that goes inches wide.

Apologies for the slight delay there. Arsenal win the penalty when Cazorla is tripped by Reid, but there is little contact and the Baggies are furious. Arteta steps up to take the spot kick and he calmly puts it down the middle to give Arsenal the lead.

Not too much to report on in the last few minutes, but Arsenal have got their tails up now.

Looking at the penalty incident again and it looks like Cazorla was given the minimalist of touches by Reid, but he went down like he'd been shot. Still, the Gunners fans are happy.

Giroud looks like he's taken a bit of blow to his back and Podolski is given the nod to warm up...

Arsenal won't be making the change yet though as Giroud appears to have run off the problem.

CHANCE! Arsenal have a glorious opportunity to double their lead! Gervinho gets away down the left and takes an age to find a teammate in the box, but his low cross is eventually met by Wilshere, who puts wide from six yards. That should have been 2-0.

West Brom pump a free kick into the Arsenal area and there's a suspicion of handball against Mertesacker. However, referee Mike Jones gives the free kick the Gunners' way for an infringement.

SAVE! That's a great stop from Myhill. Gervinho hits a low effort from just inside the box that the Baggies goalkeeper is equal to. Cazorla takes the resulting corner, but it's easily cleared by the visiting defence.

WOW! West Brom fail to get rid of another Cazorla corner and the ball eventually falls to Oxlade-Chamberlain. The England international tries the most outrageous of acrobatic volleys but hits his effort high and wide.

The fourth official has indicated two minutes of added time to this first half...

The referee blows the half-time whistle and Arsenal go in with a 1-0 lead over West Brom. There's no doubting that the Gunners had the better of that opening 45 minutes, but they manner in which they went ahead was very fortunate indeed. Santi Cazorla went down very easily under Steven Reid's challenge before Mikel Arteta swept home the resulting penalty. West Brom aren't out of this yet, though they will need to forget the penalty incident going into the second half.

There are five more Premier League matches going on up and down the country, so here are the half-time scores...

PREMIER LEAGUE HALF-TIME SCORES:

Aston Villa 0-0 Stoke
Southampton 0-0 Reading
Sunderland 0-2 Chelsea
Swansea 0-3 Norwich
Wigan 1-1 QPR

What do West Brom need to do in the second half if they are to get something from this? Well, they'll need to stop Arsenal getting so much space out wide for a start.

Shane Long certainly needs more support up front as well. The striker, who has been the Baggies talisman this season, has had little in the way of service so far.

Maybe that can come from Peter Odemwingie. The Nigerian has been very quiet this afternoon, but always remains a threat.

Right, the players are back out and it's Arsenal who get us underway. There have been no changes from either side at the break.

West Brom have an early free kick here as Arteta collides with Gera, but McAuley heads Brunt's delivery wide. A half chance for the Baggies.

Arsenal look to attack as soon as they get the ball and peg West Brom back in the corner. Wilshere eventually picks up the ball and tries to thread it through to Gervinho, only to see his pass collected by Myhill.

A familiar chorus of groans resonates around the Emirates as Wilshere fluffs a counter attack when he miscalculates a through-ball to Oxlade-Chamberlain. The break was on there for the Gunners.

How have Arsenal not doubled their lead?! Giroud's blocked effort falls to Oxlade-Chamberlain, who flicks it back across goal. All it needs is someone in the six yard box, but no one is there. The referee then halts play as Giroud tangles with Olsson. There as bit of afters and both me go into the book.

CHANCE! The hosts again surge forward in numbers before Gibbs floats in a cross to Gervinho. The striker should do better though as he heads wide with Olsson in attendance.

BOOKING: Chris Brunt is shown a yellow card for dissent after the referee gives a goal kick instead of a corner. McAuley and Sczcesny both went for the ball from a previous corner and the decision has gone with the Gunners.

CHANCE! Oh, Gervinho. The ball just doesn't sit right for the striker following Giroud's delicate pass and he gets his shot all wrong. It's not really a connection at all, to be honest, and Myhill gathers.

SUBSTITUTION: Peter Odemwingie comes of for West Brom and he is replaced by Romelu Lukaku.

West Brom are raging again over a penalty decision. They switched off after Popov went down under Oxlade-Chamberlain's challenge, but the Arsenal winger plays to the whistle and makes a run into the box. He's then brought down by Brunt and referee Mike Jones gives another spot kick. It's an almost identical penalty from Arteta as he hits it down the middle.

The Baggies have a case over the Popov foul, but it's unforgivable not to play to the whistle.

Arsenal go on the attack again and Gervinho is barged over by Long. Cazorla and Arteta line up the free kick from 25 yards before Cazorla's fierce effort comes back off the wall.

There just inder 20 minutes left here and West Brom need something quickly if they are to salvage a point from this game.

Shouts for handball from the Arsenal fans there as Wilshere's cross hits a Baggies defender. There are few protests from the players though following Wilshere's jinking run down the right.

SUBSTITUTION: West Brom make their final change of the afternoon and it's Markus Rosenberg who comes on for Zoltan Gera. Steve Clarke is going for it in these final 15 minutes.

SUBSTITUTION: Arsenal make the switch now as Francis Coquelin replaces Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

BOOKING: Steve Reid goes into the book now following his foul on Gervinho. Arsenal have a free kick 25 yards from goal...

CLOSE! Arteta is eager to get his hat-trick and he almost does when his free kick flashes narrowly wide of goal. That had Myhill worried.

SUBSTITUTION: Gervinho is the latest player to leave the pitch as Tomas Rosicky enters the fray.

West Brom put together a rare attack, but Popov's cross for Rosenberg is misjudged and goes out of play. Time is running out for the Baggies.

To their credit, West Brom are still pushing plenty of men forward when they attack. Arteta gives the ball away to Long, but his cross finds Rosenberg in an offside position.

CHANCE! Lukaku should really do better there. A free kick is whipped in from the left and the substitute gets his lines wring as heads wide from close range.

SUBSTITUTION: Santi Cazorla gets a huge round of applause from the Arsenal fans as he makes way for Lukas Podolski. The Spaniard is likely to be in the spotlight for the next couple of days due to his dive to win his side their first penalty of the afternoon, but his contribution has been a vital one.

WHAT A MISS! What is Podolski doing?! The German has bags of space in the area following Wilshere's cut back, but he somehow blazes the ball well over the bar from all of six yards. A staggering miss.

There will be four minutes of additional time here at the Emirates...

The full-time whistle goes and it's all cheers at the Emirates as Arsenal put an end to their losing run with a 2-0 victory over West Brom. It wasn't a vintage Gunners display, but two penalty kicks - the first hugely contentious - have given the Gunners the three points. Meanwhile, West Brom's slump continues as they are defeated for the third game on the bounce.

Anyway, that's all from me for this afternoon. Thanks for your company and I hope to see you again soon. In the meantime, you can catch up with the rest of the weekend's sporting action here at Sports Mole.