West Brom. vs. Arsenal

Looking at the fixture list of West Brom and the prospects don’t particularly look that good. Arsenal and Manchester United are two of the least likely clubs (Chelsea apart) a relegation threatened team would choose to face at this stage of the season.

However, this is what the Baggies must face in the next couple of weeks starting with the Gunners on Monday evening. Before looking at the positives, there is more bad news for West Brom in that the last time they beat Arsenal at home was 32 years ago.

It is not all doom and gloom though for Bryan Robson and his players. Both Arsenal and Man Utd are now only a couple of games away from a crucial FA Cup Final, a competition that offers both clubs their only chance of silverware this term.

Something worth noting is any red card for an Arsenal or Man U player in the Premiership could result in them missing the Cup final. It is not inconceivable that each finalist may not be as committed to the cause as the battling Baggies.

This alone isn’t of course sufficient reason to consider backing the hosts. A more convincing argument though is a look at the recent home performances of West Brom.

Not one defeat has been suffered at the Hawthorns since the turn of the year.

Admittedly only three of the eight games played in 2005 have been won, but even still Bryan Robson has turned a very poor outfit into one very hard to beat, especially infront of their own fans.

Knowing only three points will really do on Monday night, expect a highly charged Baggies team to come out with all guns blazing. Arsenal, already a few key players light due to injury (Thierry Henry), can expected to be tested to the absolute limit.

 The Gunners are on a decent unbeaten run at present, but in the second half of the recent North London derby weren’t as effective when constantly pressurised and harrassed. Expect similar tactics from West Brom for a full ninety minutes.

 The advice is a small investment on the home side to pull off a miraculous victory.