[Ska'dForLife-WBA]

A late Tony Brown winner unleashes joy at the Hawthorns; Albion vs Arsenal, 19th October 1968

It's another tough fixture in a month full of them as we welcome Arsenal to B71 this weekend.  Despite suffering comprehensive defeats to Sheffield Wednesday in the League Cup and Bayern Munich in Europe, the Gunners' fortunes in the league have remained bright, and with Manchester City prone to dropping points Arsenal are being kept in second solely by goal difference.  As City face a stern test against Klopp's rejuvenated Liverpool in Saturday's late game, Arsene Wenger will be looking for maximum points to put Arsenal top in the meantime and pile the psychological pressure onto Pellegrini.

Of course, Tony Pulis has his own history with Wenger and Arsenal.  I'm inclined to think that after two defeats on the trot, and playing opposition who've proved susceptible to being bullied in years gone by, if there's any match in which Pulis is likely to revert to type and demand maximum physicality and balls which fall down to our forwards with snow on top of them, it's this one.  Will the players be up to executing that gameplan?  I'm not sure, but I do know that our season is never defined by how we perform against the likes of Arsenal.  Anything here is, as always, a bonus.

Arsenal right-back Brendon Batson marks Willie Johnston as Bob Wilson smothers the ball; the Hawthorns, 28th February 1973

[betterthanbaird]

I think we'll get smashed, it doesn't really matter though, any points are a bonus.

[Dingle-Dingle]

Lawro goes 1-1 DD

[Squirrel Regis]

My prediction for today.....
It's gonna be cold.
It's gonna be very cold !

[DanTheSmethwickMan]

Myhill
Dawson Evans Olsson Brunt
Sessegnon Fletcher Yacob Morrison McLean
Rondon

[drewks]

WTF (sorry BV )'s going on?? 2-1 up against Arsenal and not one post??? Is it my laptop??

[Arcane Astral Aeons]

shocked to be honest
still knowing us we will concede 3 in the second half

[4evaabaggie]

Not your laptop just a bad case of apathy, until you said I had not even looked at the games today, now glad I did, villa three nil down ....... hahaha.

[Baggievicar]

Drewks, I just switched on after a well-deserved kip in lieu of a storm-broken night.
And yea, verily, I too thought What The Friarage?!? Perhaps the wind has brought down all the internet lines (I may have the technology wrong, though).
In any case, let's enjoy it while we can. I doubt it will last much past half time.
COYB

[Arcane Astral Aeons]

i see Vardy has scored YET again