Steve Clarke will have to make do without the services of Youssouf Mulumbu after the midfielder was sent off against West Ham last weekend, meaning he will join long-term absentees George Thorne and Zoltan Gera (both knee) watching from the stands.

James Morrison (hamstring) may pass a late fitness test after sitting out at Upton Park.

Arsenal assistant boss Steve Bould has definitively ruled out Jack Wilshere (ankle) and Theo Walcott (groin) for the trip to the Hawthorns, though the England duo are expected to return against Norwich next week.

Kieron Gibbs (illness) may be available for selection but it is likely Nacho Monreal (knee) will recover after being withdrawn against Reading last week with an injury sustained while clattering into the post.

Abou Diaby has been ruled for the rest of the calendar year after suffering a serious knee injury in training.

• Only Manchester United and Manchester City have won more home games than West Brom this season.

  

• However, since the turn of the year, the Bagges have, on average, picked up just one Premier League point per game.

• Arsenal have been most prolific in the last 15 minutes of their matches this season, scoring 15 of their 59 goals in this period. This is also the period that West Brom have been most leaky, letting in 13.

• The last time these two met, the noerth London side came out 2-0 victors thanks to two Mikel Arteta (pictured, right) penalties.

• Arsenal have won five of their last six Premier League encounters.