Hello, and welcome to Sports Mole's live coverage of the Premier League clash between Arsenal and West Bromwich Albion.

A few weeks ago, this fixture would have been considered a must-win for Arsenal in order to remain in the Premier League but their recent results have led to this match becoming a must-win to retain their advantage in the hunt for a top-four finish. Tension is building at the Emirates Stadium and Arsene Wenger simply cannot afford to drop points for the third successive game.

As for West Brom, they head into the match with their Premier League status effectively assured for another 12 months but Tony Pulis will be desperate for his team to end a winless run of four games which has only included one point and one goal. They still have a realistic chance of finishing inside the top half of the standings but you feel as though they need to at least avoid defeat in tonight's game.

Anyway, let's take a look at the two starting lineups. How many changes have been made after both clubs suffered poor results last weekend?

ARSENAL XI: Cech; Bellerin, Koscielny, Mertesacker, Monreal; Ramsey, Elneny; Sanchez, Iwobi, Ozil; Giroud

ARSENAL SUBSTITUTES: Ospina, Chambers, Gabriel, Coquelin, Campbell, Walcott, Welbeck

WEST BROMWICH ALBION XI: Foster; Chester, Yacob, Evans, McClean, Berahino, McAuley, Fletcher, Dawson, Sessegnon, Sandro

WEST BROMWICH ALBION SUBSTITUTES: Myhill; Olsson, Gardner, Anichebe, McManaman, Rondon, Leko

The big news coming out of the Arsenal dressing room is the return of Aaron Ramsey, who has not featured since suffering an injury against Hull City in the FA Cup. There are also starts for Per Mertesacker and Olivier Giroud. Francis Coquelin, Gabriel and Danny Welbeck are the players to make way.

As for West Brom, Baggies head coach Pulis has made just the one alteration, bringing in Sandro for Salomon Rondon. That tactical switch sees Saido Berahino pushed into a lone striker role.

Realistically, Arsenal are already out of the title race but it will be mathematically impossible for the Gunners to overtake Leicester City should they lose this evening. Added motivation for the North London giants is that this game represents an opportunity to move 500 wins in the Premier League. Not a bad effort at all!

HEAD TO HEAD! Tonight's game is the 136th meeting between the two sides in a competitive fixture, with Arsenal winning 67 times in comparison to 38 victories for West Brom. Arsenal have suffered just one defeat in the last 10 contests but there is rarely more than one goal between the teams in these fixtures so hopefully that may mean we will get a closely-fought encounter.

REVERSE FIXTURE! We have just mentioned that Arsenal have got the better of West Brom in their most recent fixtures but it was the Baggies who came through on top at The Hawthorns in November. Olivier Giroud had given the visitors the lead before a James Morrison effort and an own goal from Mikel Arteta helped West Brom secure an impressive win in front of their own supporters.

Talking of Giroud, he has been given a chance by his manager to end his shocking run of form in front of goal in the top flight. The Frenchman was scoring from all angles until January 13 but since that date, he has not found the back of the net in the league - a streak of 12 matches. Will it be lucky 13...?

Only Jonathan Leko features among the substitutes but it doesn't look like he is the only youngster to make the trip to the Emirates Stadium.

Another selection dilemma facing Wenger ahead of tonight's game was the potential inclusion of Petr Cech after he failed to keep out Yannick Bolasie's long-range drive on Sunday. The 33-year-old was making his first appearance since suffering an injury against Swansea City at the start of March and his sharpness had to be called into question. He has got the nod over David Ospina but he needs to produce a big performance for his team tonight.

The PFA Team of the Year has been announced this year but only one Arsenal player was selected - Hector Bellerin. Some have expressed their surprise in the omission of Mesut Ozil but has the German produced his best throughout the whole season? Here's the team in full.

We are yet to talk much about West Brom so let's get to it. The main topic for debate was Saido Berahino and where his head was at after he missed two penalties against Watford. It would have been easy for Pulis to leave him out of the team but instead, he has given him extra responsibility in attack. He has scored just one Premier League goal since October 17 but the 22-year-old may see tonight as a chance to put himself in the shop window to push through a transfer in the summer.

We are just over 10 minutes away from kickoff. I'd say it's about time for a prediction...

PREDICTION! We have spoken about Arsenal's inconsistent form and that matches between these two teams are often decided by the odd goal but we are backing the Gunners to stroll to the three points this evening. We will even stretch as far as Giroud getting back on the scoresheet! The Frenchman to open the scoring in a 2-0 win.

I should also warn you that I have only reported on one game all season where four or more goals have been scored so I wouldn't expect a thriller...

The two teams have made their way out at the Emirates. There were suggestions that tickets have been returned ahead of this game and there are definitely a few empty seats.

Arsenal get us underway!

Nothing to speak about so far with Arsenal holding most of the possession. There are more empty seats than I thought, although that may be down to issues on the London Underground. We will wait to see if the Emirates fills up as the match progresses.

The opening stages have lacked a spark but we have most certainly got it now. This is a special goal from Alexis Sanchez, who spun past Sandro like he wasn't there before drilling a 20-yard drive into the bottom corner. That should ease any early nerves.

CHANCE! It should be 2-0. Iwobi gets down the left and his cut-back arrives at the feet of Ozil but his close-range effort is superbly blocked by a West Brom defender. The ball found its way to Ramsey on the edge of the box but his volley went well wide.

Arsenal are spraying the ball about like it's a pre-season friendly. Don't tell me that this side is devoid of confidence.

West Brom can't have strung more than 30 passes together in this opening 15 minutes. Arsenal are all over them on the rare occasion that they lose the ball. No more chances to speak of but I doubt Arsenal have been this comfortable all season.

West Brom could have done with Rondon on the pitch for this game. Berahino is not holding up the ball and it is resulting in the defence and midfield remaining under pressure. There's barely any atmosphere at the Emirates - still plenty of seats not being used.

Sandro was just produced a glorious piece of skill in the centre of the pitch - something not usually seen on a football pitch! The former Spurs midfielder drew a sarcastic cheer from the Arsenal faithful but I imagine they were equally surprised.

SHOT! Bellerin has been named in the PFA Team of the Year for his defending but the right-back takes his chance to burst forward and create a shooting opportunity for himself but his effort towards the near post goes over the crossbar.

Should that have been a penalty for West Brom? Sanchez attempted to control a high ball but the ball ricocheted into his right hand. It wasn't intentional but you have seen them given.

WOODWORK! West Brom hit the crossbar! A corner from McClean finds McAuley at the near post, who gets in front of Giroud to glance the ball against the bar. So unlucky. The Baggies are working their way back into this one.

Arsenal have been forced to up their work-rate again and Bellerin again gets himself into a shooting position before blazing high into the stands.

SHOT! Ben Foster almost did a Taibi! Well, he did do one but fortunately for the goalkeeper, Dawson was on the line. The mistake came from a weak effort from Ozil but Sanchez had dummied the ball to create the confusion for Foster.

Sanchez gets his second goal of the evening and that's probably game over before half time. After Ramsey drew a foul out of Yacob, the Chilean stepped up to curl the ball into the bottom corner. Mertesacker and Giroud helped create space in front of the wall but it looked far too easy for Sanchez to find the net.

BOOKING! The first yellow card of the game goes to McAuley after the Northern Irishman dragged back Giroud on the halfway line.

It's party time at the Emirates now but a sublime move involving a number of players can't be finished off by Monreal at the back post with Ozil's pass just having too much pace on it.

There will be one minute of added-on time.

The half-time whistle goes at the Emirates and Arsenal looked home and dry at 2-0. There is still another 45 minutes to go but they haven't been required to get out of second gear to open up their lead.

It's almost time for the start of the second half. It wouldn't come as a surprise if we see Salomon Rondon introduced at the break or early in the second half. West Brom need something different in attack.

We are back underway. Pulis had indeed made changes and introduced Rondon. The forward and Jonas Olsson have replaced James Chester and Sandro.

SHOT! Iwobi leads an Arsenal break-away and sets up Giroud but the French striker decides to take on the shot early and Foster has little trouble in dealing with his low effort that was travelling towards the bottom corner.

CHANCE! West Brom have started this half quite well but those are the kind of half-chances that they need to be taking. A floated ball to the back post finds McClean but despite getting above the defence, his header lacked power and was straight at Cech.

I would be surprised if the score remains at 2-0. Both teams are pushing for a third goal in this match but the final ball is lacking at the moment. The Baggies look better with Rondon leading the attack.

The Arsenal fans are whistling at the fact that Evans is taking his time to tie his laces. Do they not realise they are winning this match?!

Arsenal are in the kind of mood where they are looking for that extra unnecessary pass in the final third and it is infuriating Arsene Wenger. Don't be surprised to see a couple of changes sooner rather than later.

There have been a few penalty appeals from Arsenal since the restart but both Iwobi and Elneny would have been fortunate to have received anything for hitting the deck. After what happened at Leicester City at the weekend, it's going to take a clear foul for Jon Moss to give another spot kick.

SUBSTITUTION! We still have 25 minutes remaining but Pulis has made his final change, bringing on Craig Gardner for McClean.

CHANCE! Finally, a clear chance in the second half. Sanchez does brilliantly to play in Ozil on the edge of the six-yard box but his shot is straight at an advancing Foster. Better from the home side.

Arsenal have announced an attendance of over 59,000. The little fibbers...

CHANCE! Rondon misses from less than a yard! I should add a bit of detail to my last comment because it was a lot tougher than it sounds. A corner from Gardner was missed by Cech but on the slide, Rondon could only half-volley the ball into the air with the goal at his mercy.

We are still awaiting movement from the bench from Wenger. You'd have thought we would be keen to rest some of his stars ahead of the trip to Sunderland on Sunday.

SUBSTITUTION! There's a sight of an Arsenal substitute and it's Francis Coquelin. He has replaced Iwobi. Another impressive run-out for the youngster. Nothing to report from the game itself. West Brom have almost accepted defeat.

SUBSTITUTIONS! More changes from Arsenal and it is Theo Walcott and Joel Campbell who replace Sanchez and Ozil. Five minutes to go.

CHANCE! Campbell has only been on the pitch for about 20 seconds and he almost adds a third for Arsenal but his left-footed strike from inside the penalty area just evades the far post. That would have been some introduction.

SAVE! Foster didn't know much about that! A beautiful move involving Ramsey, Campbell and Giroud ends with the Frenchman firing an instinctive effort on goal but it hits the goalkeeper in the face and the ball rebounds to safety.

There will be two minutes of added-on time.

The full-time whistle goes at the Emirates Stadium and Arsenal have coasted to a 2-0 win over West Bromwich Albion. In truth, the victory was never in doubt after Sanchez's second goal and the Gunners now have a four-point cushion between themselves and fifth spot.

That will be all from Sports Mole for this game. Thank you for joining us and we hope to see you again at the weekend. Goodbye for now.