West Brom v Arsenal: Capital punishment to continue for Baggies

West Brom are riding high on confidence since leaving Old Trafford with all three points after a convincing display against the champions.

However, the Baggies will come crashing back down to earth as league leaders Arsenal travel to The Hawthorns to inflict yet more capital punishment on Steve Clarke’s men.

West Brom have tried, and failed, to beat any London side home or away in each of their last eight attempts, with their last victory over a side from the capital coming against QPR on Boxing Day last year.

While this stat may be largely coincidental, there is nothing fluky about the form in which Arsenal arrive in the West Midlands.

Arsene Wenger’s men are unbeaten in all competitions, winning nine and drawing one,  since an opening day defeat to Aston Villa, and are rightly installed as 4/5 favourites here.

The hosts, however, have lost just one of their last seven outings and could attract bets to win at 16/5 or to grab a share of the points at 11/4.

One thing that is a certainty in this game is an Arsenal goal. Olivier Giroud is on fire in the final third at present and Aaron Ramsey is arguably in the form of his life having netted nine times in as many games this season.

Such potency in front of goal has seen the Gunners score in each of their last 16 games, dating back to April 2013, and with these two in the side the run is sure to continue.

Ramsey continues to defy the odds by scoring week in week out and the 5/2 offered on an anytime goal for the Welshman should not be sniffed at.

Similarly, backing Giroud to score first – something he has done in four of Arsenal’s six league games thus far – offers great value at 9/2.

West Brom are also in a decent run of goalscoring form, hitting the back of the net in each of their last four fixtures, something which could prompt a flurry of bets on both teams to score at 3/5.

Nicolas Anelka remains arguably the Baggies’ biggest threat on paper and 8/1 on the experienced Frenchman opening the scoring certainly appeals.

However, man of the moment Saido Berahino offers the same price and after scoring the winner at the Theatre of Dreams the England U21 man certainly warrants consideration here.

All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.

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