Plenty of red shirts forward as a frustrated Arsenal try and restore their lead. They will feel hard done by having conceded that late penalty, a questionable one at that, but there was a hint of luck in Sanchez's opener as well. The Chilean tries his luck again here from range, but sends an effort harmlessly wide of the far post.
90'
There will be four minutes added on at the end of this match.
89'
Penalty goal scored by J. Rodríguez for West Bromwich Albion!
PARITY RESTORED! West Brom have just their third goal of the month of December, but what a crucial one it is as Jay Rodriguez finishes clinically from the penalty spot to salvage a point for the Baggies, surely!
88'
J. Wilshere gets yellow.
Wilshere is booked for dissent.
87'
PENALTY TO WEST BROM! A shocking turn of events as this match has sprung to life in the final 10 minutes! Chambers raises his arm to block a cross, that looked to be hitting him regardless of whether or not he raised his arm, and the referee points straight to the spot!
86'
STAT: West Brom's winless run would extend to 19 Premier League games should they fail to record a victory here - the longest such run by a Premier League team since rivals Aston Villa endured a 19-match run ending in January 2016.
84'
It's heartbreak for the Baggies, who are surely going to see their winless run continue here. They have not recorded a Premier League victory since winning their opening two fixtures of the campaign - back in August.
83'
J. McClean is unfortunate, scores an own goal!
ARSENAL HAVE SURELY WON IT HERE! Alexis Sanchez has been quiet tonight, but he rises to the occasion in the nick of time for the Gunners as his free-kick nestles into the back of the net! The Chilean's effort actually appeared to be headed wide of the near post, but a deflection on its way through proves decisive! Arsenal won't care how it went in, all that matters is they have the breakthrough!
Minute
Description
82'
C. Dawson gets yellow.
Dawson takes down Sanchez atop the penalty area and that will see him into the book, but of more concern for the Baggies is the free-kick that will follow here, in a VERY prominent spot for a shot.
81'
West Brom look the likelier side to find a winner if the last five minutes are anything to go by. Arsenal have been limited in possession over that span, with the Baggies camped out in the attacking half, showing no signs of relinquishing their tightening grasp on the match.
79'
BIG SAVE! Not the most difficult one for Cech as it was hit straight at him, but that had plenty of swerve and power behind it as Rodriguez tried his luck from 25 yards.
77'
STAT: After an unbeaten three game start in the Premier League against Arsenal (W2 D1 L0), Alan Pardew has failed to win any of his following 12 against them (W0 D3 L9).
75'
A. Nyom enters the game and replaces H. Robson-Kanu.
West Brom make their third change in as many minutes, as Allan Nyom replaces Robson-Kanu.
74'
D. Welbeck enters the game and replaces A. Iwobi.
Arsenal's second change sees striker Danny Welbeck replace Iwobi.
72'
P. Mertesacker enters the game and replaces L. Koscielny.
G. Krychowiak enters the game and replaces C. Brunt.
J. McClean enters the game and replaces M. Phillips.
An interesting switch here from Wenger as he brings on Per Mertesacker, likely for his aerial ability, with Koscielny giving way.
James McClean is also introduced, replacing Phillips. Perhaps he can provide a spark on the counter.
A double-change for West Brom, the first of which sees Grzegorz Krychowiak come on to provide some more steel in midfield, at the expense of Brunt.
70'
Back in possession are Arsenal, taking a more patient approach as they try and lull West Brom into giving up an opening. A clever ball into the area for Lacazette is deflected into the path of Sanchez, who sprints onto it and shoots first-time, but his strike is blocked from point-blank range!
68'
Good response here from the Baggies, as they enjoy a prolonged spell in possession, the majority of it coming in the attacking half. Nothing comes of it, but it came at a crucial time to halt Arsenal's momentum and provide their back-line with a bit of respite.
66'
Arsenal taking matters into their own hands here. The match is there for the taking and they're finally snatching control. They have upped the tempo in a big way, showing much more urgency as they get the ball forward at every opportunity. West Brom's grasp is slipping.
64'
STAT: Arsenal have scored in all 23 of their Premier League games against West Bromwich Albion, the best such 100 per cent record in the division.
62'
INCHES WIDE! Lacazette is coming to life here at the hour mark! He makes a terrific diagonal run to get goalside of Evans and meet Iwobi's ball in, but he redirects it just inches wide of the near post with Foster rooted to his spot!
60'
GREAT SAVE! That is, hands down, the best chance of the match thus far, and arguably the first real scoring opportunity. Wilshere picks out Lacazette with an incisive ball forward and the striker takes it in stride before driving a low strike in towards the near post, but Foster makes a terrific save with his trailing foot!
59'
C. Brunt gets yellow.
Brunt into the book now as he commits a cynical foul to stop an Arsenal counter.
58'
S. Mustafi gets yellow.
Yellow for Mustafi as he concedes a free-kick in a threatening position on the flank, but Cech is able to punch the resulting free-kick clear from harm's way.
56'
Good control, but no finish! West Brom get forward and win a corner, which is kept alive at the far post as it's headed back into the path of Hegazi. The centre-half shows off some skill as he produces a few keep-ups to tee himself up for a strike, but hooks an effort harmlessly wide in the end with his back turned to goal.
54'
Substitutes are slowly taking their tracksuits off and getting set to warm up here for Arsenal, with Wenger understandably growing a bit impatient. It looks like Theo Walcott is going to be priority number one to come on.
52'
STAT: Alan Pardew has failed to win any of his first six matches with West Brom (D3 L3), with his team scoring just two goals in the process. Only once before has Pardew failed to win any of his opening seven games (all comps) in charge of a club – with West Ham in 2003.
50'
A sharp turn from Lacazette atop the penalty area sees him win a free-kick in a dangerous position as he's hacked down by Hegazi from behind. Xhaka and Sanchez stand over the free-kick, virtually dead-centre from 20 yards, and it's the latter who takes, smacking his effort off the wall.
48'
An uneventful start to the second half here, as both sides share possession in their own halves. There's little intent or urgency being shown here, with the onus on Arsenal surely to pick up the tempo and start to get forward.
46'
The final 45 minutes of Premier League action in 2017 are underway...
45' +2
HALF-TIME: WEST BROM 0-0 ARSENAL.
45'
There will be two minutes added on at the end of this first half...
43'
The absence of Mesut Ozil tonight has played a bigger part in the storyline than maybe was originally expected. Iwobi has been Arsenal's most involved member of attack, but the creativity and quality of the Germany international has been sorely missed.
41'
STAT: Alan Pardew has lost 11 of his last 12 home Premier League games against the ‘big six’ (D1) since winning 2-1 against Manchester City in April 2015 as Crystal Palace manager.
39'
The tempo has fizzled out a bit over the last 10 minutes or so, as the stoppages have increased. Neither side is providing much reason to believe that this match will get the goal it needs before the interval
37'
A. Maitland-Niles enters the game and replaces S. Kolašinac.
That is indeed the end of Kolasinac's night, as he's forced off here with Ainsley Maitland-Niles taking his place on the flank.
36'
Barry catches Kolasinac with a hard and late challenge, one that looked and surely felt much worse than that from Evans moments ago. Somehow the Baggies midfielder escapes without a booking, while the Arsenal full-back doesn't appear to have escaped unscathed as he stays down and signals over to the bench for a change. How has Barry not been booked here?
34'
J. Evans gets yellow.
A loose touch from Evans sees the ball run to Iwobi, and in a desperate attempt to win it back, the Baggies defender catches him with a stray challenge, picking up the first yellow card of the match.
33'
STAT: West Brom have won their last two home league games against Arsenal, as many as they had in their previous 23 against them at the Hawthorns.
31'
A chilly, rose-cheeked Arsene Wenger has a look of concern on his face as he watches on from the touchline, his side locked in a tight battle with the Premier League's last-place side. West Brom have looked nothing like a club winless in 18 matches, and that's what will have Wenger worried here.
29'
West Brom are definitely having their way here, as they would much rather be involved in this, a tight, low-scoring affair than an end-to-end thriller. Arsenal's last two matches followed the latter, as they scored six and conceded five in a draw with Liverpool and victory at Crystal Palace.
27'
Wasted opportunity here for the Baggies as they win a free-kick in a very threatening area for a shot. Brunt lines it up with that lethal left foot of his, but gets the contact all wrong as he lifts a harmless strike well over the bar.
25'
In six Premier League matches in December, West Brom have scored just twice, though both of those came in losing efforts. They drew three of the four matches in which they were held scoreless, so perhaps finding the back of the net here wouldn't be the best omen for them?
23'
STAT: Arsenal have conceded just two goals in their previous 14 Premier League matches against sides starting that day in the relegation zone (W12 D2) and haven’t conceded more than once in any of their last 28 matches of this kind, since a 5-2 win over Reading in December 2012.
21'
Arsenal having to consistently defend here as West Brom continue to grow in confidence, getting the ball forward with more regularity. There's a good width to their approach play, and a string of quality deliveries in from the flanks has this crowd abuzz.
19'
West Brom certainly would have accepted if you offered them this at the start of the match. They have looked more than capable through the first 20 minutes, doing well defensively to keep Arsenal to the periphery, while managing to carve out some openings of their own at the other end.
17'
As cliche as it is, the first goal will prove so important in this match. Given their attacking woes and fragile confidence, West Brom absolutely cannot afford to concede first.
15'
CLOSE! That's a great take from Iwobi to control a pass with his first touch, while opening himself up for a shot. He bends an encouraging effort towards the top corner from the edge of the penalty area, but just gets under it a bit as it lifts over the bar.
13'
STAT: This is Arsene Wenger’s 811th Premier League game in charge – the most of any manager in the competition. He overtakes Sir Alex Ferguson today, whose 810th and final game in the Premier League came against West Brom at the Hawthorns (5-5).
11'
Some good pressure being applied here by Pardew's side, who continue to build in the ascendency. Phillips has a shot deflected behind for a corner, before Robson-Kanu's header from the ensuing set-piece is blocked by Chambers.
9'
NOT FAR AWAY! The tempo is really picking up now! Lacazette turns smartly on the edge of the penalty area and unloads an effort that takes a big deflection, leaving Foster wrong-footed, but the keeper is relieved to see that bounce wide of the far post.
7'
Better this, from the hosts! Cech is put to the test as the Baggies manage the first shot of the match, but Rodriguez's header is saved smartly. Moments later the pressure is back on the Arsenal goal as Cech spills a cross, but West Brom are unable to capitalise from the ensuing scramble!
5'
All Arsenal here as West Brom don't look at all like being able to keep the ball if they wanted to. Confidence is running quite low in their side, surely, as their struggles in attack have been well-documented this season - scoring 14 goals in 20 matches (only Swansea - 13 - have fewer).
3'
Plenty of possession for Arsenal in the early going, but they have little to show for it aside from a corner, which the Baggies deal with accordingly. The Gunners are working it around nicely, however, keeping the hosts pinned back in defence.
1'
AND THEY'RE OFF! West Brom in blue and white as they get the match underway, attacking left to right, with Arsenal in red.
Hello and welcome to the Hawthorns for live coverage of this final Premier League fixture of 2017 as West Brom host Arsenal!
The Gunners saw their Champions League qualification streak come to an end in 2017, and regardless of what happens tonight in West Midlands, they will end the year outside of the top four – as many as four-points back or as little as one.
An underwhelming December is what Arsenal supporters have to thank for falling out of the Champions League places, but they can stay in the thick of the race should they end the month – and year – on a high, heading into a transfer window that will go a long way in determining their fate this season.
If spending Christmas at the bottom of the Premier League is a bad omen, then what does that say about the new year? The Baggies were not bottom six days ago, but they are now, and defeat today will keep them there headed into 2018.
West Brom’s lengthy winless run in the Premier League has continued under Alan Pardew, who has three draws and three losses in his six games in charge, as they are in danger of ending 2017 without a victory in 19 Premier League fixtures should they fail to claim three points today.
Manager Alan Pardew makes just one change from the Boxing Day draw with Everton, as Salomon Rondon misses out with a hamstring injury. Hal Robson-Kanu takes his place up top, partnering Jay Rodriguez in attack.
Arsene Wenger is forced into one change from their victory over Crystal Palace four days ago as Mesut Ozil misses out with what the club is describing as a slight knee injury. Alex Iwobi takes his place in attack.
Limited chances in a first half largely bereft of attacking quality at the Hawthorns, as the sides head goalless into the break. New Year's Eve and fireworks are fireworks are usually synonymous with one another, but this final Premier League match of 2017 has been sorely lacking in that area. We'll have to hope they have been saved for the second half.
STAT: West Brom haven't scored a first half goal since the 28th November, failing to score in each of the last seven first halves in the Premier League.
Points shared as West Brom and Arsenal manage some late fireworks to close out 2017. Alexis Sanchez appeared to snatch all three points for the Gunners with a late free-kick, but Arsenal's joy proved short-lived as Jay Rodriguez netted his 89th-minute penalty - following a Calum Chambers handball - to salvage a point for the Baggies that pulls them off the bottom of the Premier League headed into 2018.
That's all for our live coverage, thanks for following along and have a HAPPY NEW YEAR!
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