The pressure is really on Arsenal at the minute, because a combination of our own slow start to the new Premier League season and the strong start from our EPL rivals, as well as the way that the fixture list has worked out this weekend means that even at this early stage the Gunners are in real danger of being dropped from the title race.
They may have been narrow wins but both Tottenham and Man United got all three points yesterday, while Man City and Chelsea blew away their opponents and stretched their lead over Arsenal.
Anything less than all three points at home to West Brom on Monday evening will leave us way behind the pace setters and that will bring more frustration and dissent from the Arsenal fans, more questions about Arsene Wenger and his ability to take the team forwards and more doubts about the quality of our players.
No doubt Tony Pulis will be well aware of this and will attempt to use it to his advantage, so I expect the Baggies to be determined not to give Arsenal anything to lift our spirits and get the home crowd going. The longer we go without a goal on Monday the more the pressure and tension will build and the Arsenal fans are already feeling pretty pessimistic about our chances.
What Wenger and everyone concerned with Arsenal would give for an early goal against West Brom. Get that and it could turn out to be a morale boosting evening, but the way things have been going for us recently, who is feeling confident of that?
Bob.