West Brom v Arsenal - Alan Pardew urges goal-shy Baggies to take risks and plans to focus on set-pieces

The Baggies will go 19 league games without victory if they fail to beat the Gunners on New Year's Eve.

But Albion won this corresponding fixture last season thanks to two Craig Dawson headers and Pardew is planning to bombard the Arsenal box with set-pieces again.

The Baggies are having more shots under Pardew, and seeing more of the ball too, but they've only scored two goals in his six games.

And their deficiencies in front of goal were laid bare in the goalless draw at Everton on Boxing Day.

"Anyone who watched the game the other day would have seen a real professional performance without us getting the result we needed and scoring goals is how you win games," said Pardew.

"We need to find a better solution for putting that ball in the net.

"There's a number of things we can do as a coaching team such as increase finishing sessions, but that's difficult because of the levels of energy the players have.

"We can concentrate on set-plays, which we will do for this game, make sure they're nailed down.

"And create pressure, if we keep creating pressure we'll create some luck for ourselves.

"That's what we're going to continue to do, even if we are against a superior team like we are in this situation."

Albion have had 34 shots in their last two games but only found the net once, and Pardew wants his team to take more risks in the final third.

He's warned supporters that may mean they concede goals against Arsenal, but he was buoyed by Crystal Palace's ability to bag twice against the Gunners on Thursday.

“Hopefully we’ll start scoring some goals, that’s the biggest area that has to change," said Pardew.

“Going to a back four, we’ve looked very solid, not many teams create chances against us.

“We go into the game pretty confident, but at the same time we have to take risks.

"The goals against column might go up a bit, but i’m not scared of that as long as the goals for column goes up quicker, sharper and on a steeper graph!

"Palace scoring two goals and getting some chances was a filip for us. We take that into the game.

"Hopefully we can get a couple of goals which is what we're going to need – at least – if we're going to win.

"Their front three is world class, you could take that to the World Cup and any national team would be happy.

"That's what we're up against. More importantly for us we've got to score at the other end."

Pardew will be without main striker Salomon Rondon though, who injured himself spooning a shot into the crowd against Everton and is now expected to miss the next two games.

Hal Robson-Kanu is likely to replace him up front, but that injury could give £15m signing Oliver Burke an opportunity to shine from the bench.

Pardew is still searching for his first win as Albion head coach, and the team still haven't tasted victory since August.

"Every game it gets more and more important," said the boss. "Our fans were brilliant against Everton, if they can turn up and be like that again I'll be overjoyed.

"Hopefully we can reach the same level of performance, it won't be many times we play like that and not win. If we can recreate that, we'll make our own luck."

Albion key man

Craig Dawson - Albion's right-back is a threat from set-pieces and scored two against Arsenal last season. But he will also be tasked with stopping the likes of Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil.

Arsenal dangerman

Alexis Sanchez - Scored two goals against Crystal Palace on Thursday and is bang in form just as January rolls around. Funny that.

Likely line-ups

Albion (4-4-2): Foster, Dawson, Hegazi, Evans, Gibbs, Phillips, Barry, Livermore, Brunt, Rodriguez, Robson-Kanu.

Substitutes: Myhill, McAuley, Nyom, Yacob, Krychowiak, Burke, McClean.

Arsenal (4-3-3): Cech, Kolasinac, Koscielny, Mustafi, Bellerin, Wilshere, Xhaka, Ozil, Sanchez, Lacazette, Iwobi.

Substitutes: Ospina, Mertesacker, Chambers, Elneny, Walcott, Welbeck, Akpom.