WBA - Arsenal

West Brom look much better under Roy Hodgson, they’re undefeated in last four in league and in previous round won in derby away vs. Brum (3-1). But, the fact is they haven’t kept a clean sheet in previous 27 games. On the other hand, from the bottom-half sides only Blackpool have scored more goals (WBA 39). Key midfielder Dorrans is out, other midfielder Mulumbu is doubtful, while Vela cannot play against parent club.

Arsenal suffered two painful defeats in last 10 days (Barca and Man Utd), but they still look good in the title race. Three points less than Utd, but with a game in hand (counting on Utd’s injuries and tough game vs. Bolton today). Arsenal have good record on the road against bottom sides, but Wenger is facing a long injury list. Seven players are out, Fabregas, Djourou, Diaby, Vermaelen, Szczesny, Walcott and Song. Jens Lehmann is in the squad which makes me think they will be vulnerable more than usual. Good news for Wenger is Bendtner returns.

The Gunners are desperate for points, but absolutely the same is with WBA. I expect an open game and goals on both sides.

Bet: Over 2.5
Odd: 1.93 Pinnacle
Stake: 8/10
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Tuesday's gossip column

TRANSFER GOSSIP

Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp is lining up a January transfer swoop for Sunderland defender Anton Ferdinand.(Daily Mirror) 
Manchester United are considering an £8m move for Napoli's Slovakian midfielder Marek Hamsik. (Daily Star) 
Everton hope to sign Gillingham's 22-year-old striker Simeon Jackson.(The Sun) 
Wolves striker Sam Vokes is set to join Coventry on loan.(The Sun) 
Tottenham are tracking Sampdoria's Spanish midfielder Pedro Mba Obiang.(Daily Mirror) 
Sheffield United are keen on French striker Fabrice Pancrate, who is a free agent after being released by Paris St Germain.(The Sun) 
Stoke have rejected loan bids from Newcastle and Nottingham Forest for defender Leon Cort.(Daily Mirror) 
Portsmouth are battling it out with Notts County and Turkish side Galatasaray to sign former Manchester City left-back Michael Ball, who is now a free agent. (Daily Mail) 

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OTHER GOSSIP

Manchester United defender Gary Neville may face punishment from the Football Association following his reaction to Michael Owen's late winner in Sunday's derby. Neville, an unused substitute, ran down the touchline towards Manchester City's fans to celebrate.(The Sun) 
Manchester City midfielder Javier Garrido has accused neighbours Manchester United of creating a "climate of hostility" after being hit on the head by a coin at half-time during Sunday's derby. (Daily Mail) 
Meanwhile, Manchester City will complain to the Football Association about the behaviour of fourth official Alan Wiley during injury time in Sunday's derby. City are angry that manager Mark Hughes was shooed away when he questioned where all the added time had come from.(The Sun) 
Manchester United look set to escape a Fifa investigation over their attempted recruitment of Fiorentina teenager Michele Fornasier.(Daily Telegraph) 
Aston Villa midfielder Nigel Reo-Coker has apologised to manager Martin O'Neill following their training ground bust-up and looks to have saved his future at the Premier League club.(The Sun) 

AND FINALLY

Former Arsenal keeper Jens Lehmann has been dropped by Stuttgart after attending the Munich beer festival, Oktoberfest. Lehmann said: "The visit was part of a charity event and had been planned for a long time. However, it was not agreed with the club. Of course I accept the measures taken by the sporting management."(The Sun)
weww.bbc.co.uk

Schalke 04 1-2 Stuttgart

Stuttgart remain hot on the heels of league leaders Wolfsburg after notching a rare 2-1 (1-1) victory at Schalke 04.

In the absence of top scorer Mario Gomez due to a last-minute adductor problem, strikers Cacau (15.), and Ciprian Marica (57.) bagged the goals that gave VfB a timely first win in eleven years in Gelsenkirchen, to make it 22 points out of a possible 24 in their last eight games for the team from the south west.

Schalke's third successive defeat meanwhile rules out any slight remaining hope they had of qualifying for the UEFA Europa League.

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VfB on the offensive

Stuttgart attacked from the off and were rewarded with a top-quality opener on the quarter-hour mark. Cacau pounced on a mistake by Mladen Krstajic and hammered home into the corner from the edge of the box.
Schalke tried to match their opponents in open combat and four minutes later Jefferson Farfan missed a great chance to equalise, heading over the bar from four metres out.
In the 37th minute, VfB keeper Jens Lehmann tipped over a long-range effort from Heiko Westermann and two minutes later the home side were level, Ivan Rakitic netting direct from a free kick.

Clinical finish from Marica

Schalke's Kevin Kuranyi twice failed to find the net from close range against his former club shortly after the restart (49., 50.), and the hosts would soon have cause to regret those misses. 
In the 56th minute VfB skipper Thomas Hitzlsperger let fly from distance and Royal Blues keeper Manuel Neuer could only bat the ball to the feet of Marica. 
The Romanian forward, a late replacement for Gomez, gratefully accepted the gift - and the points were Stuttgart's.
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