Gonzalo Jara could make his long awaited Albion debut at The Emirates as injury problems mount for Roberto Di Matteo.
The Chilean defender finally received his visa last week but wasn’t considered for the Middlesbrough match after a lengthy flight back after international duty.
Now however, with Joe Mattock, Chris Brunt and Marek Cech all ruled out through injury, Roberto Di Matteo faces a dilemma down Albion’s left with Jara expected to fill the void.
Jerome Thomas is expected to face his old club tonight after impressing at Middlesbrough on Saturday and scoring his first Albion goal in the process. The former Charlton man left Arsenal for The Valley after two-and-a-half years at the club as a youngster where he claims his football education could not have been bettered.
"I went back there with Charlton at some point but it'll be nice to go there again," the 26-year-old said.
"It's an amazing stadium and I know some of the staff there, although most of the players that I played with have left.
"But you can't put a price on the education I got there.
"It was the best you could get anywhere.
"We won the youth cup two years running with players like Steve Sidwell, Jeremie Aliadiere, Justin Hoyte and Mauritz Volz - we're all playing now because of the education we got there.
"Tonight it's not about proving a point it's about going there and helping the team get another win so we can keep going.”