Gunners show stomach for fight

West Brom 1 Arsenal 1

This was not the 11th successive victory in all competitions that the Frenchman would have hoped for upon arriving at The Hawthorns.

Yet, significantly, his team head into the international break still top of the Premier League, albeit by virtue of having scored more goals than Liverpool.

Wenger admitted afterwards that remaining in pole position will represent a psychological boost for his team who, having gone behind in the league for the first time this term, answered questions over their stomach for a fight by responding to Claudio Yacob’s opener with a second-half strike from Jack Wilshere — his first top-flight goal since November 27, 2010.

That it was achieved against a Baggies side still buoyant from last weekend’s stunning success at Old Trafford, and without a string of key players, including Theo Walcott, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Bacary Sagna and Lukas Podolski, should also not be forgotten.

These, let’s not forget, represented the first points the Gunners have dropped since their defeat to Aston Villa on the opening day.

“It was important not to lose, once we were down,” Wenger said.

“That was the most important thing. But for the mental confidence it was good as well.

“The mentality of a champion is built up through a season. What is important is that we continue to focus on the way that we play. We have a desire and a spirit. It is still early, it is October.”

West Brom, meanwhile, can take heart from an excellent fortnight in which they have turned around what was a disappointing start with seven points from three games.

West Brom’s anchoring midfield pairing of Youssouf Mulumbu and Claudio Yacob succeeded in denying the Gunners’ creative trio of Mesut Ozil, Aaron Ramsey and Wilshere — in hot water in recent days after being pictured smoking — the chance to fully settle into the rhythm which has ravaged oppositions in Premier League and Champions League of late.

“They defended very well,” Wenger added. West Brom confirmed why they won at Manchester United.

“It required a special resilience because they did not give us any space.”

It was, in fact, Wojciech Szczesny who was the first goalkeeper extended when Saido Berahino’s strike took a wicked deflection off Mathieu Flamini, forcing the Arsenal custodian into a fine fingertip save.

Wenger’s team had to work to create openings and on the rare occasions they did they were guilty of profligacy, with Kieran Gibbs and Wilshere both shooting wide.

The significance of those misses became apparent three minutes before half-time.

Arsenal could only clear their lines five yards outside the area to Mulumbu, who controlled and turned in one swift movement before feeding Morgan Amalfitano, wide on the right, and his pinpoint cross to the near post was converted by Yacob with a forceful downward header.

After a prolific pre-season, Nicolas Anelka is yet to score for the Baggies in competitive action and there were further signs of ring-rustiness shortly after the restart.

Unmarked at the back post, he failed to control a cross from Berahino, making his first Premier League start after scoring the winner at Old Trafford last weekend, following a swift counter.

The Gunners had a chance of their own seconds later when Wilshere surged through only to blaze over the crossbar.

It was a fine chance yet the one which soon followed for Anelka was even better.

Liam Ridgewell showed presence of mind to slot an early ball down the left touchline leaving Anelka, having successfully sprung the offside trap, through on goal from wide on the left.

With the angle tight, the Frenchman attempted a low curling effort into the far corner — it creptagonisingly wide.

It proved a key moment. By the 63rd minute the Gunners were level.

Olivier Giroud found substitute Tomas Rosicky on the edge of the area and he teed up Wilshere, whose powerful strike from 25 yards deflected off Jonas Olsson, leaving Albion goalkeeper Boaz Myhill wrong-footed.

“I thought we more than deserved the point,” Clarke said. “We are playing very well.

“We had a couple of opportunities to make it 2-0 and had one of those gone in that might have been enough. You have to say it was a fair result.”

WEST BROM (4-2-3-1): Myhill 7; Jones 7, McAuley 7, Olsson 7, Ridgewell 7; Yacob 8, Mulumbu 9; Amalfitano 7 (Brunt 89), Sessegnon 8 (Morrison 78), Berahino 6; Anelka 6 (Long 69)

ARSENAL (4-2-3-1): Szczesny 6; Jenkinson 6, Mertesacker 6, Koscielny 6, Gibbs 6; Arteta 7, Flamini 7; Ramsey 6 (Rosicky 59, 7), Ozil 6, Wilshere 7; Giroud 6 (Bendtner 85).

Referee: Lee Mason 8.