Henry delivers kiss of death to hapless West Brom

West Bromwich Albion 1 Arsenal 2

Henry nipped into beat Russell Hoult from close range after Adam Chambers' attempted clearance fell for him.

Albion ought to have stolen the match before Henry's decisive strike when Jason Roberts beat David Seaman with a low shot which bounced to safety off the base of the goalkeeper's right-hand post.

Albion's transfer-listed striker Daniele Dichio had headed his side in front after just three minutes of a storming encounter. But the Gunners responded at the start of the second period when recalled striker Francis Jeffers took advantage of a slip by Sean Gregan and poked the equaliser past Hoult.

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger paid tribute to West Bromwich Albion's battlers. Wenger admitted he had been surprised by Albion's tactical qualities after they had made a dream start with Dichio's third-minute header.

But he also praised his own side's resolve and suggested the win proved that the dip in form which had recently threatened their title ambitions is now in the past.

Wenger said: "West Brom's game plan worked marvellously well and they were very determined.

"It surprised me that West Brom made no defensive mistakes apart from the second goal which was more down to fatigue.

"But we were mentally very determined today. A normal Arsenal team might not have won this game today we had the mental strength to change things, we really wanted it and we got it."

"I am very happy because we have got three points today and that shows that the team is back on track."

Albion boss Gary Megson took no comfort from another battling Baggies display which went unrewarded.

He said: "The effort is there, the competing and the battling all that type of stuff. But it's not a great deal of solace when you've lost another home game.

"I can't complain about us having a go today and there was a lot on the positive side.

"We looked a threat from set-pieces but our passing had to be seen to be believed. We've shown nowhere near the quality that we've got."

WEST BROM: Hoult, Sigurdsson, Moore, Gregan, Adam Chambers (Dobie 86), Johnson, Wallwork (James Chambers 84), Koumas, Clement, Roberts, Dichio.

ARSENAL: Seaman, Lauren, Keown, Campbell, Cole, Wiltord (Toure 80), Silva, Vieira, van Bronckhorst (Pires 69), Jeffers (Kanu 69), Henry.

Referee: G Poll (Hertfordshire).