Nasri sparkles but Gunners left plenty to ponder

Arsenal 1 West Brom 0

However it all ended with serious questions about the Gunners’ capacity to mount a sustained title challenge.

Writing in his programme notes Wenger, recalling last season’s collapse in the finishing straight, having looked set for a first title in four years, insisted: “If we can have as good start as last year, and get to the same position again, then I believe we will win it this time.”

But after his troops claim a stuttering win, Wenger was talking up the merits of “fighting” rather than “winning”.

“For me a real quality of a team is to fight for the championship,” the Frenchman claimed. “What is important for me is consistency.”

The one shining light for the Gunners was the display of matchwinner Samir Nasri. The French youngster — a £12m (€15m) signing from Marseille brought to replace the departed Alexander Hleb — teased West Brom’s defence with his movement and skill, capping a superb display by netting the winner after just four minutes.

“He (Nasri) has shown he is an intelligent player, he has good technique and can integrate well with the team,” said Wenger. “He also worked hard for the team. We believe he has the ingredients to fit into our game. He added something that people wanted from him in France, and that was to score goals.”

That last point could prove pertinent. Wenger’s previous title winning sides have been built around a steady supply of goals from midfield and specifically the wings, an area the Gunners have been less than prolific in in recent seasons. Wenger’s double-winning triumphs were made possible by the goals of Marc Overmars in 1998 and Freddie Ljungberg and Robert Pires in 2002, with the latter again contributing handsomely in the unbeaten season of 2004.

More recently though, goals from Arsenal wingers have become about as rare as Michael Phelps defeats. If Nasri can prove a regular goalgetter, the Gunners’ arsenal will be considerably boosted.

Of more immediate concern for Wenger is his lack of options in central midfield. Prior to kick-off he again reiterated his desire to land a midfielder before the transfer window closes and such a move looks a necessity. Wenger’s current options are paper thin. Emmanuel Eboue filled a central role on Saturday with Denilson. Enough said.

Though the Gunners started brightly, Nasri’s goal after a neat passing move was scant reward for a bright opening 20 minutes of almost complete dominance. The otherwise ineffective Theo Walcott, Niclas Bentner and Emmanuel Adebayor — again given a frosty reception from the home faithful who have yet to forgive him for his flirtations with Milan over the summer — all went close to grabbing a second before the visitors worked their way back into the game.

Said Baggies boss Tony Mowbray: “We did not take a hammering and could have nicked one. I think we will be okay as long as we work as hard as we did today.”

Wenger, for his part, likened the title race to a marathon rather than a sprint. That may well be true but the jury remains out on whether the Gunners can go the distance.

It’s a fact: Samir Nasri became the third player to score on his Arsenal league debut under Arsene Wenger — Emmanuel Adebayor and Freddie Ljungberg were the others. Also Manuel Almunia is the only keeper to have kept a clean sheet on the opening day.