Arsene Wenger urges stay-away Arsenal fans to 'support the team' after Alexis Sanchez stars in West Brom victory  

• e-mail

Alexis Sanchez breathed life into Arsenal’s Champions League chase as disgruntled supporters carried through with their threat to boycott the win over West Bromwich.

The Chilean hit two first half goals as the Gunners climbed above Manchester City into third to keep their top-four hopes on track.

But the clash will also be remembered for taking place in front of an uncharacteristically empty Emirates Stadium. Officially, the attendance was tallied at 59,568, but approximately 10,000 ticket holders stayed away in protest at the club’s failed title challenge.

Alexis Sanchez celebrates scoring as Arsenal beat West Brom 2-0 to move third in the Premier League

Around 10,000 fans stayed away from the Emirates in protest over the club's failed title challenge

The empty seats were clearly visible as the sides came out for the start of the match

With their title charge having long petered out, Arsenal have been left fighting for fourth spot

Some of the fans who were at the Emirates made their feelings about Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger clear

‘My message to the fans? Come and support the team. If you love football, you go out there, and I think you see quality football,’ said manager Arsene Wenger. 

‘That’s what we try to give to our people. You look at the table and you know that for us, every point is important at the moment. 

‘We are under permanent pressure for everything again so it is important to have the focus on the way we want to play football.

‘So this is a vital win, I believe we dominated technically from the first minute to the last minute. Maybe we could have scored more goals. Thats the only thing. But we didn’t concede.

‘We want to finish as high as possible. You never know what happens in front of you – there can still be twists and turns, we want to win our games. 

‘I don’t know where we will finish but we have to give absolutely everything in every game. We go to Sunderland, Sunderland fight not to go down. That will be a battle and we have to prepare for that.

Arsene Wenger has urged Arsenal fans to 'support the team... and see quality football'

Chile international Sanchez was in irresistible form as he scored for the fourth successive game

On Sanchez’s match-winning performance: ‘Sanchez stepped up, he had a top quality first half. In the second half he dropped a little bit physically but his contribution was vital.

‘It looks like we're seeing Alexis Sanchez back to his best - he looked sharp and he was exceptional in the first half.’ 

Youngster Alex Iwobi, 19, yet again produced an excellent display to underline his huge potential after breaking into the senior set-up this year.

And Wenger said: ‘He is improving game after game because he has just come in. That is one of the positives of the season. 

‘Game after game he shows quality and he is surprising. His consistency is surprising because he has played only youth team football and suddenly he plays at that pace.

‘I am sometimes cautious with him but overall, with what he produces, he is a football player’ Meanwhile, midfielder Aaron Ramsey paid tribute to his side’s professionalism as they cruised past the Baggies.

‘I think we played with real belief and intensity and created a lot of opportunities. We deserved the three points.

‘It was up to us to put on a performance not only for our fans but ourselves as well.

‘We needed the win as we haven't played up to our standards of late. We've been frustrated with the way of how we've been playing.

‘We'll keep going and take every game as it comes.’ 

Gunners youngster Alex Iwobi (right) produced another impressive performance

Baggies manager Tony Pulis had no complaints following his side’s loss, saying: ‘Arsenal were the better team. We were hoping to keep it tight, I won’t criticise players, they’ve been fantastic. But they looked a bit leggy, off the pace and when you come to the better teams everyone has to be on it.

‘I’ve no qualms. It’s the first game in England I’ve managed on a Thursday night and I might have got the preparation wrong. 

‘I’ll be looking at myself in respect of the way we did this, just in case we play on a Thursday night. TV wanted us to play on Thursday, we’re subservient to the people who pay the money.’