As sure as autumn follows summer, Arsenal replace the angst of August with a serene September. The Gunners required a little luck in successfully negotiating the challenge West Brom posed, yet they stood firm during the toughest periods last night and struck at key moments to secure a win which helps give a sense of forward momentum.
Home Premier League victories over Bournemouth and West Brom either side of a goalless draw at Chelsea are only a platform for further progress, but it marks a considerable shift from where Arsenal were before the international break, chastened by a 4-0 thrashing at Liverpool.
“We are in a different position, a different mental aspect as well,” Arsene Wenger told Standard Sport, whose team now sit just one point behind fourth-placed Tottenham in the table.
“You know, we live in a world where when you miss a game like we did at Liverpool, afterwards you face a very difficult environment. But there is only one way to respond: show your character with results on the pitch.”
Arsenal usually do at this time of year. Twelve months ago, the Gunners recovered from a slow start to win five of their six matches in all competitions, with the other match a useful Champions League draw at Paris Saint-Germain.
Under Wenger, Arsenal have never taken more Premier League points per game in any other month than September, averaging 2.15 from 73 matches.
Their record in October yields exactly the same percentage, a trend which bodes well for the weeks ahead, with League games before November against Brighton (home), Watford (away), Everton (away) and Swansea (home), punctuated by Europa League and EFL Cup engagements.
Wenger has also spoken in the past about an “absolutely horrendous” atmosphere his players had to contend with, but they have won all five home games spanning three competitions — and although there were empty seats at Emirates Stadium again last night, mitigation can be found in the difficulties scheduling has caused supporters: Arsenal’s past seven home matches have taken place on a different night of the week. “What is important is we are strong at home,” said Wenger.
In Pictures | Arsenal vs West Brom | 25/09/2017
“We have played six games now, three difficult away games at Chelsea, at Liverpool, at Stoke and overall it’s important we keep our home strength.
“We know we can make results away from home and we’ll do that, so what was important was the three points because everybody else won and you’re under pressure not to drop points.”
Arsenal’s task in maintaining their present buoyancy has undoubtedly been complicated by some unfavourable decisions in moving games for television coverage.
A Monday-Thursday-Sunday schedule is within their capabilities, especially given Wenger will rotate heavily for the trip to Belarus later this week, but a midday kick-off this weekend gives 50 hours between facing BATE Borisov and Brighton.
It has been noticeable in recent months straddling this season and last that Wenger has regularly eschewed the opportunity to highlight fixture-list issues, yet he did so on Monday under minimal examination.
“The schedule for us is a bit cruel,” he said. “We look at the schedule over the weekend, we think there was some room for it to be different.
“But we have to accept it and we want to go to Borisov with a team. I will go with a team of senior players and certainly with a young bench. There is no need to talk to the Premier League about that because it’s the television that decides. For example, Brighton versus Newcastle on the television, they could have played [on Monday] and we could have played Sunday. So, for us, the time is very short. But the television decides and I don’t complain about that. What I want to say is for the selection it has an impact for me.”
For all Arsenal’s improvement, West Brom boss Tony Pulis was right to feel aggrieved at the officials for failing to hand his team a golden chance to take the lead early on and give this night a distinctly tougher feel for the hosts.
Only referee Bobby Madley can attempt to explain his decision not to award the visitors an eighth-minute penalty as Shkodran Mustafi felled Jay Rodriguez in the box. Lost in the controversy was a brilliant save from Petr Cech to deny Rodriguez as he played on and fired a low, curling effort at goal, only to be denied by Arsenal’s goalkeeper and his left-hand upright.
Nacho Monreal was also required to make a desperate — and brilliant — goal-line clearance as Rodriguez threatened to cancel out Alexandre Lacazette’s opener. West Brom were still in the match when Lacazette struck again, midway through the second half, this time converting from the spot after Allan Nyom barged over Aaron Ramsey in the box.
Arsenal often falter when harried, as they were by West Brom, but there was a resilience which endured this time and ensured their greater quality shone through. The challenge is to reproduce it in the months ahead.