Danny Welbeck bagged a crucial winner for Arsenal as the Gunners clinched a comfortable 1-0 win at West Brom.
In front of watching England boss, Roy Hodgson, the striker nodded in to condemn the Baggies to a third straight defeat as the Gunners hit back from last week’s defeat to Manchester United.
A banner in the visiting fans’ stand did still call for boss Arsene Wenger to leave – ‘Arsene – thanks for the memories, but it’s time to say goodbye’ – with Gunners fans still frustrated with their team.
It was a routine win though and Ben Foster denied Welbeck and Santi Cazorla in the first half before being beaten.
The hosts rarely threatened, although Saido Berahino headed against the bar late on, and they have now failed to score in their last three matches.
Berahino has also not netted in his last five outings and did little to impress Hodgson after earning his first international call up this month.
The striker started despite the revelations of his arrest for alleged drink driving this week.
Youssouf Mulumbu replaced Chris Baird and Sebastien Pocognoli returned for the suspended Claudio Yacob.
Arsenal made five changes as Olivier Giroud made his first Arsenal start in three months and the Gunners, without the injured Jack Wilshere after his ankle surgery, recalled Cazorla.
Emiliano Martinez started in goal with Wojciech Szczesny out with a pelvis injury.
Laurent Koscielny replaced Kieran Gibbs, while Mikel Arteta was ruled out with a calf problem as Mathieu Flamini came in.
The Baggies started brightly and, aside from two comfortable saves from Foster to deny Cazorla and Alexis Sanchez, Arsenal struggled to make inroads.
Albion, though, failed to test rookie Martinez, despite their possession and the Gunners gradually began to take control.
The Gunners continued where they left off after the re-start and Ramsey sent a volley over.
For all their possession, though, patient Arsenal almost took the lead in rustic circumstances on 52 minutes when Foster dropped a free kick and Per Mertesacker fired wide.
Cazorla had already run the Baggies midfield ragged and he left Andre Wisdom trailing on the right to dink a cross for Welbeck to nod in from six yards.
It was all the Gunners deserved and they remained in their comfort zone with little to concern them until the final 10 minutes when Albion mounted a muted rally.
The previously anonymous Berahino headed against the bar nine minutes from time and Craig Gardner’s effort deflected inches wide – but any leveller would have been unjust.
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