Okay, okay. West Brom are dire and relegation certainties. The kind of team Arsenal should beat without getting out of second gear. Still, after dropping 10 points out of 15 since their last win in the middle of January, it was Arsenal who seemed to be displaying relegation form.

This was a game the team needed to win for all sorts of reasons. I am a firm believer that success in one competition is good for the chances in others, and that choosing which games to play with genuine commitment (as opposed to displaying it in all of them) is counter-productive. And surely this season has proved that if nothing else.

The finishing was good enough to see off the Baggies, although at the same time it could and should have been a lot better and this might have been a six or seven goal hiding from a previous Arsenal team. But let’s not be churlish, just grateful for a long-awaited league win and a little bit of pressure on Aston Villa. I’ll even pass over Emmanuel Eboue’s notion of what makes a good defensive wall.

With the next two outings being cup games, Arsenal’s outlook might just be considerably brighter by the end of Wednesday next week. It is to be hoped that Toure was taken off as a precaution, as I wouldn’t fancy a Song and Djourou partnership against Burnley never mind Roma. In fairness Song did not play badly as a centre back, but West Brom were so deflated after the break that he wasn’t really tested.

Arshavin was once again a bright spark, but equally demonstrated why he is not a prolific scorer of goals. He fashions the chances, but is not as clinical as other forwards. His assist for Toure’s headed goal was a thing of wonder though. Finally, an Arsenal player who can deliver a pinpoint dead ball cross that beats the first defender.

It was a game Arsenal should have won, needed to win and ultimately did at a canter. Perhaps being away from the pressure of playing at home actually helps the team at the moment. We have seen false dawns aplenty this season, so it is too early to think this might be a springboard to some kind of recovery. What it is though is three very vital points in the bag, and a reminder that some of those that have underperformed of late are capable of better.

Now, let’s see if some momentum can be established. And with returning players, that competition for places becomes the norm. The season’s denouement may only be a few weeks away but there’s a lot of football to be played between now and then. Let’s hope the Gunners play it with purpose…