WENGER'S SAM MISSILE

Arsenal 1, West Brom 0

IT'S not how you start or even how you finish. It's how you endure.

Arsenal discovered that to their cost in the last Premier League campaign. West Brom may discover the same thing this season.

Remember how the Gunners produced a swashbuckling first half of last term and a spirited finish?

They won many admirers but no trophies - for the third season running.

The flowing football was fantastic but it still was not enough to unsettle England's dominant duo of Manchester United and Chelsea.

This time boss Arsene Wenger is adamant the Gunners won't crumble, especially if they get into pole position in the great title race again.

In his matchday programme notes the Frenchman wrote: "If we can have as good a start as we did last year - and get to the same position again - then I believe we will win it this time. We have learned from last season."

But this hard-laboured win against newly-promoted West Brom proved the Gunners have learned absolutely nothing from last year's failings.

Wenger himself talked of "the same old story" as he strived to explain this non-performance from his side in his post-match Press conference.

He said: "You have that old story that you feel you probably deserved to be punished in the last 10 minutes - but I am pleased we did not let in a goal."

Certainly the same question-marks remain over Arsenal's ability to stay the course as this latest title race kicks off.

Chance

Do they have the killer touch and instinct that separates the champions from the also-rans?

Have they got the strength in depth and the durability to compete with their arch-rivals from Old Trafford and their near neighbours at Stamford Bridge?

With United and Chelsea playing today, this was Arsenal's chance to steal the limelight on opening day and make a statement to the affirmative into the bargain.

The stage could not have been set more perfectly.

Unfancied Premier League newcomers West Brom at home in front of an expectant Emirates crowd.

And don't forget the Baggies are so unfancied they can't even attract a shirt sponsor in the world's most-watched football league!

Was there a brave new dawn rising in North London?

The sun was certainly shining, the pitch was perfect and Wenger was so comfortable with his new-look side that he felt he had the luxury of leaving stars Robin van Persie and Kolo Toure languishing on the bench.

New-boy Samir Nasri quickly added to all the optimism with an early goal on his debut to mark his summer arrival from Olympique Marseille in style.

He needed only three minutes and 42 seconds to make his mark, coolly converting a flowing move to claim the fastest debut goal in Premier League history.

Gael Clichy began the move, sweeping the ball wide to Denilson. His cut-back found Nasri lurking six yards out, just beyond the near post.

And the man of the match did not disappoint, converting confidently with his right foot.

What a start!

And we all sat back and waited for the seemingly inevitable goal rush that would follow.

The home fans sang the old refrain "1-0 to the Arsenal" in mockery of the old days when they were infamous for grinding out results.

This was going to be a romp, a rout.

Arsenal were in their pomp, in total control and we were all in for a treat.

Captain William Gallas went close with a 30-yard drive that whizzed past Scott Carson's right-hand upright.

Then Nasri's corner was headed disappointingly wide by Nicklas Bendtner and by the half-hour there was still no alteration to the scoreline.

The best chance actually fell to the Baggies.

Do-Heon Kim broke forward to fire a low shot across Manuel Almunia.

But the big Spanish keeper stretched his fingertips to touch it around for a corner and spare Arsenal's blushes.

Emmanuel Eboue responded with a flashing effort that flew just wide but Arsenal were at it again - failing to turn their obvious dominance into goals.

By half-time there were the first rumblings of discontent among the Arsenal faithful who've seen it all before.

There may well have been rumblings in the dressing room too for the Gunners began the second half in far more dynamic fashion. And three minutes into the half they should have added to their early advantage.

Denilson's shot was deflected to Emmanuel Adebayor, who was loitering with intent to the left of the area.

He closed in on goal, opened up his body but then all-too-casually stroked his shot wide of the far post.

There were groans all around and that glaring miss could have been extremely costly. Albion were growing more assured and, once again, went agonisingly close to an equaliser. The hard-working Ishmael Miller broke free into the box and let fly with a low drive that Almunia blocked with his boots.

Paul Robinson drilled in the rebound and this time there was nothing the keeper could do to keep it out.

Fortunately for him, the alert Johan Djourou was on the line to save the day.

Adebayor should have eased the pressure almost immediately afterwards when he strode clear one-on-one with Carson.

But he bottled it, side-footing wide of the target and this time there were some boos amid the groans of despair.

Impact

When Eboue sliced badly wide you sensed that Arsenal were going to end up hanging on in a match they should have won with ease.

The West Brom fans were by far the noisier - even though they were the minority. A raft of substitutions were the last throw of the dice for both bosses.

Wenger tossed Van Persie and Toure on for Bendtner and Theo Walcott with Albion's Tony Mowbray even busier.

On went Roman Bednar, Craig Beattie and Sherjill MacDonald

with Miller, Marek Cech and Chris Brunt withdrawn.

And it was Van Persie who made the biggest impact.

In the 81st minute Adebayor broke away on the left and swept over a cross that the Dutchman met perfectly.

Unfortunately he directed the header straight at a relieved Carson.

The profligate Adebayor then wasted yet another opening before Van Persie lashed a shot high into the stands.

Mind you he followed up with a piece of magic in the 86th minute, creating the room for a snap-shot on the turn in the box. Carson looked beaten but van Persie's shot was inches wide.

Arsenal were the nearly men on the day.

And they will probably be the nearly men again this season.

Do you think that Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has a big enough squad to stay the distance in the race for glory this season?

Tell us at FAN ZONE