Arsenal prevented a third straight Premier League loss with victory over a lacklustre West Brom at The Hawthorns.

The Gunners started the fixture with their lowest points tally after 12 games in 32 years but Danny Welbeck's powerful header moved them fourth.

Welbeck - denied by a Ben Foster save in the first half - powered in Santi Cazorla's cross after half-time.

West Brom came closest when Saido Berahino headed onto the bar during a late rally but were deservedly beaten.

Their fans have now not seen their side score a league goal in over 300 minutes and chants of "you don't know what you're doing" when manager Alan Irvine substituted Stephane Sessegnon will do little for confidence.

In Arsenal, the Baggies faced a side under intense scrutiny following their own poor start to the season, but Wenger's side have at least now followed last weekend's defeat by Manchester United with two wins, including Champions League progress in midweek.

They have reached the latter stages of that competition for 15 straight seasons, but that pattern contrasts the inconsistency which hampers any title challenge and banners calling for Wenger to leave his role were visible among the travelling support.

His side are 11 points worse off than at this stage last season despite the additions of Alexis Sanchez, Calum Chambers and Welbeck - who was shifted out of the central striker's berth for Olivier Giroud - but produced the game's decisive moment.

His header - one of 17 Arsenal attempts at goal - arrived after a first-half in which only Foster had been called into action, denying Welbeck from 12 yards.

The West Brom keeper almost turned villain before the break when he presented Giroud - back in the starting XI for the first time since breaking his leg in August - with an open goal near the corner flag but the angle proved too acute.

Arsenal looked solid with Laurent Koscielny returning at the heart of defence and their probing paid off when Cazorla - who completed 93% of his passes in the opponents' half - dug out a neat cross which Welbeck devoured from eight yards.

Only Berahino, included despite facing questions over drink driving,had briefly threatened for the home side but he drew breaths from Arsenal supporters late on when his header from six yards hit the woodwork.

The closing five minutes was the Baggies' best spell and Craig Gardner whistled a shot from range narrowly wide but Arsenal held on for a fourth win in 12 league games.