Arsenal 3 WBA 1: Bergkamp's ageless class awaits the call

Arsène Wenger, when asked on Friday if he would be playing the Dutchman, given the day's designation, responded: "You think this is a kindergarten, that we have to give them sweets?"

Bergkamp thus started on the bench but, when he came on, it was Wenger and the Highbury crowd whose desires were met. First, Bergkamp's quick feet and brain enabled Robert Pires to restore Arsenal's lead. Then, he scored a typically sumptuous goal, his 120th in 11 seasons at the club.

"You need players like Dennis and Pires," said Wenger, "and we may need them [in the Champions' League semi-final first leg against Villarreal] on Wednesday night.

"You have to get the mixture right. In the defence we are young and at the moment there is no possibility of change because there is no one else. That means the rest of the team has to help out because Villarreal keep the ball well and every time we win the ball we have to play intelligently.

"It's amazing what you can do when you have both intelligence and class," he added. "Dennis can find it difficult when the pace of the game is very high but when he comes on he always gives you something. Touch wood this was not his last goal, maybe he can score on Wednesday."

Wenger said he had sounded Bergkamp out about joining Arsenal's coaching staff but the player wanted to take a year to reflect on his future. In that time he intends to continue living in England with his wife and four children, and has already booked a box at the Emirates Stadium. Wenger said: "I'm sure after that he will want to come back into the game. It's important that these kind of people stay in the game."

Bergkamp would certainly be a popular addition to the back room. The crowd was liberally decorated with orange shirts in his honour and he was accorded a thunderous reception when he came on. Even the iceman admitted his eyes moistened. "It was amazing to see all the orange," he said. "Orange has nothing to do with Arsenal or England and it was an emotional day. To score was special."

With three ex-Arsenal players getting warm receptions from the Highbury crowd (yes, even Junichi Inamoto), it was something of a love-in for the home support but for Albion the occasion was deathly serious. Defeat left Portsmouth in 17th place in the table four points clear and they badly need to beat Bolton at The Hawthorns tonight. Nathan Ellington should return.

Bryan Robson was left muttering bitterly about the inexplicable failure of Mike Dean, the FA Cup final referee, to award a late penalty when Eboué, who still suffers from occasional impetuosity, tripped Curtis Davies in the box. Given Albion's lack of quality and adventure, the final score fairly reflected the game but a converted penalty then would have made it 2-2 and probably garnered a point.

That, it was clear from their set-up, was what Robson had come for but it seemed improbable when Arsenal, having wasted an array of chances, took the lead through Alexander Hleb after a one-two with Thierry Henry. Yet Albion persevered and with Arsenal distracted by Bergkamp's arrival, Nigel Quashie capitalised on Eboué's error to drive in from 25 yards.

The visitors, said Robson, then "became over-excited", leaving gaps which were exposed by Mathieu Flamini's magnificent pass to Emmanuel Adebayor. Pires, at the third attempt, converted. Bergkamp, after a strong run from Eboué, then delighted Highbury with the third.

Wenger said that Freddie Ljungberg and Fabregas should both be available to play Villarreal but given the Spanish team's formidable defence there may also be a role for Bergkamp.

Goals: Hleb (44) 1-0; Quashie (72) 1-1; Pires (76) 2-1; Bergkamp (89) 3-1.

Arsenal (4-4-1-1): Lehmann; Eboué, Touré, Senderos, Flamini; Hleb (Pires, 71), Silva, Diaby, Reyes; Van Persie (Bergkamp, 72); Henry (Adebayor, 62). Substitutes not used: Poom (gk), Djourou.

West Bromwich Albion (4-1-4-1): Kuszczak; Albrechtsen, Davies, Clement, Robinson; Wallwork (Carter, 79); Greening, Quashie, Kamara, Gera (Inamoto, 63); Kanu (Campbell, 59). Substitutes not used: Hoult (gk), Watson.

Referee: M Dean (Wirral).

Booked: Arsenal Touré, Reyes; West Bromwich Albion: Quashie.

Man of the match: Hleb.

Attendance: 38,167.

Wenger expecting few favours from United

Arsène Wenger, the Arsenal manager, said he expects Manchester United to play a full-strength team at Tottenham Hotspur this afternoon even though United's title challenge is slipping away.

Victory at White Hart Lane would take Tottenham seven points clear of Arsenal in the chase for the final Champions' League qualifying spot. Given Arsenal's current prowess in Europe, and the rivalry between them and the Old Trafford club, some Arsenal fans fear United may not be fully committed. But Wenger said: "I don't see why they shouldn't play a full squad because they can lose the second [automatic qualifying spot] spot to Liverpool.

"And even the championship is not completely over. You never know. We do not expect a favour from Manchester United. They play for their own sake and their own position, but their interest coincides with our interest."

Asked if United would be happy if Spurs finished fourth, ahead of Arsenal, Wenger said: "I don't go as far as that. You cannot suspect that."

Wenger, who was a victim of corruption in France when his Monaco team frequently came second to Marseilles, who were later found guilty of match-fixing, added: "Once you go into that kind of thinking you're dead. You have to think that everybody plays to win his game and that's why I love English football, because it has always been like that. It is part of the character of the country and I would like it to remain so. The day I think it's not like that I will leave."