Wenger gloom compounded by Ljungberg's loss

"There's no point in worrying about it," the man in the replica shirt announced to his glum compadres, glancing out of the window as Warwickshire slid by. "Chelsea have already won it. All we really need is second place..." Wenger was in no mood to discuss such concessions after watching his depleted side take an early lead before offering a team which is already girding itself for another season-long struggle the chance to register a victory that will live for years in the collective memory of its gloriously vociferous supporters.

Albion's manager, Bryan Robson, was also loath to accept the idea that the Premiership trophy was already effectively in the special hands of Jose Mourinho.

"I think teams are always catchable," Robson said. "Because you never know what will happen with injuries. I know Chelsea have got a massive squad, but if you have key players injured it can be very difficult." That was a point Wenger would have had no difficulty in agreeing with. Without the inspired extemporising of Thierry Henry, absent with a groin injury that will also deprive Arsenal of his services in the forthcoming game against north London rivals Tottenham, his side has been crucially diminished.

Additional injuries incurred by Alexander Hleb, Sol Campbell, Ashley Cole and Robin van Persie gave the side which took to the field in pursuit of their first away victory of this Premiership campaign a less than convincing aspect. And the subsequent loss of Freddie Ljungberg, who has a hamstring injury that will take at least three weeks to repair, only compounded Wenger's gloom.

"Overall, we were punished for our lack of experience and maturity," he concluded. "We have a lot of injuries to worry about. At the moment we have nine players out. For a while it looked as if Albion were happy with 1-1 but we couldn't take advantage."

As he reflected upon a result which lifted his team out of the relegation places, Robson, whose bubble-permed younger self stared back at him from an opposite wall lined with pictures of performers from Albion's illustrious past, looked as flushed and excited as if he had just played.

"We got a few breaks today," he said. "But the way we turned it round after going behind showed the character of the players.' It was Albion's first victory over Arsenal at The Hawthorns since 1973, when a goal from another celebrated performer, Tony Brown, did the damage.

But the signs looked ominous after just 17 minutes when Jose Reyes's corner found Arsenal's centre back Philippe Senderos, who had got goal-side of his Albion counterpart Curtis Davies and was able to force the ball home at the far post.

Robson said afterwards that he had had a go at his keeper during half-time for failing to cut out the cross. But it proved to be an isolated error on an afternoon when Kirkland was obliged to show all the qualities which make him a good bet for inclusion in England's World Cup squad - assuming he can avoid more of the injuries which have dogged his career.

As Reyes, Dennis Bergkamp and the effervescent Cesc Fabregas found the Albion keeper in frustratingly effective form, the home side were able to contemplate the possibility of retrieving a tangible reward. Seven minutes before half-time they laid claim to one point at least as Kanu drove home an imperious cross-shot against his former team after Senderos had directed a clearing header to him on the edge of the box.

As the second half wore on, Arsenal's spirits seemed to flag. Albion, meanwhile, continued to huff and puff, and 14 minutes from time they succeeded in blowing the visitors' house down when Diomansy Kamara managed to prod the ball inside to Darren Carter as he was tackled on the left, and Albion's young substitute had time and space to control the ball before despatching it past Jens Lehmann into the top corner of the net. A suitable birthday present for the onlooking Albion fanatic Vic Stirrup, who has seen all but five Albion games since the Second World War and who turned 87 yesterday.

Goals: Senderos (17) 1-0; Kanu (38) 1-1; Carter (76) 2-1.

West Bromwich Albion (4-4-2): Kirkland; Albrechtsen, Davies, Clement, Robinson; Watson, Wallwork (Carter, 68), Greening, Kamara; Horsfield (Ellington, 78), Kanu (Moore, 70). Substitutes not used: Earnshaw, Kuszczak (gk).

Arsenal (4-4-2): Lehmann; Lauren, Touré, Senderos, Clichy; Ljungberg (Eboue, 35), Flamini (Owusu Abeyie, 77), Fabregas, Pires; Reyes, Bergkamp. Substitutes not used: Cygan, Almunia (gk), Song.

Referee: B Knight (Knight).

Man of the match: Kirkland.

Attendance: 26,604.