Arsene Wenger brushes off "time to say goodbye" Arsenal banner

West Bromwich, England: Arsene Wenger looked a relieved manager after Arsenal won 1-0 at West Bromwich Albion on Saturday although he refused to comment on a banner calling for him to leave the club.

The visitors dominated the Premier League game and broke through after 60 minutes when a Santi Cazorla cross found Danny Welbeck and he headed past keeper Ben Foster.

However, it was not all positive for Arsenal as fans unveiled a banner that read `thanks for the memories but it`s time to say goodbye`.

"I do not comment on that," Wenger told reporters after his side won in the league for the first time in nearly a month. "The job of every manager is to prepare for the future. 

"We kept a clean sheet against [Borussia] Dortmund and a clean sheet today," the Frenchman added in reference to Arsenal`s 2-0 Champions League victory in midweek.

"Unfortunately we didn`t win against Manchester United [last Sunday] but the performance was there."

Arsenal rose to fourth in the table ahead of Saturday`s later games, 12 points adrift of leaders Chelsea who kick-off at Sunderland at 1730 GMT.

West Brom manager Alan Irvine criticised the fans who called for Wenger to leave.

"That just seems ridiculous to me," the Scot said. "It`s bizarre that I should be getting asked to defend Arsene Wenger after what he`s done, he`s had an incredible time at Arsenal.

"It doesn`t please me to see any manager getting criticised because it`s a tough job and he`s been doing a tough job for a very long time and been doing it well."

Irvine is also under pressure given that West Brom`s last home win came in September.

A chorus of `you don`t know what you`re doing` rang around The Hawthorns when he substituted the lively Stephane Sessegnon for Georgios Samaras in the 76th minute.

"It`s not nice to hear," Irvine said. "People have their own opinions but in actual fact it very nearly worked.

"Had it done perhaps people would have had a different judgement. We nearly got something out of the game in the end with that last 15 or 20 minutes -- we hit the bar and had a number of shots blocked."

Defeat left West Brom in 13th position.