Nasri scores winner in Arsenal debut

The £12million Frenchman netted after only four minutes as the Gunners dominated the first half.

However, it was a different story following the restart as last season's Coca-Cola Championship winners fought back and were unfortunate not to get something from the match.

The home side started brightly and were soon in front when the ball was worked quickly through the right side of the penalty area to Denilson, who cut the ball back into the path of France international Nasri and he calmly guided his shot low into the far corner.

Arsenal were soon rampant again, as Emmanuel Adebayor chipped the ball over for Theo Walcott, whose goalbound close-range header was blocked by Baggies defender Paul Robinson.

Gunners captain William Gallas was allowed space some 30 yards out - and his low, rasping drive was only just wide of Scott Carson's right-hand post and Nicklas Bendtner headed wide from a near-post corner as the Gunners threatened to extend their lead once again.

But 50 minutes in, there was a big let-off for Arsenal. First Ishmael Miller's close-range effort was blocked by the legs of Manuel Almunia after he had sprung the offside trap, before Johan Djourou cleared Robinson's follow-up shot from in front of his own net.

Arsenal could then have made it 2-0 moments later when Adebayor got clear into the left side of the area once more - and this time bent a low, curling effort just wide of the far post with the keeper beaten.

Substitute Robin van Persie almost netted an acrobatic strike when he turned in the six-yard box to poke a left-foot effort just wide, but in the end 1-0 to the Arsenal proved enough for victory.