ARSENAL relegated Sam Allardyce’s West Bromwich Albion after a 3-1 victory at the Emirates on Sunday evening.

The Baggies drop down from the top flight for the fifth time in the Premier League era, while victory for the home side kept alive faint hopes that the Gunners could still qualify for Europe.

Despite the visitors looking lively early on, prompted by the impressive Matheus Pereira, Emile Smith Rowe volleyed a smart opener from Bukayo Saka’s cross in the 29th minute to make it 1-0.

Six minutes later Nicolas Pepe cut in from the right to curl an excellent strike into the top corner and double the Gunners’ lead, to make the score 2-0.

After the interval Pereira — who is surely set for a Premier League future with another club — notched a superb individual goal after a driving run from his own half to reduce the deficit with 23 minutes remaining.

However, Willian scored his first goal for the club — after 37 games — with a free-kick with moments remaining to seal victory and send West Brom down to the Championship, with the Baggies sitting 10 points from safety with only three games remaining.

“It has been looking difficult for a while and we haven’t taken our chance to give ourselves a better opportunity of staying up,” said a disappointed Allardyce after the game. 

“I think these players should be fighting to stay out of it. They have performed well enough but our capabilities of scoring have deserted us.

“It is a disappointing night but we have to take it on the chin. It is not as painful for me as it is for the club or players. It is painful, I wanted it for the club and players more than me, but it hasn’t happened. Everyone has to accept it and recover quickly.”

Victory means the Gunners, who were knocked out of the Europa League by former boss Unai Emery and his Villarreal side on Thursday, still have a mathematical chance of playing continental football next season.

The win saw the Gunners record back-to-back victories for only the second time this year.

Speaking after the game Arteta said: “The best way to do it is with the right attitude. The three goals were very different but really good individual and collective actions.

“We have done so many right steps, some you can see and some you can’t. The foundations are there.”