Samir Nasri gave Arsenal's young guns a winning start to the Premier League campaign as the France midfielder's debut goal clinched a 1-0 victory over West Bromwich Albion on Saturday.
Nasri, 21, struck early in the first half at the Emirates Stadium to calm fears that the close-season departures of Mathieu Flamini, Alexander Hleb and Gilberto Silva would cast Arsenal adrift of their title rivals.
Arsene Wenger sent out a youthful team that lacked a host of injured stars including Cesc Fabregas and Kolo Toure. But it took the Gunners just four minutes to carve open newly-promoted Albion.
Gael Clichy played Denilson in down the left wing and the Brazilian's cutback teed-up Nasri, a 12-million-pounds signing from Marseille, to sidefoot a cool finish past Scott Carson.
Wenger's side nearly squandered their lead in the second half as Ishmael Miller brought a smart stop from Manuel Almunia and Johan Djourou had to clear James Morrison's shot off the line.
