LONDON -- Arsene Wenger has refused to comment on Arsenal fans' protest after his team won 1-0 at West Bromwich Albion.
After beating Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League in midweek, the Gunners claimed their second victory this week thanks to Danny Welbeck's goal, but a banner displayed in the away end at The Hawthorns read: "Arsene, thanks for the memories but it's time to say goodbye."
Asked about the banner at his postmatch news conference, Wenger said: "I don't comment on that."
When asked once more, he replied: "Do I need to say it again? I don't comment on your question."
"The job of every person who has responsibilities is to prepare the future always," he said later when asked if he was still the face of Arsenal's future.
Wenger preferred to comment on a hard-won victory delivered by a Welbeck header in the 60th minute, and ridden out after Baggies striker Saido Berahino headed against the crossbar late on.
"It was a game we controlled well until we scored the first goal," Wenger said. "We didn't take our chances and then you cannot finish the game off, having given everything on Wednesday night [against Dortmund], it could be difficult to finish the game today but in the end our solidarity got us through when the legs went in the last 10 to 15 minutes.
"Maybe we were a fraction lucky on the crossbar, but overall I think it is a very well-deserved win."
Santi Cazorla played provider from the wing for Welbeck, drifting in from his starting position on the left flank to head home after a magical piece of skill from the Spaniard.
"It's Cazorla's class that got us the goal," Wenger said. "He had a few opportunities in the first half because he cannot finish at the moment but at providing he's still top class."
Welbeck had been shifted out left to accommodate returning centre-forward Olivier Giroud, but his goal, his third of the Premier League season, provided a reminder of his striking qualities.
"He's a striker who plays left, right and central," Wenger said of Welbeck. "That's not important for me. We have so many crosses coming in that there are always chances if you play on the flanks as well."
Laurent Koscielny's return to fitness gave the Gunners a far more solid-looking defence but Wenger suggested his team had already been playing well enough, even in last week's 2-1 defeat to Manchester United.
"We had a clean sheet against Dortmund and a clean sheet today," he said. "We had three very good games in the week -- one against Man United, one against Dortmund and one today. Unfortunately against Man Utd we didn't win, but our performance was there.
"Defensively, we were maybe a bit more stable today but against Dortmund we gave a very good defensive performance."
A further three injuries among a ravaged squad darkened a day of relief for Wenger. Defender Nacho Monreal broke down in the first half, only for his replacement Kieran Gibbs end the match limping.
"Gibbs struggled a little bit today with an ankle problem, and Monreal with a knee problem, and [Alex] Oxlade-Chamberlain with a knee problem as well," he said. "We will have to see how they will recover on Monday. How bad it is, I don't know."