If you’d have told Arsenal supporters before their match with West Bromwich Albion that they would face a disciplined team managed by big Sam Allardyce on a freezing cold, snowy evening at The Hawthorns, they’d probably have asked if there was any chance of a postponement.

Unfortunately for those pessimistic Gooners, the pitch and weather conditions were deemed adequate for a duel, and this fragile set of confidence-shot players were forced out of their dressing rooms and into the lion’s den.

For many teams, this opposition combined with these almost unplayable conditions would be considered a potential banana skin. For Mikel Arteta, this was a newly-waxed marble floor, covered in oil, with a single banana skin on top. Oh, and they’re all wearing bowling shoes.

What was needed on Saturday night more than ever, was courage, heart, and a crop of hungry young starlets, prepared to stick two fingers up to the snow and the doubters. Luckily for Arteta and Gooners everywhere, Arsenal had enough of these rough diamonds to ease past West Brom, and take another step towards a full recovery.

The visitors were still well away from full strength, with Pablo Mari and Emile Smith Rowe continuing their rare runs in the side. But Arteta opted for an adventurous front four, consisting of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Bukayo Saka on the left and right flanks, and Smith Rowe operating just behind Alexandre Lacazette in attack.

It was a forward line filled with pace, experience, canny knowhow and youthful exuberance – and bags of potential. This time, everything clicked, and the Gunners treated their supporters to a masterclass on attacking movement.

The front four threatened to burst into life on a couple of occasions, with the wingers regularly vacating the flanks for their full-backs to hurtle forward. Hector Bellerin had an early shot blocked from one of his marauding ventures into the West Brom penalty area, but it was only a sign of things to come.

Fellow full-back Kieran Tierney broke the deadlock on 20 minutes, benefitting from being awarded the freedom of the left flank to bomb forward, cut inside and crash a stunning strike beyond Sam Johnstone.

The real showpiece arrived a few minutes later, when the front four combined majestically to double the lead. Lacazette received the ball with his back to goal, and cheekily flicked a pass around the corner to Smith Rowe, who had got on his bike the moment he saw the action unfolding.

The youngster’s fluid movement and quick-thinking caught the entire West Brom defence by surprise, and they could only watch as he rolled the ball into the path of Saka, who tapped into an empty net. For a brief few seconds, all the problems of the past five months melted away like the snow beneath their feet.

Gooners had their Arsenal back.

In fairness, Areta’s men did not take their foot off the pedal, and having survived a nervy opening ten minutes to the second half, Lacazette killed the game with one fell swing of his boot. The Frenchman grabbed his second and Arsenal’s fourth minutes later, nudging the ball over the line from another Tierney cross.

The Scottish defender was imperious on that left flank, and even at 4-0, he never allowed the West Brom backline any rest. Overall, it was a stunning display from Arsenal, from start to finish. They were confident, disciplined, fluid and creative.

They were everything they haven’t been in recent weeks, bar their impressive victory over Chelsea. But their second win on the bounce did prove one thing: that performance against the Blues was no fluke – this group of players are on back on track, and just in time, too.

Manchester United claimed all three points in an entertaining clash at Old Trafford on Friday night, as they beat Aston Villa 2-1 to go level on points with Liverpool at the top of the Premier League.

It was an entertaining first half with Villa edging the play, but it was the Red Devils who broke the deadlock just before half time. Aaron Wan-Bissaka broke down the right wing and put in a cross that found Anthony Martial, who stooped low to head beyond Emi Martinez.

Villa found an equaliser in the second half when a quickly taken free-kick found Jack Grealish, who drilled a cross low into the box for Bertrand Traore to control and slot past David De Gea.

However, United got straight back into the lead just three minutes later though when Paul Pogba was adjudged to have been fouled in the box by Douglas Luiz, and that man Bruno Fernandes scored from the spot to win the game.

MANCHESTER UNITED

David De Gea (GK) – 7/10 – Super save to deny Ollie Watkins at 1-0 and another to deny Matty Cash late on.

Aaron Wan-Bissaka (RB) – 7/10 – Assist for United’s opener but went to sleep as Villa equalised. Did extremely well to deny El-Ghazi at the back post to keep it 2-1.

Eric Bailly (CB) – 7/10 – Excellent performance from the Ivorian as he made a fourth start in a row for the first time since 2017. Kept Watkins quiet for the most part and a stunning block at the death to save the points.

Harry Maguire (CB) – 7/10 – His good form continues with another strong performance. The England star kept the ball well and dominant in the air too.

Luke Shaw (LB) – 8/10 – Arguably his best performance in a Manchester United shirt. Constantly a threat on the overlap and solid defensively throughout.

Scott McTominay (DM) – 4/10 – Really struggled for the home side defensively and was poor in possession. Subbed after 65 minutes.

Fred (CM) – 7/10 – Did the hard yards defensively and made more interceptions than anyone else on the pitch.

Paul Pogba (CM) – 9/10 – Best player on the pitch. The World Cup winner had a big hand in anything good Manchester United did, including a wonderful bit of skill in the build up to the opening goal. He also won the penalty too.

Bruno Fernandes (CAM) – 8/10 – Goal from the spot but as usual was involved in everything United did going forward. Where would they be without him?

Marcus Rashford (ST) – 6/10 – Electric on the ball but never quite clicked for him in front of goal. Always dangerous though.

Anthony Martial (ST) – 7/10 – Was pretty quiet but took his only chance with a fine header to score the opening goal.

Nemanja Matic (DM) – 6/10 – Came on and took over well in midfield. Completed every pass he attempted as United closed out the game and took all three points.

Daniel James (LW) – N/A

Axel Tuanzebe (CB) – N/A

ASTON VILLA

Emiliano Martinez (GK) – 8/10 – Made seven saves in total, including a stunning one to deny Fernandes’ effort at 2-1 down but could do nothing about either of the goals.

Matt Cash (RB) – 6/10 – Tried hard to attack but struggled to contain the Pogba-Shaw duo all night.

Tyrone Mings (CB) – 5/10 – Missed the clearance for United’s opener and then missed a big headed chance towards the end. Not his night.

Ezri Konsa (CB) – 5/10 – Dealt with the physicality of Martial well throughout the night, winning three out of four aerial duels.

Matt Targett (LB) – 6/10 – Caused Wan-Bissaka problems with his overlapping runs but his end product wasn’t with him.

Douglas Luiz (CM) – 6/10 – Defended well in midfield and his passing was very good throughout, completing 89% of his passes.

John McGinn (CM) – 6/10 – Villa had the better of the game in midfield for about 20 minutes in the first half but they faded as the game went on.

Jack Grealish (CAM) – 8/10 – The visitors’ best player once again. Got an assist and tried to create throughout, but couldn’t quite get them over the line.

Bertrand Traore (RW) – 6/10 – Scored the equaliser with his only real chance of the game but was relatively quiet for the rest of the night.

Anwar El-Ghazi (LW) – 5/10 – Struggled to make any sort of impact throughout the game as his scoring streak came to an end.

Ollie Watkins (ST) – 5/10 – Ran the channels well but never got the better of Bailly or Maguire, apart from one header that went wide.

Jacob Ramsey (RW) – 5/10

Keinan Davis (ST) – N/A