Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger believes the supporters who failed to turn up to see his side beat West Bromwich Albion 2-0 on Thursday night should quickly return so they do not miss quality football.

The Emirates Stadium appeared to house a number of empty seats for the midweek Premier League fixture with the Baggies, suggesting that perhaps some of the Gunners faithful had opted to stay away in protest after another failed Premier League title tilt.

Wenger felt whoever did not show up missed a decent performance form his side but has urged them to swiftly come back and help the team get over the line in their quest to produce a top-four finish and ultimately Champions League football for next season.

"It's a special night, Thursday night, and I don't know if anyone is intelligent enough to detect exactly why everybody who did not turn up tonight did not turn up," Wenger said after Alexis Sanchez scored twice in the first half to see off the challenge of Albion.

"My message is to come and support the team. If you love football, you go out there: I think you will see quality football. That's what we try to give to our people.

"You look at the table you know that for us every point is important at the moment. We are under permanent pressure for everything again so it is important to have the lead early and focus on the way we want to play football.

"We want to finish as high as possible. You never know what will happen in front of you - there can still be twists and turns. We want to win our games.

"I don't know where we finish but we have to give absolutely everything in every game. We go to Sunderland (on Sunday), Sunderland fight not to go down. That will be a battle and we have to prepare for that."

Arsenal's 500th victory in the Premier League saw them return to third place on the table at the expense of Manchester City with four fixtures remaining in the season.