Jerome Thomas has claimed his vital goal in Saturday’s historic win at Arsenal was reward for the Albion coaches who supported him after his Emirates Stadium red card.

Thomas was sent off in the Carling Cup last season on his first return to the Arsenal, where he learned his trade as a youngster.

But the former Gunner exorcised the demons on Saturday by scoring a goal and creating one in a 3-2 success in the Premier League.

And the 27-year-old admitted the result was extra sweet.

He said: “It’s always nice to come back to your old club and get a win, but they always say the most important thing is to get three points and that was the case on Saturday.

“Funnily enough, I have played a lot better than that. But I always say that my job is to set up and score goals. That’s what I am on the pitch to do and as long as I do that I am happy.

“Last time there was hard. It was the first red card of my career, it was against my old club and that was disappointing.

“But I had to put it behind me, the gaffer showed faith in me to keep a cool head on Saturday and it worked out well.

“The players and staff forgave me once I apologised.

“There was not really a point to prove, you just want to do well in every game and there is always added incentive when you come back to your old club. But the lads did really well and we’re happy.”

“The Arsenal experience as a whole was great for me. I am grateful to Liam Brady and the best coach I have worked with in my career, Don Howe.

“He was the most influential man I have worked with, always encouraging me to play my game and always positive.

“You can’t put a price on the education I got there, which is why you can never be bitter when it’s time to move on.”

Saturday’s win was Albion’s first at Arsenal since 1987, when Derek Monaghan scored the only goal in a victory at Highbury.

But the former Baggies forward is delighted to lose his record to the latest result in the club’s dream start to the season.

He said: “If you’d have looked at the fixture list at the start of the season you would’ve been thinking ‘oh my God’ but it’s just been a dream start.

“I think it’s a fantastic confidence builder but I think the thing to recognise is not to get too over-confident because it’s a long, hard season.

“Although I’m very optimistic, you’ve still got to concentrate and turn up with the same attitude.

“All records have to go at some point and it was great to get three more points to give us a chance of staying in this league this time round.”