Albion will look for more celebrations as Arsenal visit (Image: Richard Parkes)
Albion will look for more celebrations as Arsenal visit (Image: Richard Parkes)
After two goal-laden wins, Albion now face the real test.
I am sure I wrote something along these lines three weeks ago when they went to Chelsea having put eight goals past Aston Villa and Tromso.
It is even more the case now after scoring eight on the road at Coventry and Manchester United.
Champions and leaders Arsenal come to the Amex with a maximum 12 points from 12.
Is anyone else thinking the Seagulls should have the same tally?
Okay, it is possibly looking at it through blue and white lenses – or even 125th anniversary light blue, as the team will wear today.
They might have been more than 1-0 down before they came back to draw with Leeds.
Joao Pedro and Cole Palmer wasted glorious chances at Stamford Bridge.
But Albion had the chances to not only get back to 3-2 at one stage but to win in West London.
Just as they had a couple of moments which should have handed Leeds a defeat they would not have deserved.
Now comes Premier League highest scorers versus the best defence.
Just as it was when Chelsea went to the Emirates recently.
It is an occasion which demands the Seagulls produce their best performance of the season so far.
A great start would be to produce their best opening ten minutes of the season so far, which is a low bar.
It certainly demands the sort of atmosphere and noise that has been missing for periods of the two home league games so far.
That can be from the start of course, when the home side are attacking or look dangerous.
But also if we get into any of these scenarios such as the equaliser at Old Trafford when Albion's smothering, energetic press gets into full effect.
Albion have seven points from four games with one to go until the international break.
Ten from five would be a very handy two points per game.
Seven from five would be a modest haul as they then prepare for their most demanding period of the season.
Possibly their most demanding period of any season in what will by then be their first 125-and-a-bit years.
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Losing 4-3 at Chelsea did not feel too bad at the time.
It feels worse now.
We know Arsenal have the various qualities to sour the mood for home teams, as they showed away to a Sunderland side who played well and had great support last week.
We know it can all end in disappointment, frustration and even anger. That’s part of the game.
Maybe a ruthless Arsenal will exploit this team which defies much of the footballing logic many of us have built up over years and thought was right.
A team with teenage pillars at centre-back and centre-forward, another centre-back at left-back, no genuine flying wingers and a 35-year-old midfielder who is never rested.
Or maybe Fabian Hurzeler will come up with another clever, collective plan with the players and the characters to carry it out.
Albion should look forward to giving the Gunners their latest challenge with no fear and plenty of fire. And, afterwards, no regrets.
Because, after some eve-of-season concerns and misgivings, I’m not sure we fully know what this squad and coaching team can achieve just yet.