BOSS Chris Hughton believes Albion could have beaten the Gunners – if they were firing more in attack.

He celebrated the “big relief” of staying in the Premier League with a glass of wine followed by a first away point in 12 tries against one of the top six with yesterday’s 1-1 draw against Arsenal at The Emirates.

The result wrecked Arsenal’s hopes of overhauling Hughton’s old club Spurs in the fight for a top four finish and Champions League qualification.

It also continued Albion’s more competitive record away to the Big Six this season after going close to also holding Tottenham last month.

Hughton declared: “Our level has definitely been better this season (versus the top six) than last season. I think we have been closer and more in games.

“The type of performance (at Arsenal) is the minimum you can get away with in these type of games. So I think we were due one.

“Probably where we are lacking at the moment, if we are firing a little bit more offensively, whether we would have deserved it or not I think it’s a game we could have won.”

Albion were at the team hotel in North London on Saturday night when arch rivals Crystal Palace secured their safety by winning at Cardiff and relegating the Welshmen.

Hughton, asked if he celebrated, said: “A glass of wine but we were all together. We had dinner at seven o’clock – I didn’t watch the game.

“Until that time I didn’t know the result, found out the score at that stage because there was still 15 to 20 minutes to go. The nice thing is we were all together as a team when we knew the final outcome, which of course was a big relief for us.”

Albion finish at home on Sunday to Manchester City, who will need to win to make sure of retaining the title at Liverpool’s expense providing they beat Leicester tonight to keep it in their own hands.