Victory at The Hawthorns moved Arsene Wenger's side above Chelsea into fourth spot and they trail third-placed Spurs by just one point with their two main rivals both in action ton Sunday.
Rosicky broke the deadlock at the Hawthorns with his first league goal of the campaign and then added a second early in the second period.
Star: Tomas Rosicky's double moved Arsenal above Chelsea into the top four
Arsenal were worthy winners despite the continued absence of injured duo Jack Wilshere and Theo Walcott and have the momentum - and no European distractions unlike their main competitors - entering the final phase of the season.West Brom midfielder James Morrison reduced the arrears from the penalty spot after Per Mertesacker was red carded for bringing down Shane Long but the Gunners held on to claim the three points.
Rosicky's overall contribution was impressive but there were also key performances from Santi Cazorla and skipper Mikel Arteta.
Albion only came to life after the introduction of substitute striker Romelu Lukaku and Mertesacker's red card but they are comfortably placed in mid-table.
Arsenal needed a goal-line clearance from Rosicky to prevent Albion taking the lead after 12 minutes. Chris Brunt's corner picked out Claudio Yacob's run to the near post and his glancing header beat Lukasz Fabianski only for Rosicky to head away.
The Gunners did not look convincing at the back and Long created an opening from himself after cutting inside but he failed to hit the target.
Opener: Rosicky headed Arsenal into the lead after 20 minutes at The Hawthorns
Arteta's long pass was seized upon by Gervinho who turned past Gareth McAuley before crossing for Rosicky who headed home at close range.But after 20 minutes Arsenal broke the deadlock through Rosicky's first Premier League goal of the campaign.
West Brom tried to retaliate and Fabianski went down at the foot of a post to smother a Chris Brunt free-kick.
But Arsenal were dominating the game and Gervinho extended Foster with a low shot on the turn.
Aaron Ramsey became the first player to be yellow carded for a challenge on the recalled Jerome Thomas and then Rosicky was booked for a late tackle on James Morrison.
Joy: Rosicky celebrates the opening goal with his team-mates
Ramsey should have doubled Arsenal's lead two minutes before half-time but he poked the ball wide of the far post after good play by Giroud and Cazorla.
The second half continued in the same vein and Foster blocked a shot from the overlapping Bacary Sagna after being teed up by Gervinho.
After 51 minutes Rosicky doubled Arsenal's lead with his second goal of the game.
Intervention: Rosicky cleared a header from a corner off the line with the score at 0-0
Challenge: Gervinho attempts a shot as Liam Ridgewell slides in
Ramsey's pass was volleyed by Rosicky with plenty of power and Foster was unable to hold the shot.
Rosicky was the first to react to the rebound and made no mistake from eight yards out.
Baggies boss Steve Clarke responded by bringing on strikers Lukaku and Markus Rosenberg in place of Graham Dorrans and Jerome Thomas respectively.
No 2: Rosicky fired past Ben Foster to double Arsenal's lead early in the second half
Koscielny was booked for bringing down Long but the Gunners were in control of the game and Lukaku's weak free-kick straight at Fabianski summed up Albion's performance.
There was a rare moment of danger for the Gunners when Fabianski blocked Brunt's near-post effort.
Albion were given a lifeline after 71 minutes when last defender Mertesacker was sent off for bringing down Long in the box and the resulting spot-kick was converted by Morrison.
Twist: Per Mertesacker was sent off by Howard Webb for a foul on Shane Long
Back in it: James Morrison smashed home the penalty to set up a nervy last 20 minutes for Arsenal
Wenger took off Gervinho and brought on Thomas Vermaelen to replace Mertesacker.
Albion came close to levelling was when McAuley headed just wide from a Brunt corner.
Lukaku curled a shot just wide and Long fired over the bar but Arsenal held on.
Tight: Arsene Wenger's side held off a late onslaught from Steve Clarke's men to claim all three points
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