Last season at this time of the year, a home fixture like Arsenal v West Ham would have already been meaningless. Fortunately, thanks to late goals we're still in it. Alive and kicking. I'm never generally interested in what Alex Ferguson has to say, least in what he has to say about Arsenal, but this week he came out on the press saying repeatedly that he was more worried about Arsenal than about Chelsea. This might not really be what's in the head of the old bas***d, but I think this really shows that he has, at least for a second, considered us as real contenders to the title.

As already said many times by everyone, we're not having an easy run of matches, but considering who the other two teams have yet to face, it's blatantly evident that if we win every match till the end of the season, we'll be surely crowned champions. Man U and Chelsea are going to drop points (Man U face Liverpool at home on Sunday, then they still have Chelsea to play at home and Man City away). I saw Arsene Wenger's press conference 15 minutes ago and while he was questioned about Barcelona and this very tough tie we were given in Champions League, well, his answers were pretty much centred on the West Ham match, explaining how he applies his 'little by little' philosophy to every situation and to this one too of course.

In the last month or so, I've seen this kind of approach to things blossom in Arsenal communities over the web. There's belief in the air. Little by little, match by match, as we the fans, and the team too (and they showed this in Stoke) are growing in confidence. Every week till the end of the season, apart from Man City and Spurs for the obvious reasons, we're facing weaker teams. This does not mean easy matches. Every team we face has its own soft spot and its own motivations too. We've seen how Stoke and Hull made it difficult for us and we've been lucky to come out with six points. But this is the trademark of the winning teams.

West Ham made it difficult for us at Upton Park and it'd be unfair to say they stole two points from us there. It was our fault, we dropped two crucial points. They've got nothing to lose and everything to gain at the Grove; however methinks we're going into this match with a wholly different focus and maturity from what had at the Boleyn. For example, Nick Bendtner (oh I adore him) is a completely different striker and man now.

Little by little, starting from West Ham, we'll end up champions. Keep on believing.