I’m not sure how many more of these key moments that go Arsenal’s way are going to happen before this season’s out, but they are certainly beginning to stack up. The late penalty at Stoke, the injury time winner at Hull and yesterday, Almunia’s penalty save once the team had been reduced to ten men. Ten days ahead of the Champions League quarter-final first leg against Barcelona, it has strange echoes of the spot kick Jens Lehmann saved in the 2006 semi-final v Villarreal. Then Guillermo Franco was only too delighted to hit the deck when Gael Clichy collided with him. For West Ham, the same player tripped himself up, yet convinced the linesman his fall was the result of a shove from Thomas Vermaelen. I haven’t checked yet whether Arsenal plan to appeal the red card, but it might be worth considering, given how minimal the contact was between the two players. Certainly, on watching later TV replays, there seemed nothing that would force the West Ham player to fall over. Anyway, justice was done. The penalty was placed in exactly the same spot as that taken four years ago by Villarreal’s Juan Riquelme, and the much beleaguered Almunia more than earned his wages for the afternoon with a similar save to that of Mad Jens.

If West Ham had scored, Arsenal would have faced a very uphill battle to win the game. They put together some great moves with eleven men, but it was a bitty half. Denilson’s early goal gave false hope that we might have a less stressful Saturday for a change. I was frankly astonished to see the Brazilian picked in front of Diaby, but his contribution in front of goal in recent matches has provided some mitigation for his apologists. And in fairness, he had a much better game this week. Perhaps this was partially due to West Ham being far less physical than many of those sides in the bottom half of the table, although what looked like a cynical challenge from Diamante on Bendtner’s ankle forced his subsequent early substitution and left a ten man team without a vital hold-up forward. I haven’t heard any further news about the injury, but it is vital for Arsenal’s season he does not miss out, as he has improved the team significantly since his return from a long absence.

Gianfranco Zola’s side are flirting with the relegation zone and whatever the circumstances, such sides must be beaten as a matter of course. The two points dropped at Upton Park earlier in the season might yet prove critical, but at least Arsenal ensured what should have been the formality of a home win did finish with that outcome taking them to the top of the league. It was an odd atmosphere in the stadium for much of the match. You wouldn’t have known you were watching a home side going for the title much of the time, although things did improve in the second half. I can’t remember Highbury seeming quite so mute under similar circumstances, and wonder if the acoustics at the new stadium work against the building of an atmosphere. On the rare occasions I have sat downstairs, it has seemed better, but noise doesn’t often transmit to the upper level and chants are rarely picked up. Things probably got better yesterday due to the adversity Arsenal faced on the pitch, but it may make a difference in the remaining home fixtures if the supporters could really get behind the team vocally, in the way that fans at away matches do.

Alex Song moved back to partner Sol Campbell after Vermaelen’s dismissal and had a fantastic game. If the Belgian’s ban is upheld, then I hope that Song remains in that position for the key visit to St Andrews next weekend. Every league match seems to be make or break at the moment, with so little margin for error, but the game at Birmingham is a huge psychological test as much as anything after what happened there in late February 2008. As if the team and its followers haven’t been through enough lately. The benefits of taking the necessary three points from that particular visit cannot be understated.

Diaby looked excellent when he entered the fray for Bendtner, a switch that forced Arshavin central. The Russian had little impact yesterday either wide or central, but that is the kind of player he is. Frankly, he seems less fit than his colleagues. I once described him as luxury we can afford, but only if the rest of the side compensates with workload. In that respect, Gael Clichy’s recent improvement has not be co-incidental in the momentum that has been established with Arshavin returned to starting on the left. Eboue had another fine game, both in defence and attack. With Denilson’s goal and Almunia’s save, it really does appear as if the boo boys are coming good. And with so many key players either injured or lacking full fitness, it’s those very boo boys that will carry the team over the line if Arsenal do win the title this season.

The Gunners have done fantastically well to drag themselves back into a three-horse race for the title, after twice looking nowhere near capable of matching their two rivals for the crown. But, it’s ultimately about winning more games than your opponents, and Arsenal have kept winning. Six in a row since defeat at away to Chelsea. Seven matches left. No-one’s talking about an easier run-in anymore after the last four games, which going by the league table, should have all been comfortable wins. It’s almost like a cup run now. It feels like one defeat – and unlike a cup, even a draw – and it’s over. The message to the team is simple. Win. Just win the next game, then repeat. One at a time. 88 points will surely be enough to win the league. Surely. Arsene Wenger ventured 82 points would be required to finish top midway through the season. I doubt he’d settle for that amount now.

As for European adventures, I’ll save that for another day. I hope the rest of your Sunday brings Gunners all they would wish for, specifically presents from Rafa Benitez and Sam Allardyce.