A horrible November evening with temperatures suited to monkeys of a metallic persuasion. Granted, not up north, but still inclement and the kind of occasion that would expose a team less than whole-hearted in their approach.

And it’s away trips like Reading that will cont at the season’s end. Matches a serious title contender should win. But saying it and doing it are two different things. Fortunately, the home side ended up making it easy for Arsenal. The decision to effectively play for the point meant the Gunners were able to play their football at leisure up til the final third and keep moving, keep on their toes. Even in the second half, the lack of belief from the home team, in fear of a hammering, meant that spells of pressure were isolated and the visitors continued to enjoy the majority of the possession.

It is hard to break down a team with ten men behind the ball, most of them within five yards of their own penalty area. But Arsenal continued prodding until the reward just before half time. The lack of width didn’t help, but it’s something that the fans have become accustomed to. However, with determined teams playing for a result, it’s a weakness in the armoury.

So the team return to the top of the Premier League tree with a game in hand over Manchester United. It’s too early to discount Chelsea or indeed Liverpool (still unbeaten – and if they finish the season that way they will surely be the champions). However, every dropped point from Arsenal’s principle trio of rivals can only be savoured. So Everton’s late equaliser after Chelsea had shown serious signs of recovery was fantastic news. And if United had not dropped so many points in the first couple of weeks of the season, they’d be difficult to catch.

Wenger’s job is to make sure the team keep their heads. Actually believe in the old cliché of taking each game as it comes and reflect on the position and the possibilities when there is no reason to fear. Alex Ferguson is trying to up the ante by claiming he has the best squad of players he has ever enjoyed at Old Trafford. He will look pretty stupid if Arsenal’s inexperienced pups then come and pip United to the title, but he’s relying on a response from his players when it comes to the business end of things, so he’s trying to get them in the mindset well ahead of that period. Wenger, in contrast, just concentrates on getting the job done game by game.

It’s November. So often a time of struggle for Arsenal under Wenger. Thanks to the international break, there is only one more domestic game before we can kiss goodbye to the month. And Wigan at home should not be a severe test, although games after the players have been away with their countries are often anything but straightforward. However, I think there was a clue to the manager’s confidence about that one in Cesc Fabregas’ booking last night. I swear blind he had been told to pick up a yellow card late in the game so he would miss a match the boss felt he could afford to. It was just such an unnecessary and uncharacteristic foul it defied any other explanation.

December will be a tough month although I am sure players will be rotated – especially for the two Cup matches against Steaua and Blackburn. Wenger would like to win the Champions League group, but the game that really determines that will be in Sevilla. If Arsenal get a result there, I’d expect a strong bench v Steaua, but some fringe players in the starting eleven. Unless of course Arsenal actually win in Spain in which case he can give the Carling Cup line-up a run out a week early before the visit to Ewood Park.

But it is the Premier League games that will dominate December. And there are some touch, tough fixtures ahead. In one month, trips to Villa, Newcastle, Middlesbrough, Portsmouth and Everton. Home matches against Chelsea and Spurs in the middle of that will be no formality. If Arsenal can somehow come out of December with their unbeaten League record intact, 2008 could be a very special year.