Brave Gunners Claw Themselves Back Into The Title Race

Liverpool's comeback plans were dealt a blow while Arsenal's were given a boost on Wednesday night as a resilient and battling Gunners side secured all three points at the Emirates with a 1-0 victory , thanks to a breath-taking performance in the 2nd half which would make you believe Arsene Wenger's throat would not have been less sore than what it was at the break at Anfield on December 13.

The victory becomes only sweeter for Wenger's side as Chelsea lost at Goodison Park and Manchester united dropped points away to Aston Villa , thus enabling the Gunners to gain vital points on their rivals .

In my previous article "Why the Gunners are the Favourites to Win the Premier League" , this was exactly what i tried to emphasise. And i'll say it again - Arsenal are better off because they've done their hard work in seeing off a tougher start to the season while Chelsea and United start theirs now.

You only have to look the fixture list of the three to understand my point.Arsenal have the easiest of run-ins and their next tough fixture , away to Spurs, is as far away as April 10.

Having said that , no team , especially at this stage of the season gives in , even to the top teams without making a real fight of it and this is where Arsenal will have to be cautious of not taking their foot off the gas.They cannot afford to cut anyone any slack from now on till the end of the season , and if the 2nd half performance against Liverpool is anything to by , then one can be sure they won't.

Players like Abou Diaby and Alex Song , who got much stick from the media and some Arsenal fans themselves , are now making the critics eat their words by providing the much needed steel and flow to the midfield and if Arsenal are to go all the way ,  it is vital that the treatment room at the Emirates remains unusually less crowded until the end of the season.

With the Champions League coming up ,  the pressure only increases. FC Porto can  prove to be more of a test than most would think and though one would not bet against Arsenal getting through to the next round over the two legs , a victory at Estádio do Dragão would maybe help reduce the pressure and up the confidence levels while going into the three Premier League games against Sunderland , Stoke City and Burnley.

Courage in adveristy is a phrase that the Gunners are quite familar with this season , having displayed it in making comebacks in more games than one.They might not have had to make a comeback yesterday night , but given the recent results , it definitely was no less of an adversity that they were facing . But Rising to it was needed and rise to it they did.