Arsenal - 3 Birmingham - 0: In a week that could define Arsenal's season their dauntlessness had been called into question. This morning, though, there is something less discouraging for the champions about Chelsea's five-point Premiership lead.
Arsenal had frittered away a similar lead after Manchester United ended their 49-match unbeaten run in October. Their inability to wrap up qualification to the next phase of the Champions League means a strong Arsenal side will be needed for the visit tomorrow of Rosenborg.
Nonetheless this was the perfect introduction to an eight-day period in which their Champions League destiny will be decided and Chelsea will visit. This win seemed to imbue them with new dynamism and the Norwegian champions, in the throes of changing their manager and five weeks into their close season, should hold no fears for a reinvigorated Arsenal.
"There's been some pressure on us this week and there's no question that we've been feeling it," said Freddie Ljungberg. "Sometimes we talk about character too often but today we showed it a lot.
"A clear win gives us confidence for the week ahead. I'm really looking forward to it. That's what football is all about: these games you want to play in, when you really have to win.
"I like that little edge. Of course if we lose there will be problems but I don't see it that way. I feel good and the team is looking forward to qualifying in Europe and then getting three points off Chelsea."
There were clear signs to accompany Ljungberg's bold rhetoric. A first clean sheet in 14 matches came after Arsenal's manager Arsene Wenger dropped Jens Lehmann in favour of Manuel Almunia.
When Thierry Henry scored the first of his two goals with a delicate chip over Maik Taylor after racing clear of Mario Melchiot, Henry dropped the usual scowling celebration in favour of an ecstasy of badge-kissing.
Henry will captain his side in the absence of the suspended Patrick Vieira tomorrow and against Chelsea on Sunday, and the striker showed maturity in a first half in which Arsenal were repeatedly frustrated.
Again a visiting manager spread five across the midfield at Highbury and, with Robbie Savage harrying throughout, Arsenal's rhythm was disturbed. Finally they took the lead, not through flowing football but through the undiminished instinct of Robert Pires.
With Birmingham defenders dithering over the ball, the midfielder swept in a shot from the edge of the box.
Henry's second, a rare headed goal, took the striker's tally to 13 league goals this season and 16 in all, but he is not yet fully fit.
Like Sol Campbell, Henry began this season with an Achilles injury that he had carried over for an arduous 12 months. Even after Arsenal's early coronation as champions, Wenger continued to push his first 11 in his quest for an unprecedented unbeaten campaign.
Perhaps the knocks that might have required earlier rest and treatment caught up with Arsenal's players; "I always say that as long as I can walk I will try to run," Henry said. Now, though, it seems a fresher-looking side will rediscover their touch.
"I feel we did see us back to the real Arsenal," said Wenger after this match. "You could see how much we were frustrated with not getting points.
"The more the guys are winners, the more it plays a big part in their minds if they're not getting the points. They start to feel that something is not right and wonder what it is."
Wenger reportedly questioned it himself by speaking to each of his players individually about their performances last week. It appears to have worked but Arsenal remain five points behind a free-scoring Chelsea side who can also now boast a superior goal difference.
Wenger refuses to concede any ground to Chelsea, however, and threw down a challenge to their manager Jose Mourinho.
"We're only one third of the way through the season," said Wenger. "We've already seen so many things in this championship. The most important thing is to come back and work and not lose too much ground. And I certainly feel it's harder to win the first title."
