First things first - had this fixture list been slightly different and we been facing Arsenal ahead of their energy-sapping battles with Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool within a seven day period, things could have been very different.

But in a season when we've often moaned about the problems our own schedule has caused, despite only returning from the low countries on the previous Friday morning we had good reason to give thanks for the timing of this encounter.

It's long been our contention that it's entirely possible for a side to enjoy comparative success due to their fixtures being in a certain order and that arrangement coincides with dips in opposition form and desire, ie anyone who had to play us a few seasons ago when we went to Wembley for the Cup Final etc.

And it's a well-worn adage that you can only beat what's in front of you - and today Arsenal couldn't beat us, although they would plead tired legs and a sub -standard surface in mitigation.

Certainly the Gunners were there in body and some spirit, with big names sprinkled across the starting side and bench and a confident air amongst the visiting fans, who looked to have been well-received across the town and were in evidence with colours openly displayed in streets and bars pre-match.

But within a few minutes of the game beginning with good backing from both sets of supporters in the ground and millions clustered round TVs across the planet, it became clear that Arsenal hadn't settled into their usual imperious dictatorial style and that after our initial forward bursts, they failed to take the initiative and dictate the play as expected. 

That's not to say that they didn't cause us problems, especially when indulging in their party piece - the lightning counter-attack; but Wenger's boys didn't snap at our heels quite in the manner expected and seemed content to retain their shape and composure - playing within themselves I think it's called.

With Henry, Wiltord and Vieira all busy if not in match-winning form, United fans had reason to be thankful that for the second game in a row, at least one of our imports from across la Manche was interested in making his own mark and providing some sort of attacking threat down our left.

However it wasn't the £9.5m man from Reunion Island though, who has been inspired in previous games against the Gunners (rather too much last season when dismissed in the corresponding game), but instead the free transfer native of Lyon. Both players carried on where they left off in Eindhoven, with Robert changing wings early on, but struggling to make an impact and failing to serve up any of his potentially lethal dead ball situations.

Bernard by contrast tried to make a difference down the left from front to back and managed to get to that vital but under-used area of the byline (no longer an option seemingly on the right wing for us) on a couple of occasions, trying a shot that hit the side netting and earning a corner.

Robert eventually gave way to Viana, who once more played in his unfavoured left-sided role and barely had a chance to impress, not least because he only got 10 minutes and that coincided with a gradual retreat by his colleagues to ensure no late slip-ups; our full back positions at one point in the dying moments actually being occupied by Shearer and Speed respectively.

And if the French duo reprised their UEFA displays then so thankfully did Jenas, who grew in stature as the game went on and wasn't afraid to put his foot in against the big names in the opposition midfield - that's when he could get near them anyway....

Woodgate again impressed and looked more relaxed with O'Brien back alongside him, their joint display of a similar standard to that which denied van Nistelrooy and his mob a goal at Old Trafford in January. The former looks better and better as his fitness improves, while the latter does his thing with an undemonstrative fashion, when playing alongside Jonny boy anyway...

So, no goals scored, but none conceded either and Bellamy certainly felt that the SJP surface had downsized his contribution, while Shearer could once again justifiably point to the fact he never had a great deal to work with all afternoon and was pitted against some decent defenders.

Bottom line is though that although we don't have to play these lot every week as they stride towards a place in the history books, our squad has got no stronger since the start of the season and still we've navigated our way to the verge of a UEFA Cup final and a shout of fourth place in the league. If only we had a little more quality and consistency allied to the form we've started to run into at a handy time. 

At least though we have cut out the unforced errors that scarred our Highbury defeat back in October (and on numerous occasions since) - for that at least we should be grateful, or my liver should anyway.... 

Much media attention has been focussed on the final day meeting at Anfield between the two hotly-tipped fourth place rivals but in the wake of Aston Villa's win over Chelsea, the game next Sunday at Villa Park takes on an added significance with a three point return for either side giving them a massive boost at the expense of the other.

On a ground that we traditionally do well on, it's another so-called "cup final" to be quickly followed up by a real cup semi-final provided we haven't dropped our chips against PSV. A testing time then, but a damn sight better than playing out meaningless games while dreaming of beaches, bars and swimming pools. 

It's heartening that after sleepwalking through most of this season, we seem to have belatedly roused ourselves from our slumbers just in time to join the party - we just have to keep playing, keep singing and try to inspire each other on to greater efforts.  

PS - Lee Bowyer made a tackle that verged on being violent....and made a snarling face afterwards. Not only that; he was also sighted running into the opposition area with something approaching intent and also waving his arm looking for a pass. As Max Boyce said, I know....because I was there. 

There's hope yet.....