Arsenal 2-0 West Ham: The Daily Mirror match report

Cesc Fabregas kept Arsenal in the title hunt – and then set his sights on a remarkable double.

Fabregas is convinced Arsenal can overcome his boyhood heroes Barcelona, Lionel Messi et al, after already upsetting the odds in the Premier League.

Gunners captain Fabregas coolly tucked away a late penalty as once again Arsenal had to dig deep and survive a major test of their nerve in this incredible title race.

Arsenal are supposed to have an easy run-in and yet they still seem intent on doing it the hard way. Last week they got the winner against Hull only in injury-time. This time they had to beat West Ham with 10 men.

Belgian centre-half Thomas Vermaelen was sent off before the break, keeper Manuel Almunia heroically saved the resulting penalty, West Ham came within a whisker of equalising, and yet Arsenal still took all three points.

And if anyone thinks Arsenal stand no chance against the might of Barcelona in the Champions League quarter-final, then think again. Arsenal simply do not know when to give up.

All the odds are stacked against Arsenal in their Champions League showdown with the reigning European champions.

But that is exactly the way Gunners seem to like it.

Now with seven games left in the Premier League title run-in and Barcelona next up in the Champions League, Fabregas says Arsenal are ready to come of age – and he firmly believes they can win both competitions.

The Spaniard said: “A lot of people said we would not make it. They thought we’d be in the position of Liverpool in terms of fighting for fourth spot this season.

“But I was definitely not one of those people. I have always said if I don’t believe I can win something, I wouldn’t play football. I play football to win and enjoy and that is what I am doing here.

“It is very exciting. We are going to play against the best team in Europe, probably in the world. The boys are really looking forward to it as it is another opportunity to play against a great team in a great stadium. It will be very exciting.

“But at the moment we have won nothing. In the League there are seven games and in the Champions League we have two games coming up. That is what you have to do if you want to be champions.”

Seeing off the reigning European champions may seem a huge task for Arsenal, but it would seem nothing is impossible for Wenger’s young Gunners.

Twice they seemed to have been dead and buried in the title race after defeats by rivals Chelsea but Arsenal simply never know when they are beaten.

They did not play particularly well against West Ham, but, crucially, the three points were theirs.

Arsenal stung West Ham with a brilliant opener from Brazilian midfielder Denilson in just the fifth minute but the visitors did not buckle and always posed a threat on the break.

It was on one of those counter-attacks that Guillermo Franco raced clear, clashed with Vermaelen, and went tumbling in the box. Referee Martin Atkinson had no hesitation in sending off Vermaelen and awarding a penalty.

Vermaelen, the kingpin of Arsenal’s back four this season, had just about made it down the tunnel when keeper Almunia made a magnificent save from Alessandro Diamanti’s 43rd-minute spot-kick.

Gunners survived a major scare when West Ham substitute Carlton Cole hit the post in the 78th minute, and then finally sealed victory.

Fabregas’s flick was handled by West Ham defender Matt Upson, referee Atkinson pointed to the spot, and the Arsenal captain buried the penalty in the bottom corner.

Another one down, seven to go.

Next up is a trip to Birmingham, where Arsenal blew the title two seasons ago. That day they crumbled under the strain.

Fast forward to this season and on-song Arsenal have spirit and mental strength in abundance...as that man Messi and his Barcelona all-stars are also about to discover.