Arsenal face test of confidence

The Gunners reside in the top four after Thierry Henry's stoppage-time winner at Sunderland earned their first three points on the road since December 21 despite the most turbulent of campaigns that still has a considerable course to run.

Consistency is now the key but that is something Arsenal have struggled with all season.

Injuries have not helped although that situation appears to be easing. Aside from Jack Wilshere's ankle issue, Arsenal's wounded are healing in time for the run-in.

Even Abou Diaby is supposedly nearing a return from his hamstring and ankle problems.

The chance to field a fully-fit back four is something denied to Wenger for almost all the campaign but there is no doubt Arsenal are resilient with Thomas Vermaelen at centre-back and Bacary Sagna on the right.

Laurent Koscielny has excelled at times this season, even on occasion during the full-back crisis that left Lee Dixon and Nigel Winterburn pondering the addition of their names to the returning cast of former Premier League greats.

Henry's departure will be a sad end to the positivity produced by a comeback king with a flavour for the dramatic but the emergence of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain can help maintain the momentum.

The 18-year-old has quickly become such an influence that talk of his involvement for England at Euro 2012 is realistic, if a touch premature.

His fearless performance in defeat to Manchester United was evidence of his rapidly developing maturity, while Blackburn felt his full force with a brace in Arsenal's 7-1 win.

Although Sunderland were tiring after their midweek FA Cup exertions, the Gunners showed character in recovering a 1-0 deficit with only 20 minutes remaining but the test of such quality will come in the next few weeks.

Chelsea's travails combined with Liverpool's complications involving Luis Suarez and Newcastle's drop to a more expected level have helped Arsenal in their recovery but the fixture list will now help identify the validity of their top four credentials.

With a two-legged Champions League tie against AC Milan and an FA Cup return to Sunderland also on the agenda, Arsenal face Tottenham at home, Liverpool away, Newcastle at home and then a resurgent Everton away in their next four League matches.

They must defend well. Only Bolton and Leeds have failed to score against Arsenal in 2012 while in attack all depends on Robin van Persie with Henry unable to provide a captivating sideshow once he returns to New York Red Bulls this week.

Wenger was fortunate Cameroon failed to qualify for the African Cup of Nations allowing Alex Song to remain with the squad but the impact of the tournament is yet to be determined on Marouane Chamakh and Gervinho, who missed a penalty in the Ivory Coast's final defeat last night.

Van Persie's link-up play with Theo Walcott is impressive but he needs help in the goalscoring department, with Gervinho facing a fight with Oxlade-Chamberlain for a left-wing spot.

Arsenal have their destiny in their own hands. They play four of the current top six at home in the run-in - including Chelsea - and their form at Emirates Stadium is encouraging.

But the fragility of their confidence is well known and it remains to be seen how long Wenger's smile will last.