THE_magnificent Emirates Stadium was the venue for arguably the most important Premiership game of the season last Saturday.

A crowd of 61,000 in the ground and an estimated one billion watching around the world were expecting a classic encounter between the two best and most attacking teams in the division, namely Manchester United and Arsenal.

Whilst the quality of football did not live up to the highest billings the match was as engrossing as it was exciting and went some way to answer the most important question that was being asked prior to kick off - was this talented young precocious Arsenal side capable of sustaining a title challenge?. The answer, of course, is an emphatic yes.

It is now seven months and 25 league and cup games that Wenger's side remain unbeaten and this includes being without the now departed Henry for much of the closing stages last season. Built around Fabregas this team looks to have a spirit and resilience that will be essential as the competitions reach their final stages. The now familiar team huddle at the end of games confirms this.

Arsenal started the game off brightly with Hleb, Fabregas and Rosicky interchanging passes trying to unlock a solid defence marshalled by the ever more impressive Vidic. However, it was United who were creating the clearer chances and Arsenal were given warnings about Ronaldo finding space on the right and crossing low into the box - Giggs missing the best chance from this pattern of play.

Arsenal's best chance fell to Gallas but his close range header crashed in to Van De Sars' legs and safely out for a corner. But as the impatient drinkers headed off for a half time pint it was Ronaldo who found space again on the right and Rooney managed to get some contact on the ball in the six yard box which ultimately went in off Gallas to give United a precious half time lead. Ferguson could have hardly looked any more satisfied as he went off with his jubilant team.

Twenty minutes later those same impatient drinkers were rueing their tardiness as a fine Arsenal move eventually found the feet of Fabregas who calmly levelled the score within three minutes of the restart.

Why when tickets cost so much these fans persist on not wanting to get every last penny value is beyond me and is in effect an insult to those fans who can neither afford to attend or get tickets even if they could.

The London side then dominated proceedings for the next 15 with their passing regaining the crispness of previous weeks. Wenger, obviously believing he was on top decided to push home the advantage by taking off Eboue and bringing on Walcott.

Fergusson responded to this by bringing on Saha and Carrick and it was this change that eventually paid dividends.

Walcott was finding it difficult to find his way into the match and his defensive abilities do not match those of the defender from the Ivory Coast and so it proved in the 83 minute when a beautiful reverse pass by Saha found Evra whose cross was turned in by Ronaldo for what looked like a match winner.

However, this Arsenal team has a different mentality to last year's and never give up on any game so they pushed and pushed for the remaining 10 minutes.

Pressure was building but when Eduardo missed a good chance it looked like all their efforts were in vein. But that was foolish thinking as in the dying seconds a miss hit shot by Walcott found its way to Gallas who calmly volleyed the ball towards goal.

Van de Sar saved but confusion followed as Arsenal players screamed it had crossed the line but the Referee waved play on. Salvation though came from the Linesman who found the expertise and nerve to rule correctly it had gone over the line and the goal was awarded.

Cue hysterical celebrations in 95 per cent of the ground and 50 per cent of the dug outs!

Fergusson thought his team had thrown the game away and some would argue he was right, but in reality they did not deserve to win and a draw was the right result.

Wenger, meanwhile, praised his players for the second time in as many weeks coming from behind to grab a draw against two top sides.

So, where does this leave us regarding potential title winners? Not much further really except it confirms that it will probably be contested by these two sides until the end and the most crucial factor will probably be which of these teams can keep there first eleven the fittest.

Arsenal have Van Percie to come back into the side and if he can last the season then he just might be the deciding factor in what is a finely-balanced Premiership.