Arsenal close in on the greatest glory

Fulham 0 Arsenal 1: Arsenal's success this season has had even the most reasoned observers scurrying in search of fresh superlatives and yesterday the side's own manager ignored this relatively unimpressive performance to claim the greatest glory of them all: immortality.

This result guarantees that, for the second time in three years, Arsenal will end the Premiership season unbeaten away from home. That much, it seems, is nothing special. Now only the notional possibility of relegated Leicester winning at Highbury on Saturday stands between Arsenal and what Arsene Wenger insisted would be "real history", becoming the first side for 115 years to emerge unbeaten from a top-flight season. "Football-wise it means immortality," he said, "because I don't think it will ever be done again."

But the celebrations that have heralded every step Arsenal have taken towards their glorious destination have been quietened somewhat by recent indifferent form. Unbeaten they may remain, but after three successive draws this far from comprehensive victory sees them approaching the finish line with a stumble in their step.

Sometimes, however, they have needed a little help and yesterday they got it from Edwin Van der Sar, whose horrendous error in the ninth minute gifted victory to the champions.

Chris Coleman, lamenting his side's luck after a strong performance brought no reward and shattered their chances of a top-six finish, suggested that his opponents were some way from achieving the iconic status they desire. "They are a great team, and they have had a great year, but I do think that if they are going to start calling themselves immortal they've got to start winning back-to-back championships, and also the European Cup," he said.

While Arsenal's attack, led by Thierry Henry, has won most of the plaudits this season, it was their defence which was forced to excel here. And once again, it proved more than capable. This was their 15th clean sheet of the season, the eighth away from home and, but for a handful of efforts from distance, Fulham rarely threatened it despite all their attacking possession.

The level of defensive commitment which coursed through Wenger's team was proof enough of their desperation to avoid defeat. And it was that commitment which brought their goal as Jose Antonio Reyes, who rarely allowed any defender a moment's peace for the 71 minutes he was on the pitch, put pressure on Van der Sar from Alain Goma's back-pass. The Dutchman tried to go past the Arsenal forward but instead gifted possession and with it the easiest of open goals.

And so it was that Arsenal had settled the match before Fulham had even settled their midfield, which went through five incarnations before the game was finished. But rather than demoralising the home side, the breakthrough left them more motivated.

The Gunners needed assistance on the only subsequent occasion they threatened the home goal in the first half, as this time Junichi Inamoto came close to scoring an own goal in attempting to divert Ashley Cole's pull-back to safety.