If there is a man for a crisis right now, that man is Fredrik Ljungberg.

The marauding Swede came to Arsenal's rescue for the second time in four days to put them in pole position for the title as they combined character and sheer good fortune to beat West Ham at Highbury.

While Manchester United were stumbling in Europe against Bayer Leverkusen at Old Trafford, Arsenal were adding insult to injury by moving within just two victories of the domestic crown.

However, while Ljungberg is one Swede who cannot stop scoring after his brace against Ipswich, just how badly his team needed him on this occasion cannot be overestimated.

Arsene Wenger's team were indebted to a linesman's oversight in ruling out a first-half 'goal' by Frederic Kanoute even when the ball crossed the line before a desperate last-ditch clearance.

And they were struggling to make the all-important breakthrough when Ljungberg, watched by compatriot Sven-Goran Eriksson and his partner Nancy Dell'Olio, struck with just 13 minutes left.

Dennis Bergkamp was the calm creator, cutting inside from the right flank with his radar twitching for signs of a forward burst.

Ljungberg did not disappoint. Picking his moment to perfection, he stole into space and calmly clipped his first-time shot into the far corner.

Highbury erupted in relief and just three minutes later, with the pressure eased, it was 2-0 as Kanu struck a volley into the ground and past James from a cross by that man Ljungberg.

Victory was therefore achieved, but West Ham, with four wins and a draw from their previous five games, had deserved much better.

With Kanoute operating as a lone striker, the Hammers concentrated first of all on packing their midfield to disrupt Arsenal's supply lines.

Not that the Gunners' determined early advances were easily halted as Thierry Henry and Bergkamp both roamed with menace, while Ljungberg was twice superbly denied by David James.

However, once they had weathered the early storm, West Ham grew in confidence and began to pepper Arsenal with attacks on the break, exploiting Kanoute's pace up against veterans Tony Adams and Martin Keown.

The Frenchman's first effort was headed narrowly past the post from Trevor Sinclair's cross, his second was clipped just as close to the upright from Joe Cole's break and his third was over the top after a powerful solo burst.

Ljungberg's response was to redouble his efforts, clipping a shot on the turn just wide, but Arsenal were being forced to battle all the way.

Indeed, it was only the linesman's oversight that saved them when Henry's weak free-kick was cleared and, after Lauren had slipped, Kanoute glided past Adams as if he was not there Seaman proved no more of a barrier, but Cole cleared the ball in time to win the decision from the officials.

It was not quite as clear-cut as the similar decision which denied West Bromwich Albion victory at Rotherham and effectively cost Crewe their place in Division One.

However, it was clear enough.

Linesman Paul Carradine may have been unsighted by Ashley Cole's body as he slid in to clear Kanoute's shot supposedly off the line, but referee Steve Dunn was not.

Arsenal had nevertheless used up a huge slice of luck and were able to display a new sense of urgency after the break.

James' quick reactions denied Ray Parlour, while Henry was just inches wide with a curling free-kick and Kanu was duly brought on to replace Edu in search of a flash of inspiration.

Bergkamp teased the crossbar with a left-foot curler, while Cole and Adams joined the attacks with increasing frequency and Ian Pearce produced a superb headed clearance just as Henry was poised to pounce.

Tensions were rising by the minute. Suddenly, from a position of great strength, the title was in doubt.

Cue Ljungberg. Where Robert Pires left off when he was forced out of the season through injury, so the Swede, who will give England a major headache ahead of their World Cup clash, has now taken up the baton.

Lucky Arsenal? Perhaps. More like inspired Swede though.

Teams

Arsenal: Seaman, Lauren, Adams, Keown, Cole, Ljungberg (Dixon 90), Parlour, Vieira, Edu (Kanu 64), Bergkamp (Grimandi 81), Henry.

Subs Not Used: Jeffers, Wright.

Booked: Edu, Vieira.

Goals: Ljungberg 77, Kanu 80.

West Ham: James, Schemmel (Labant 17), Pearce, Dailly, Repka, Winterburn, Carrick, Lomas, Sinclair, Cole, Kanoute (Defoe 74).

Subs Not Used: Hislop, Potts, Garcia.

Booked: Carrick, Lomas.

Att: 38,038

Ref: S Dunn (Bristol).