With their backs firmly to the wall, Arsenal finally came out fighting. And if ever there was a man for a crisis, that man was Thierry Henry.

The inspirational Frenchman shrugged aside fitness worries to haul his side back from the brink of possible disaster against Liverpool to strike a hat-trick in an amazing comeback at Highbury.

Having seen their FA Cup and Champions League hopes evaporate into thin air over the preceding six days, Arsenal simply could not afford to allow their Premiership title campaign to drift away too.

However, as the half-time whistle blew at Highbury, they were trailing for the second time in the game to a Liverpool side intent on underlining their own claims for a Champions League finish.

Put simply, with Sami Hyypia and Michael Owen having been on target, Arsenal's entire season was now at stake but the Gunners grasped the enormity of the challenge facing them.

Most notably, Henry, who had already scored his side's first equaliser responded by seizing the game - and possibly the title race - by the scruff of the neck.

With just four minutes of the second-half gone, he threaded a through-ball to Fredrik Ljungberg and the Swede's lay-off was inch-perfect into the path of Robert Pires.

The French winger held off the attentions of Jamie Carragher before rolling his shot past Jerzy Dudek and the home side were back in business.

Indeed, just 70 seconds later they were ahead as Henry scored a goal of simply dazzling quality.

Given possession just inside the Liverpool half, he set off inexorably towards goal, holding off Dietmar Hamann and then weaving around Carragher before finishing with aplomb.

His third came with 12 minutes left, rounding off a move inspired by Dennis Bergkamp and, while the ball rather fortuitously rebounded off his chest, it was no more than the Frenchman deserved.

For rather than facing a particularly unwelcome 'treble' of three defeats in seven days, Arsenal were back with a vengeance and their lead in the title race had been extended to seven points.

They must still visit St James' Park on Easter Sunday, with their aching limbs pushed to breaking point, but their self-belief is now back. And how.

Given the setbacks of the past week, Arsenal had needed to steady themselves at the start but they were almost immediately under renewed pressure.

With just five minutes gone, Liverpool were ahead as Steven Gerrard met Harry Kewell's deep corner and directed the ball back across goal for Hyypia to turn into the net with a diving header.

It was a soft goal to concede, with the Arsenal defence rooted to the spot, and only the last-ditch intervention of Sol Campbell then prevented Owen racing clear onto John Arne Riise's long ball.

Just as Manchester United and Chelsea had done before them, Liverpool were closing Arsenal down in midfield as quickly as possible.

Gerard Houllier's side also threatened on the break with the same pace and precision normally shown by the Gunners.

Kewell's volley was deflected just wide and, from the ensuing corner, Hyypia was again allowed far too much space as this time he directed his header narrowly over the bar.

Keeper Dudek still had to produce an excellent reaction save to deny Ljungberg from a tight angle.

However, Jens Lehmann remained rooted to the spot as he allowed Owen to scamper onto a through-ball and the German was relieved to see the Liverpool striker's shot clear the crossbar.

Arsenal needed a lucky break and, with 14 minutes left before the break, they finally got it.

Referee Alan Wiley failed to penalise Gilberto for tangling with Hamann and Pires seized on the loose ball to send Henry bearing down on goal before burying his shot underneath Dudek's body.

The temperature thereafter rose appreciably, with Gerrard fortunate to escape a booking for a late tackle on Patrick Vieira.

However, the Liverpool captain then produced a through-ball of the highest quality to put Owen clear on goal and the England striker finished with aplomb after losing his marker, Sol Campbell.

The half-time interval gave Arsenal the chance to gather themselves and, within five minutes of the restart, they had hit back with their two-goal blast.

Now finally in the lead, Wenger's side started to impose themselves on the game and Henry came within inches of converting a free header.

No matter. It was not long before his hat-trick was achieved as Dudek saved his initial effort but the ball still rebounded into the empty net.

Henry had responded to a possible crisis as only he knows how - by stamping his class on the title race. The double and treble may be gone, but the single lives on.

Arsenal Lehmann, Lauren, Campbell, Toure, Cole, Ljungberg (Keown 90), Vieira, Silva, Pires (Edu 72), Bergkamp, Henry.

Subs Not Used: Reyes, Clichy, Shaaban.

Booked: Cole, Vieira, Lauren.

Goals: Henry 31, Pires 49, Henry 50, 78.

Liverpool Dudek, Carragher, Hyypia, Biscan, Riise, Diouf (Murphy 85), Hamann, Gerrard, Kewell, Heskey (Baros 66), Owen.

Subs Not Used: Henchoz, Cheyrou, Luzi Bernardi.

Booked: Diouf.

Goals: Hyypia 5, Owen 42.

Att: 38,119

Ref: A Wiley (Staffordshire).