Matthew Upson claims the way West Ham fought back to earn a point against Arsenal shows just how much the players are willing to battle to the bitter end for manager Gianfranco Zola.

The Hammers remain deep in trouble in second from bottom of the Premier League, their only victory so far coming up at Wolves back on the opening day of the season.

However, Zola maintains he has seen enough in recent weeks to suggest the team can make progress.

If the efforts in recovering what - with 15 minutes to go and trailing 2-0 - looked already a lost cause against Arsenal are anything to go by, then the Hammers should have plenty of reasons to stay positive.

"Everyone is behind the manager," said Upson, captain on Sunday against his former club.

"We have been penalised for every mistake we have made this season, and it has cost us.

Upson, 30, has been in football long enough to know the score if results are not favourable.

"Criticism is going to come your way, especially as a manager, and I am sure he is used to dealing with it," he added.

"We will take the criticism on the chin, do something about it and come back in a positive way for him.

"I think we can take a lot of positive belief out of this.

"It was a display of spirit in the team, because we were down and out of it at half-time.

"No one expected us to get back in the game, but we hung in there and ground it out."

Once again some poor decisions at the back cost West Ham, first as Robert Green came to collect a cross but managed only to palm it straight to Robin van Prsie - before colliding with defender James Tomkins.

Then sloppy marking at a corner allowed William Gallas to head in Arsenal's second.

From there, a fifth successive league win for the Gunners looked nailed on.

The Hammers got a goal back via Carlton Cole and then levelled with a penalty from substitute Alessandro Diamanti - but only the quick reactions of the England goalkeeper during stoppage-time to block van Persie's close-range header saved the hosts from another morale-sapping defeat.

Upson praised the way his fellow World Cup hopeful Green has come through a testing period, which saw him sent off for England in Ukraine.

"It was really tough for him because he has waited a long time to get the England jersey. Then he came in and had a disappointment," said the defender.

"That is what tests you and asks questions about your character, but I think he has been answering them.

"Robert's head has not gone down. He is going to stick to what he has been doing and still has that goal of going to the World Cup and playing for England.

"I can see no reason why it is going to affect him - he needs to stay mentally strong and keep his form."

Even though Arsenal threw away the chance to close the gap on leaders Chelsea down to just three points, and with a game in hand, Upson believes his old club will be challenging for the title come May.

"It is tight at the top, but Arsenal are a world-class team with some fantastically talented players," said the man who won a championship medal at Highbury in 2001/2002 before joining Birmingham after a lack of regular first-team opportunities.

"They have got pace and ability all over the pitch, so I have got no doubt over their quality. They will be in contention."