The win, Arsenal's fourth this year while scoring 15 goals since ending 2006 with a demoralising defeat at Sheffield United, came despite the 13th minute loss of midfielder Gilberto, sent off at Ewood Park for a retaliatory hack at Blackburn's Robbie Savage.

Wales international Savage received a booking for sparking the incident.

Wenger felt Savage, too, should have been dismissed for his role in the affair although not even the imminent three-game suspension facing Gilberto could detract too much from the Frenchman's satisfaction at the manner of Arsenal's win here Saturday.

"It was a superb victory under very difficult circumstances," said Wenger. "We have a good mixture between quality, spirit, solidarity. That is why it is fantastic to watch, when you see that commitment, mixed with class and technique.

"At the beginning of the season I felt there were games away from home when we were not as committed as we are at the moment. I feel we have progressed well and improved.

"We have the right balance between what is needed in the Premiership and not losing our football, which is very important," he added after a victory that left the Gunners fourth in the table.

Kolo Toure, in the first half, and Thierry Henry, with a fabulous second half effort, guaranteed the victory although the loss of Gilberto, starting with next weekend's home clash against leaders Manchester United, was the one obvious negative.

"I felt if he sent Gilberto off, he should have sent Savage off as well," said Wenger of referee Rob Styles. "But the referee was very close to the action and decided to give Savage a yellow, which he deserved.

"With Gilberto, he applied the letter of the law which means red card for retaliation. I just think in the spirit of the game he should not have been sent off."

Henry also defended the Brazilian, saying: "That was never a sending-off, but you have to accept the decision of the referee.

"Gilberto is going to have to miss three games now. Is that fair? It is always the guy who reacts who gets punished but I don't think he deserved to get red and three games."

France striker Henry ultimately made sure Arsenal did not suffer for Gilberto's red card with a superb second goal which involved some fine inter-play with team-mate Cesc Fabregas.

"The timing of the pass and the run, it was a fantastic goal and it definitely killed the game in the heads of the Blackburn supporters because when you are leading 1-0 you only need one mistake to be 1-1," said Wenger.

After two cup wins at Liverpool earlier in the week, talk of a belated Arsenal challenge to Manchester United and Chelsea at the top of the Premiership does not now seem so far-fetched.

"I said a few weeks ago that at the moment the title does not look realistic," Wenger explained. "But what we promised was we will go step by step, game by game.

"We don't have the idea in our heads that we can win the title but against Manchester United, it is a good opportunity to reduce the distance a little bit," he added.

For Blackburn, the frustration of seeing a four-game winning streak come to an end was tempered by the knowledge that early season fears of a relegation fight had been all but banished.

"Everybody is disappointed," said Blackburn manager Mark Hughes, who saw his team lose 6-2 at Arsenal last month.

"But we have had a decent run of late. The only side that has been able to beat us has been Arsenal and, thankfully, we don't have to play them again this season - at least not in the Premiership!"