This was a draw that felt more like a win and the home point, perhaps, may represent a solid base that could kick start West Ham's season, such was the impact felt in pulling back a two goal deficit from a strong Arsenal side who looked solidly in command until the final 15 minutes of the match.

It would be unfair to suggest that West Ham were outclassed by Arsenal until the latter stages; certainly in the first 15 minutes the Hammers had given as good as they got, but, once the home side were forced to chase the game after poor defensive errors, there is no doubt that the likelihood of a Hammers comeback looked extremely unlikely. I'm ashamed to admit at one stage that I was just hoping that the score finished 2-0 rather than it turning into a rout.

Credit then to Gianfranco Zola, who introduced Diamanti just before the hour and then Hines for the ineffective Franco shortly after to completely alter the course of the game. Although only a brilliant stop by Robert Green in injury time stopped Arsenal themselves staging a comeback, it still felt very much West Ham's game at the final whistle with Carlton Cole just being denied when clean through.

It all looked so different after 16 minutes though when a bright start by the home side was punctured when van Persie easily slotted home after a mess involving Green and Tomkins. I mentioned last week that it was errors by experienced players that were causing West Ham problems and it was certainly the case here, as Green should have easily made the Sagna cross his own, seeming not to shout to Tomkins as he collided with the Hammers defender allowing van Persie a chance he could barely miss.

As if that wasn't bad enough, following another period where Carlton Cole gave the Arsenal defence some other headaches while others - Noble was particularly at fault here - gave the ball away with impunity, Arsenal went further ahead when Gallas headed in a van Persie corner bundling ahead of a knotted group of West Ham players who should surely have cleared.

Two - nil down and looking dispirited as the half time whistle blew, it was difficult to see what West Ham had to offer bar the brilliant forward play of Cole who looked sadly short-handed up front playing alongside Franco making his debut. It's long been argued how difficult it is for newcomers to the Premier League to adapt to the speed of the English game and there was nothing on show here to suggest that the Mexican International is going to find it easy to slot in. And - yes! - I know it was me who argued that he should be playing last week (I don't get paid for making myself look like a wally!).

Fortunately, Arsenal seemed to take it easier after the break and seemed content to hold onto what they had and, while Arsene Wenger and the TV pundits may criticise the team for failing to kill the game off, it's difficult to see how they hadn't done all that was necessary to take all three points.

Then Zola made his substitution and the whole game changed. Hines was already causing the type of problems that Franco had failed to do, and it was the young striker who was hauled down unnecessarily by Diaby just minutes after heading down to allow Cole to shoot just over. Diamanti took a stunning free kick which the Arsenal keeper Mannone could only parry back into the danger area for Cole to stoop and head in.

Suddenly, West Ham were alive again and should have had a penalty when the excellent Parker was hauled down by Gallas. Perhaps that was on the referee's mind when Song was adjudged - correctly in my view - to have tripped Cole and a penalty was awarded. After a bit of argy-bargy with Mannone for which the Arse keeper was booked, Diamanti stepped up to slam the ball into the keeper's left hand corner and mayhem broke out at Upton Park.

There was still time for Green's late heroics and for Cole to be run wide and be dispossessed when clean through and for Parker to be ridiculously sent off when tackling back and falling on the ball - slow mo showed only a brush of ball on hand and could hardly be called deliberate - before the final whistle blew to a frenzied home crowd.

I keep repeating this fact but it is the end of October and West Ham have only played four home matches. If Zola can decide his best team and formation - and surely 4-4-2 with Diamanti and Hines in the side is the way to go - then there is plenty of life and skill in this club and, while injuries and squad depth are always going to play a part, this showed the team has strength and character and there are few sides in the bottom half likely to get anything from Arsenal when 2-0 down.

As I said, it feels like a win...