Just when it seemed West Ham might not have the legs for this kind of race, there came a burst of speed. Only a small one, but small will do. Small can be awfully big in games such as these.
And so, for now, they are looking good again. Not necessarily for the top four, because that always felt like a target rooted in the grandest strains of optimism, but top six? That would be a fine thing indeed, and for the time being they occupy fifth.
Time will tell what Arsenal can do with their three tough games in hand, but West Ham are digging in.