Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger admitted victory over Reading at the Emirates Stadium provided a welcome end to a difficult week.
The Gunners boss had seen the fall-out from the brawl at the Carling Cup final rob him of three players through suspension and captain Thierry Henry was also out injured.
But Wenger's makeshift side still had enough quality to secure a 2-1 win which closed the gap on third-placed Liverpool to a point.
Wenger said: "After the week we have had, it was very important for us to get the win.
"A bad result would have pushed us into a bit of a crisis, confidence-wise - but three points gets us into a good position in terms of qualifying for the Champions League [against PSV Eindhoven] and takes off some of the pressure."
A penalty from Gilberto and a fine individual effort from fellow Brazilian Julio Baptista settled matters in the second half.
Reading had a couple of half-chances, with former Gunner Steve Sidwell unable to hit the target.
However, they did pull a late goal back when Cesc Fabregas put the ball in his own net to set up a tense finale.
"When we were two up, it looked like we could have won by three or four but by the end it could easily have been 2-2," said Wenger.
"We became shaky and we missed every time on our counter-attacks."
The Arsenal manager added: "Reading are a correct side - they are one of the few teams who have come here and tried to play.
"They are very good passers, they are dangerous on set-pieces and in the top two or three in terms of their physical strength in the whole league."
Manchester United further strengthened their grip at the top of the table with a late 1-0 win at Anfield.
Wenger reflected: "It looks like it is their year and what is good for them is that their belief will be strengthened by their last two results."
The Arsenal manager must now regroup his squad and prepare for Wednesday's European tie, when they must overturn a 1-0 deficit, but will be boosted by the availability of Kolo Toure, Emmanuel Eboue and striker Emmanuel Adebayor - all serving three-match domestic bans.
Wenger said: "It is important we are relaxed against PSV and take our chances.
"We have to believe in what we do and play the football we can play. Hopefully that will be enough.
"They will be cautious, wait for us in their own half and hope we become impatient.
"We have to be dynamic and patient at the same time and that is not very easy, but I believe we can do it."
Royals boss Steve Coppell said: "The one thing you have to remember here is that Arsenal will have more possession than you. Ironically, the bolder you are, the greater chance you have of getting a hiding.
"A lot of teams have shown that if you are circumspect, the more chance you have of frustrating Arsenal and winning the game.
"Both their goals today came from our attacks and that more or less proves the theory.
"If we had really gone for it, we would have been hammered. I have no qualms about the way we played or set ourselves up."
The Reading manager accepted: "We are new kids on the block in this league and they are European Cup finalists, so it is not a level playing field.
"They are bigger and better than us and we can only aspire to be competitive. We have a long way to go."