Simply Bliss

Sign of a champion: To win extremely comfortably without even hitting top gear. That's exactly what Arsenal achieved this afternoon. A sheer masterclass set up our biggest win for months, and a largely overdue one at the Emirates, where we hadn't won since April. It's remarkable where we've come from since then, after a near-tumultuous summer once again, brightened up by the star signings that have meant the positivity levels are higher than we had ever expected.

As you may know, the international break is a real chore to sit through for me. And, even though my teams' victories helped me along the way (England and Cyprus got a win apiece), nothing beats the excitement of the Gooners playing on the weekend. A full 13 days after the Anfield heroics between then and now has been extremely difficult to endure, but that performance was the perfect medicine.

Ok, they gifted us two own goals but the way we cut them open was like the Arsenal of old. It looked like Southampton would have been the perfect team for Giroud to open his account against, especially with the charmed omens surrounding the fixture, but that was always unlikely once Wenger had opted for Gervinho in a more unfamiliar central role, nevertheless it was a role he seemed to excel in, and he showcased what a talent he is. At times, this guy could be unplayable.

I highlighted Gervinho as a player to shine before the season started (I realise, not on this blog, but trust me, he was first in my Fantasy League team), and it seems that finally, one of my predictions is starting to unfold. Oddly in the centre-forward role today as opposed to on the wing - where I think he's best - his running off the ball and poacher's instinct bagged him a brace today which was fully deserved. Obviously, he needed the silky service of Cazorla and the uncanny (and life-saving) inaccuracy of Aaron Ramsey to help but at the end of the day, he does his job, and does it well.

Super Santi strikes again

If I'm totally honest, there were some negatives from that game - and importantly - ones that need addressing. Firstly, Szczesny had a bad one. His catching and kicking were both pretty poor today. That said, I don't think that makes Mannone deserving of the No1 jersey, despite having two error-free games, but it's certainly worth thinking about. This was Szczesny's first game for a month and maybe he was over-eager to play, and every keeper has their bad days. Anyway, he's had less bad games than Mannone and Szczesny been the No1 for nearly 2 years, plus Jenkinson possibly got in his way and distracted him from his catch. However, it's still poor 'keeping, and we don't a repeat performance on Tuesday or Sunday.

Secondly, and probably most frustrating, was the period in the game where I thought (and I'm sure I'm not the only one) that Southampton could get back in this game. Leading 4-1 with half an hour to play, and suddenly we're restricted to clearing the ball away and allowing Southampton to come onto us and hit then them on the counter.If they scored during that period it could been very different. Call me a worrier, but since the 4-4 debacle, complacency paranoia is something that hits me during most games. And especially with a dodgy 'keeper between the sticks on the day, it makes it all the worse to bear.

To sum it all up, it was vintage-ish Arsenal. A consistent performance is yet to strike. Not forgetting, this is still an new, improving team. The Champions League starts this week, and the football season really starts to click into gear. And with City and Chelsea on the horizon, it's a great source to measure where we're headed this season. If we can get 7 points from the next 9 available, we can start to dream. Manchester better watch out.

Come On You Reds!