The five-match milestone: Arsenal move on from season opener in style

The season may only have recently started but assessing early progress, albeit with five games played, is worth it.

Looking back on the club over the last eight years is hard. But with the difficulties faced, for Wenger and the side any apparent  progress being made now should be taken little by little.

By this I feel the club's aims and goals should be short-term and assessments made in short intervals. We have seen sides go up and down in form, and despite fans being hopeful the side can keep things going the way they currently are, nobody would be foolish for thinking a dip could occur at any moment.

At least for now, the side appear to know each other and this comes from Wenger being able to maintain his starting players for the first time in years. Not that we need reminding but in the past top players in the likes of Vieira, Henry, Clichy, Nasri, Fabregas, and Van Perise have all left, questioning the sides abilities to challenge with the best. 

A poor start against Villa seems a long, long time ago

So in assessment of this early milestone, what has happened at Arsenal so far?

It began with the usual; fans (including myself) demanding for Wenger to spend what is demanded on world-class players. Nothing happened among all the media talk of Higuain, Suarez and Rooney and I saw the team struggle in their pre-season tournament against Napoli (2-2), before losing against Didier Drogba's Galatasary (1-2) at the Emirates Stadium.

Two players were brought in ahead of deadline day in unknown young striker Yaya Sanogo, and there was a welcome return for midfielder Mathieu Flamini. He's been a solid establishment in the Arsenal midfield behind Ramsey, and our attacking force while Arteta has been sidelined through injury.

Speaking of the midfield, Ramsey has been exceptional and few would have expected this of the 22-year-old Welshman following a disappointing season last time round. He has relished in his starting opportunities with goals spread out across the Champions League and Premier league. He currently has six goals to his name this season with three in the league - one behind Giroud, who leads the Premier League's top scorers alongside Aston Villa's Benteke - and there appears to be no stopping the former Cardiff player.

I mentioned Arsenal's poor displays in their pre-season tournament hosting Napoli and Galatasary and they certainly weren't up the opening game of the campaign at home to Aston Villa. They lost 3-1 that day, with some calling it probably the worst league display from Arsenal for some time. Of course the first game of the season is difficult for all teams, who go into the new football year fresh and on level terms, but that afternoon appears to have given Wenger's side the kick up the backside that they needed. Would we be on the high we are now if not?

And then Transfer Deadline Day happened. 

Arsenal's capture of Ozil has been compared to that of Dennis Bergkamp's.
He's become an instant hit, nicknamed the Wizard of Oz.

The capture of Mesut Ozil has been praised continuously. I mean, everyone knew of his abilities and world-class status, but he looks as though he has been playing in this Arsenal side for three years, yet along a few weeks. Lacking in muscle perhaps, but he has all the attributes of a real world-class playmaker and is doing what he does best, with three assists in two games already.

Former Gunner now-turned-coach, Steve Bould, took to helping the defence at the start of the 2012-13 season but I don't think it really clicked (and not that the media talk of a rift between Wenger and Bould would have helped). Something seems different this year however, despite there still being some vulnerabilities, but they are a much more organised side while defending more solidly as a team and this is encouraging.

The first of the two North London derby's is out of the way, with a win for Arsenal, assisting them in the current four game unbeaten run in the league. Add to that their Champions League wins over Fenerbache and Marseille bringing their total unbeaten streak to seven from a possible eight. The Gunners have also won their last ten away games on the bounce; a run which dates back to their 2-0 win against Bayern Munich in Germany in March.

We're five games in and Arsenal begin their League Cup campaign away to West Bromwich Albion (WBA) tomorrow night (25/09 - 8pm k/o GMT) before they travel to the South of Wales to play Swansea on Saturday night (5:30pm k/o GMT), enabling them to increase their unbeaten and away streaks.

All the players are doing well but I still wonder how they will fair against Manchester City or Chelsea. Manchester United have been iffy, but they are the might comeback kings, right? They always turn things around. Still, we shall see what happens when the fixtures come round and as the season progresses. 

Whatever may be around the corner, the fans and the players are jubilant with the form they find themselves in. Long may it continue, but let's assess that at the 10-match milestone.

The BBC's Premier League table can be viewed here.

...And he may well be smiling once again

Arsenal through to Champions League group stage

As expected, Arsenal have cruised into the group stages of the Champions League at the expense of Fenerbache, as Ramsey was on hand to score a double in their 2-0 win last night (5-0 aggregate).

Goals in either half by the Welshman, including a well taken placed volley from a Gibbs cross, showed levels of confidence in the midfielder, as he followed on from his display against Fulham.

The 5-0 aggregate scoreline ensures Arsenal have qualified for the Champions League for the sixteenth time under Wenger's reign, making it twelve wins out twelve via the qualifier play-offs.

The draw for the group stage will take place in Monaco tomorrow (Thursday) at 5:45pm local time (4:45pm GMT).

After the match, Wenger refused to discuss new signings but is aware playing in the Champions League is a defining factor in players decisions to join new clubs. But it is whether players believe they can win trophies, and not just simply participate with Europe's top teams, that will make them join a new club.

Arsenal remain linked with Angel Di Maria but Galatasary are being reported by Turkish media that a transfer fee for the winger has been agreed, and so Wenger will have to react quickly if he wants to make signatures, with only five days left before the window slams shut. The media have also linked Arsenal to Mesut Ozil who didn't appear happy with being substituted in Madrid's last match, but then that isn't a great reason to simply want a move. A world-class signing he would be nonetheless.

Furthermore, Juan Mata's father was in the stands last night against Fenerbache. The Chelsea midfielder is another reported unsettled player who may not feature in Jose Mourinho's plans at Stamford Bridge. Arsenal were interested in his signature in the summer Chelsea signed him, with Wenger refusing to offer a few more million pounds for him. Transfer talk is fun, so it will be interesting to see what, if anything, materialises over the coming days.

As for now, Arsenal look ahead to Sunday's clash in the North London derby against Tottenham who have won both of their Premier League games so far. Arsenal go into the match with three successive wins in their League and Play-off ties which makes for a great meeting. However, the inform Ramsey left the pitch slightly early last night, while Podolski appears to have pulled a hamstring and could be out for three weeks Wenger confirmed. Wilshere played all of the 90 minutes last night despite taking a knock to his ankle late on, and Wenger has already said he doesn't want to over-use the young English midfielder.

Arsenal v Spurs kicks off at 4pm (GMT) at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday September 1.

Ramsey celebrates with Sanogo, after scoring his second
goal in last night's match against Fenerbache (5-0 agg)