How this Arsenal side came of age & why they can challenge for the title:

Despite a seemingly stuttering beginning to their season, Arsenal have risen to their hither to undreamt of potential. Having drawn their first two games, with their strikers misfiring, the Gunners have turned their fortunes around with quite dominant performances. They have held their own against a struggling but convincing Liverpool outfit, and the defending champions, Man City, and they tore apart Southampton, who had given both Manchester clubs a scare

The Gunners are looking confident again, they are dominating possession again, the slick one-two’s they were once famous for are back, and they are finding that pocket of space with depth touches once more. In Arteta, Carzola and Diaby, the Gunners have a midfield to match even the best in Europe. On the bench they have The Ox to call upon, a rejuvenated and inspired Ramsey. And Jack Wilshire is set to return soon. Wenger must have smelt this, as illustrated in his reluctance to hold on to Alex Song, and to replace him either.

Having lost their best player of last season, who has since gone on to score 5 in 5 for his Manchester side, Arsenal began the season with little to look forward to. And no one gave them a chance, with a predicted 4^th and/ 5^th finish.

But hell have they turned that around! Podolski is looking sharp, Carl Jenkinson who looks much stronger and confident than the player who showed up at old Trafford last season and received a red card for two bookable offenses in his team’s mauling by United, Ramsey is looking more confident and powerful, his bursting runs against City matching Yaya Toure’s pound for pound.

The Gunners do not look like they miss Wilshire or Sagna at all. Gibbs has replaced Clichy effortlessly, and even the wayward Gervinho, with his poor finishing is causing problems to defenses. Carzola may very well get into the Spain squad sooner than later, he outperformed Silva when the side’s met at the Etihad. And then there is Walcott, who hasn’t gotten much game time, but his potential is apparent.

This Arsenal team looks to have come of age, despite losing Nasri, Fabregas, RVP and Song. It is looking more and more of a complete unit. Their defense is solid, and all of sudden has depth, which we haven’t seen at the Emirates in ages, with Djourou at 4^th choice, Vermaelen fit and Mertesacker in form.

What is left is for Giroud to start finding the net, which I am sure he will, and very soon, and the Gunners for the first time since the early to mid-2000’s have a lineup that strikes fear into the minds of its opponents, a style of play which is easy on the eye and potent enough to tear apart even Europe’s big boys, and a manager with renewed confidence in his own ability and that of his team.

My bet is Arsenal will challenge for the title and major silverware may very well land at the Emirates this season. The only challenge for them becomes to avoid the end of season wobble, which they have become famous for.

What’s your take? Has this gunner’s side finally come of age? And has Wenger found the missing pieces of his jigsaw?

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