Arsenal Win 4-1 (over Norwich)

For spells of the game at the Emirates today, Arsenal looked very average. But surrounding those spells was some truly sublime football that showed they can play without any natural wingers and still dominate possession and create goals. Wilshere opened up the scoring in the 18^th minute with a wonderfully inventive exchange that started with Cazorla, who passes to Wilshere. He drove forward and passed to Giroud who clipped it back, Wilshere returned it with a back heel and then Giroud swung it back to Wilshere who coolly slotted home. It was his second goal in two and papered over some rather poor passing around that goal. In the 50^th minute, Giroud sent in a cross from the edge of the box on a counter and Ozil headed it in. But up 2-0 and maybe ready to cruise to victory, Norwich got back in it.

Jonny Howson finally made sustained Norwich pressure pay off with a well placed finish off of a poor clearance, with Gibbs failing to close in quickly enough. But sub Ramsey, on for Flamini in the 37’, took the ball from Wilshere, rounded two defenders, brought the ball back to his stronger foot and blasted it past Ruddy from close range; bring his impressive goal total to 9 for the young season. Arsenal made sure of things five minutes later (89’) when Bendtner spotted Ramsey across the box, sent it over and Ramsey assisted an easy tap in for Ozil. The final score might have been a bit flattering to a sometimes jaded Gunner performance, but it puts them two clear at the top of the league, and put eight points between them and Manchester United, who suffered a draw at home after giving up a late equalizer to an impressive Southampton side.

So can we talk of a Gunners title run yet? Arsenal still have to play Chelsea, Man City, Liverpool and Everton twice and must avoid the drop in form that has plagued them for a decade, but they certainly have the talent to give title favorites Chelsea and City pause. The back four is playing well in tandem, Flamini has become the great organizer in front and Ramsey and Ozil are playing like two of the top midfielders in the world. If Wilshere can continue to chip in with the occasional goal and Giroud gets back in scoring form (he is great around the box with his passing but needs to make more and better cuts), together with the return of Ox, Walcott and Podolski, who can argue against ending the eight-year trophy drought this year. The most exciting time to be a Gooner in several years.