After a slow start to the season for Arsenal it seems as if they are finally hitting their stride. New manager Unai Emery was dealt successive defeats early on, although that did come with the caveat that they had to face both Manchester City and Chelsea.
Since then the fixture computer has been a lot kinder to the Gunners and it has also meant that they have won their last three league outings in a row, a record they will be looking to extend to four when they play host to Everton on Sunday.
It is apparent that Arsenal do have something of a defensive deficiency as their soft underbelly continues to be exposed, however it seems as if they are prepared to attack their way out of trouble by making sure they score more than they concede.
A tactic that you can get away against so called lesser clubs, but also one that has seen them become unstuck when facing more tougher challenges and with that said it will be interesting to see what test Everton provide this weekend.
Their unbeaten start to the season came to an end last Sunday against a West Ham side who came into the game having not yet earned a point. That situation would be rectified come full time as the Hammers ran out easy 3-1 winners at Goodison Park.
Although Marco Silva’s men may have suffered their first defeat last week, they have only won once this season at the same time with a win over Southampton in the second weekend of the campaign being their only maximum points haul.
Much has been made of Arsenal’s defensive plight this season, but Everton displayed one of their own against West Ham as time and time again they were cut wide open by searching long balls that caused nightmares for their centre back pairing.
A pairing that consisted of Kurt Zouma and Mason Holgate, it is fair to say that they aren’t Everton’s first choice centre backs and it is also fair to say that they had a game to forget against West Ham as the likes of Marko Arnautovic and Andriy Yarmolemko were given far too much joy.
The good news though is that Everton can welcome back Brazilian forward Richarlison after he has sat out the last three club fixtures through suspension. The former Watford man has been sorely missed since getting sent off away at Bournemouth.
And talking of former Watford men, Marco Silva raised a few questions last weekend. One of those being the substitution of Morgan Schneiderlin just ninety seconds before half time, admittedly the French international was not having a good game but surely it could have waited a little longer.
Arsenal will be confident of continuing their progress up the table as what looks the best eleven has finally been worked out under their new manager. The early season blip is a long way behind them and they should make it four wins from four on Sunday.