Arsenal Send Out Premier League Warning: But Beware Of High Expectation

Oh, what a start for the glorious Gunners as they contemptuously brushed aside the challenge of the team, who finished last season one place behind them, in their 6-1 rout of Everton earlier this evening.

It would seem churlish on such an auspicious occasion to sound any notes of caution, but an honest observer has a duty to take a step back, ignoring even his own soaring emotions, to sort out the forest from the trees.

Let's assess this performance.

Firstly, Arsenal showed much more grit and general solidity in the challenge than on similar occasions last season. They swapped the naivety of all out attack,(viz a viz last season's 4-4 draw at Tottenham) for an equally entertaining pop-about passing game that retained the basic shape of the team, whilst protecting the defence. 

Arsenal clinically picked off a totally out of sorts Everton side with ease and confidence, and were never really threatened even in the opening 25-minute sparring before Denilson's exquisite chip opened the scoring.

One swallow, however, does not a summer make, and there are downsides to this at first glance brilliant result.

Firstly, this freak performance, when everything went right for Arsenal may convince "Le professeur" that he doesn't need to bring in any more players before the transfer window closes in two and a half weeks time.

He does though.

The current squad is more than capable of overcoming the other contenders if Arsenal have an injury-free season. Given the amount of fixtures over the season, how likely is that? Arsene would do well to at least bring in Brede Hangeland at centre back, as cover and competition for Gallas and Vermaelen. These two controlled the aerial threat superbly today, but Hangeland would enable a rotation if necessary and offer protection against massive bombardments from the sky, such as that coming from Chelsea or other teams who feed off the second ball.  

Secondly,the fickle media who were writing Arsenal off in the last week, will on the basis of one result be revising the expectations. As Arsene Wenger pointed out 25 wins will make them contenders for the title. One win is merely a good start.

Each match is equally important and it will not be the case that every move, every week will have the Midas touch as was the case this evening. Championship winning is about grinding wins out on cold nights in February at unfriendly Ewood, or coming back against other big four contenders to salvage draws when games are slipping away.

If this incarnation of Arsenal can show they are capable of such resilience,who knows the Premiership may be heading to Ashburton Grove. But steady boys, it will need more than one win before Gooners can start dreaming of a fourth title under Wenger.

Nice start though.