Arsenal Conclusion: Why The Boys in Red and White Have Finally Matured

Only the hopefuls would've expected to see the Arsenal team thrashing the now-near complete Manchester City side at their own turf, especially after City established themselves as a team who can beat the top sides with absolute ease. Examples of their prowess against top opposition can be found in their victories against the likes of Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool in the past couple of seasons.

Arsenal entered the game with many people considering them underdogs. They lacked their star striker in RVP, and they have had a poor run in form whenever they played against a top club. In fact, this was Arsenal's first win against a top club in 10 games, a record Arsenal fans are happy to have seen ended.

However, the stats have a habit of lying, simply being disguised by technicalities and misled truths.

During the last 10 encounters, Arsenal have faced Chelsea alone four times. Chelsea have won all four, and while winning is all that counts, it doesn't at all mean that the winner was the better team. Take another look at statistics and you'll see that Arsenal had possession, made more chances, and overall were the better team in terms of football.

Chelsea, however, emerged victorious because of luck, incorrect refereeing decisions, and, most importantly,  their ability to convert the chances they created for themselves with perfection (to be expected from a team with Chelsea's talents and experienced players). Arsenal might have created chances, but they certainly didn't create goals. So when a player like Koscielny wastes a header like he did against Chelsea, then you're asking to get punished.

Against the majority of the bigger teams, Arsenal were usually the better team (with the exception of the 1-3 loss to Manchester United at the Emirates Stadium where Almunia and Co. made Nani look like Pele), but still didn't have the big game mentality to churn up the winning performance. A good example of such is the FA cup final in 2005, where Arsenal were dominated by Manchester United throughout the game, yet still managed to win on penalties. The current side, unfortunately, doesn't have what it takes to defend for the full 90, let alone last until the penalty shootout.

Lately, however, Arsenal have suddenly carried a different aura amongst them. This vibe resonates back to the days when Adams and Viera were bestowed with the Arsenal shirt, allowing the present team to revert back to their physical ways. Indeed, they have their usual injuries, but when the team with the youngest squad in the league plays clean and refuses to be bullied by the likes of Chelsea, it is an obvious sign of progression.

The Gunners are finally maturing in terms of their style of play, not only in regards to their pretty football, but the ability to make comebacks against Blackburn and Birmingham, two of the biggest anti-football teams in the league is worth commending. Usually, when such teams lead against Arsenal, you'd expect the game to be pretty much over, but the 6-2 victory against Blackburn after coming from behind twice is a testament to how much progress Arsenal have made.

Wenger has been circumspect in regards to the current predicament at the Emirates Stadium. The Arsenal manager has finally started to consider the importance of the League Cup. While Walcott stated that some people call it the "Mickey Mouse Cup", he highlighted that winning a trophy has to start from somewhere. The real prize in the Carling Cup is not the trophy itself, but the motivation that will follow soon after.

The definitive proof that these boys have what it takes to win trophies this season are the last three victories against Manchester City, Newcastle United and West Ham United. These victories were not the typical Arsenal victories, but rather different in the sense that the Gunners are finally taking a page or two out of Chelsea's book.

Wenger himself stated the different things about his side in the last few matches. His team hasn't been conceding as many goals as they used too and the players are backing up each other, i.e. Denilson holding his ground so that Song can join the attack (which has resulted in the Cameroonian scoring three goals in the last three games).

All of this, coupled with the fact that the players have drastically improved, can only lead to good things. For example, Wilshere has been a major contributor for the first team and has started eight games in the EPL this season and featured in all three CL matches. Song has scored four goals so far this season, equalling the same number of goals in the last six seasons at Arsenal, while Djourou has returned from injuries and is finally reaching his potential. Djourou was even responsible for two goals Arsenal scored against Shakhtar in the Champions League. Perhaps the most shocking of all is the inexplicable transformation of the born-again Lukaz Fabianski, who has been the best keeper for Arsenal so far this season and appears to have his sights set on the number one spot permanently.

Things are finally starting to click at the Emirates Stadium, and Arsene Wenger's squad appears to be ready to go the distance. All that remains now is for Arsenal to finally win the trophies for which they have been yearning.

And with the current squad available, that possibility seems highly likely.