True test for new look Arsenal

After a solid start to the season with three clean sheets out of four games and an important 3 pts in the first game of the Champions League has created a buzz around the Arsenal faithfull. 

It is true that there are no easy games in the Premier League but Arsenal have not faced an opponent of this calibre, and should be a good indication of whether or not Arsenal can compete for titles.

The biggest difference in this Arsenal team from the last couple of seasons has to be the solidity of the defence. The back four aren't pushing up as much which always left plenty of space for opponents to run into. As well as the wingers tracking back to support the back line has created a very organized defense. All of this should be attributed to the work new assistant manager Steve Bould has been putting in on the training ground.

Manchester City has had a less than convincing start to the season with Southampton taking the lead at the Eastlands which forced them to make a hard fought comeback and giving up a 2 goal lead at the Bernabau with a few minutes remaining.

Samir Nasri and Sergio Aguero are a doubt to feature on Sunday but the reality is that their team has quality in abundance and whoever comes in will be no slouch. Whether it be Milner or Sinclair for Nasri, or Dzeko and Balotelli for Aguero.

In other news, Jack Wilshere is back in first team training! He's been training with the ball for the past few weeks but has only just joined back up with his team mates who are very excited to see him. Alex Oxlade Chamberlain said, "Good to have Jack back in training with us today looking as sharp as ever!" This is great news which will add world class ability to an already exciting midfield of Cazorla, Arteta and Diaby.

So to some up:

1)  The game at Eastlands should tell us where we are in terms of the top two teams in England (cause lets face it, Chelsea are pretenders not contenders).

2) Jack will be back in time for the winter crunch(which is crucial in the title race).

3) Jack is Back!!!

My Prediction: 0-2 to the Arsenal

COYG!

Santi Cazorla signs long-term contract

Arsenal.com has finally confirmed the worst kept secret of the transfer window, with Santiago Cazorla Gonzáles signing a long-term contract with the North London club. It is an undisclosed fee but is believed to be around £16.5 million.

The versatile attacking midfielder can play on either wing or in the hole behind the striker where he is at his best. He has pace, technique, vision, has an eye for goal, is a dead ball specialist and is two footed. He has Arsenal player written all over him.

It's safe to say that Arsenal fans expect big things from the 27 year old attacking midfielder and hope he can have more of a consistent impact on the team than the infamous Arshavin did. Although Arshavin started like a house on fire, it didn't last long and the fans turned on him. His lazy body language on the field frustrated fans even more.(which i can't see Cazorla doing)

Another reputable signing of this transfer window for Arsenal, which makes Arsenal's "lack of ambition" that RVP used to effictively hand in a transfer request, merely an excuse to get his last big move.

With Cazorla's £35 million buyout clause Wenger has come up with yet another bargain buy with whom the Spanish media speak very highly of. Due to Malaga's financial situation, they needed cash ASAP. Arsenal had cash reserves due to land sales from Highbury and allowed us to offer them cash upfront instead of payments over a number of years. Thus allowing Arsenal to knock the price down significantly. Typical Wenger.

The ball is effectively in RVP's court and personally, i think he will either sign for United or re-sign with us. Whatever he does, the club will survive and always be one of Europe's elite clubs.

Arsenals' 2012/13 Premier League Fixture list:

August

18 Sunderland (H)

25 Stoke (A)

September

1 Liverpool (A)

15 Southampton (H)

22 Man City (A)

29 Chelsea (H)

October

6 West Ham (A)

20 Norwich (A)

27 QPR (H)

November

3 Man Utd (A)

10 Fulham (H)

17 Tottenham (H)

24 Aston Villa (A)

28 Everton (A)

December

1 Swansea (H)

8 West Brom (H)

15 Reading (A)

22 Wigan (A)

26 West Ham (H)

29 Newcastle (H)

January

1 Southampton (A)

12 Man City (H)

19 Chelsea (A)

29 Liverpool (H)

February

2 Stoke (H)

9 Sunderland (A)

23 Aston Villa (H)

March

2 Tottenham (A)

9 Everton (H)

16 Swansea (A)

30 Reading (H)

April

6 West Brom (A)

13 Norwich (H)

20 Fulham (A)

27 Man Utd (H)

May

4 QPR (A)

12 Wigan (H)

19 Newcastle (A)