Goals come in many different forms. On the day, we scored three more that would each be praised on their own merit but put next to the fantastic team effort that led to Jack Wilshere opening the scoring, they simply cannot compare. Starting on the edge of our own 18 yard box, Flamini set the ball rolling as he played the ball the Wilshere. The move then gradually progressed down the left hand side through Gibbs and Cazorla as Jack kept pace

The lack of natural width proved a problem in the first half. Aside from Wilshere’s troubles, Aaron Ramsey was virtually anonymous before picking up a knock that eventually forced him off. Rosicky came on in his place but his advancing years and diminishing pace mean that he can not ‘stretch’ the game in the same way a more traditional wide player would be expected to.  The goal we conceded came in part from poor marking but also allowing Amanfiltano more time than was necessary to find Yacub with a ball into the box. It would be harsh to blame Ramsey for not getting tighter to stop the cross but I don’t think it’s at all unfair to think a more naturally inclined wide player would have shut that down better.

Arsenal ripped through Napoli with a devastating first half display not seen at the Emirates for a long, long time. The metranomic Özil was at the heart of everything; dictating the tempo as Arsenal’s passing game proved too much for Rafa Benitez’ team. Not content with simply controlling the game from the middle of the park, Özil proved his effectiveness in the final third too. 8 minutes in he opened his account in Arsenal colours with a glorious first-time left foot half volley from the edge of box following an Aaron Ramsey cutback. 6 minutes later he then drove into the penalty area from the right hand side to square the ball back to Olivier Giroud

Arsenal were struggling to get a proper foothold on the game in the opening exchanges, Gnabry was seemingly the only player showing any kind of endeavour as he attempted to drive at the Swans' back four in an attempt to make something happen. It was this determination that led to him opening the scoring as he drifted infield from his original wide right position and pretty much found himself in a striker's position. Having peeled off the shoulder of the last man, Gnabry found himself free to receive a Ramsey pass and with a confidence that belies his 18 years, drilled the ball past Vorm and into the bottom corner sending the travelling gooner

At the back, Per Mertesacker put in a man if the match display and somewhat reinforced the assertion by some that he is probably first choice in central defence at present. The German international manfully marshalled the backline against the Baggies’ attack, sitting deep when necessary and frequently using his height to great effect by winning a number of important defensive headers.
Thomas Vermaelen seemed to have a far more settled game along the big German. Certainly better than what we were used to seeing last season up until he was unceremoniously dropped from the team. He did at one point however, go flying in making an unnecessary challenge just outside the box and earn himself a needless booking. The kind he has almost

Ramsey continued his recent good form with the opening goal. From a purely non-objective, irrational fan point of view this one was probably the one that provided the most satisfaction simply because of the opposition. The stories about 'redemption' have and will be done to death but for Aaron Ramsey to score against Stoke of all teams given what happened in the past would suggest there might actually be some truth to all that Karma talk that Buddhists tell us about. Sometimes, in re

Özil's debut at Sunderland. Excitement levels were off the scale and we weren't to be disappointed as within 11 minutes, the Gelsenkirchen born midfielder took down a raking Gibbs pass on the left hand side of the penalty area and squared the ball to Olivier Giroud to open the scoring. Much has been made of his ridiculous assist numbers over the past five years so one suspects this maiden effort in an Arsenal shirt will be the first of many. He could have had a couple more on the day too had Theo Walcott decided to play football rather than whatever it was he was doing out there. Özil then had a hand the decisive third goal and apparently completed more passes in the attacking third

I often bemoan the brainfarts that individual players tend to suffer. According to Opta, if goals from individual errors were removed from the entire Premier League last season, Arsenal would have been champions. Maybe somebody told the players this on Sunday as what we saw was as disciplined a defensive display as we have for many a year. As discussed, Tottenham had much of the ball but couldn’t penetrate a backline marshalled admirably by the returning Laurent Koscielny. Anything that did sneak through was dealt with by Szczesny, but it wasn't just the defence that deserves praise.

You’d have to go back some way to find a domestic match where we played as well as this. The key to the success has to be the way the team was able to demonstrate its overwhelming superiority in midfield. Although, going up against Scott Parker and Steve Sidwell, I expect nothing less. While I’d still very much welcome a designated defensive midfielder, it cannot be denied how well the trio on Saturday worked together as a unit. Santi was at his metronomic best dictating the play and teasing Fulham like some sort of fleet-footed burlesque dancer.  The constant debate over whether he should be in the middle or coming in from wide areas is one I never really understood. When he plays like this, there are very few opposition players who could even get near him. And even if

The instability in front and behind the back four meant it was inevitable they would come a cropper. Not helped by those around him, Laurent Koscielny put in one of his worst performances in Arsenal colours. A true day to forget. When Agbonlahor made his run towards the Arsenal goal, Kos found himself in a state of panic rushing out to make a challenge. What followed was a feeble attempt to win the ball allowing the Villa striker to skip past and win his side a spot kick. It was the kind of ill-thought out decision to step out that Thomas Vermaelen is all too often (rightly) crucified for. The Frenchman's day got worse when he slid in to concede the second penalty. As I said above, I thought it was a 50-50 decision but when you go sliding in like that, at that angle, on somebody with that much more pace than you, you give the referee the opportunity to make that sort of decision. Put your hand on heart and tell me you wouldn't demand a spot kick if a Villa player went in like that on Giroud or Walcott at the other end