Arsene made a selection change before kick off. Resting Jack Wilshere was not a shock given his recent injury history and bringing in Podolski seemed to be Arsene’s only real option but due to our shortage of players due to injury and current lack of new signings we started a midfield trio that hadn’t started before. Aaron Ramsey, Tomas Rosicky and Santi Cazorla are all excellent ball playing midfielder’s but could be seen to lack a bit of defensive quality, because of this Arsene tweaked the game plan. Although some may tell you that he never changes no matter what.

What a difference a week makes, or whatever cliche you wish to throw out there. More talented Arsenal teams of the past may have gone to Craven Cottage on a very wet afternoon, feeling the strains of Wednesday’s Champions League qualifier in their bodies and not bust a gut to get anything from the game.

Not this group and that is why I like this squad so much. We have a collection of players who all seem to be on the same page. All seem to have great characters and desire to do what is needed to win games.

Arsene made a selection change before kick off. Resting Jack Wilshere was not a shock given his recent injury history and bringing in Podolski seemed to be Arsene’s only real option but due to our shortage of players due to injury and current lack of new signings we started a midfield trio that hadn’t started before. Aaron Ramsey, Tomas Rosicky and Santi Cazorla are all excellent ball playing midfielder’s but could be seen to lack a bit of defensive quality. Because of this Arsene tweaked the game plan. Although some may tell you that he never changes no matter what.

Our team shape was compact when we didn’t have the ball and we defended in numbers, when we broke we did so with real purpose. It was a joy to watch.

Theo Walcott has a consistency about his game now that we have all been patiently waiting for since he arrived as a teenager. He is making all the correct decisions, passing at the right time, varying his game by coming inside instead of always trying to go outside his man, Theo was instrumental to our game yesterday and will be for the whole season.

Giroud has started the season very well and scored his third goal in three games when an Aaron Ramsey shot flicked off Giroud and into his path, Giroud trying to stretch and keep his balance to win the ball ahead of the goalkeeper looked like a Giraffe on ice until he reached the ball and his flick into the corner was very well executed. A better finish than it first looked.

Lukas Podolski slammed in our second goal following yet another high speed break away. Theo Walcott had his shot saved but the ball rolled out to the edge of the penalty area to where Podolski was motoring at speed to meet it. How he generated so much power in a side foot I’ll never know.

Like I’ve banged on about for ages now, we need to get Podolski in scoring positions because he will score goals. We don’t need Lukas on the half way line for 90 minutes, we need him edge of the box with the ball at his feet.

His second goal in the second half was the type of goal I had watched on his many YouTube compilations. Left edge of the box and striking across the keeper into the corner of the net. Oliver Giroud deserves praise for his Bergkamp-esque take down from a long Mertesacker pass which started the move.

Darren Bent came off the bench to tap in a consolation goal at the far post after good work from Berbatov. Carl Jenkinson had switched off and Bent’s record against us continues. But with three points in the bag, I don’t care one bit.

A 3-1 away victory completes a very good week for Arsene Wenger and his players.

There were many good performances all over the pitch. Kieran Gibbs put in a lot of work defending well but having to support the attack. Aaron Ramsey was given the man of the match award for yet another display of tireless running. I am absolutely loving his progress this season.

Szczesny kept us in the game at vital moments and seems to be continuing from his much improved performance in Turkey. Giroud also grabbed a vital goal and lead the line very well. Bacary Sagna was once again fantastic in the middle and as of now, I don’t see him as a player out of position, he is that good. The sample size may well be a little too small but if I had to make the choice tomorrow, Sagna would be ahead of Vermaelen in that position if it wasn’t for his need to play right back. Sagna is a natural defender, a real fighter. I really want to see how the Koscielny/Sagna partnership works but that is for another time.

For me though, one player stood head and shoulders above the rest. Santiago Cazorla González.

Fulham simply could not get near him, he was toying with them from start to finish. The way he shuffles the ball from right to left to get away from challenges is a joy to watch. His decision making is ridiculous, waiting for the right amount of time before giving the ball to a team mate, almost every single time.

I’d go as far as to say, it doesn’t matter what super quality player we get our hands on this window (please happen) that player will not be as talented as Santi. He is a joy to watch and I enjoyed having him back in the middle where he gets more touches of the ball. It will be interesting to see if Arsene continues with Podolski out wide after his brace. It works very well when playing counter attacking football but when you need to break down a team, especially at home I wonder if that balance is a little wrong. We will see I guess.

It is interesting to look at this squad and compare it to roughly this time last season. The combinations in our football are much more fluid now and you can see that the players all have an understanding where as it was very much a case of learning on the job. It is why it has been so important to keep our squad together.

After a horrendous start to the season we have had a very successful week of football. Now for us to complete the job on Tuesday to get into the Champions League proper and then bring in some additional quality and we’ll be good to go.

Well done the Arsenal.