Serge Gnabry started the game in pragmatic style as he did against Stoke but just before the half time whistle, he zoomed up the gears and drove at the heart of the Swansea defence in his bustling style of his, he had the awareness to slip the ball to Giroud who was clean through but the Frenchman

Yet another away victory for the Arsenal in what turned out to be an almost perfect weekend if not perfect. As we had the late kick off we got to see all our rivals do pretty much as we wanted. Tottenham and Chelsea drew whilst Manchester United and Manchester City both lost games that they would have been expected to win against West Brom and Aston Villa respectively.

The pressure turned to Arsenal at 5.30pm GMT in what was on paper our most difficult fixture of our pretty impressive season so far. Swansea at the Liberty Stadium.

It was a non eventful first half, no shots on target but looking back at it today, it should fill you with pride and excitement. A dour first half with no clear cut chances isn’t always a negative.

Rewind back a few seasons ago, we had a slightly makeshift look about our defence I think. We pushed forward trying to force the issue as we always did, both full backs streaming forward and we left holes that were punished. If we didn’t score early in games we would usually be chasing the game.

Today we are smarter, we are more disciplined and calculated.

Playing away at Swansea demands a high level of concentration, they pass and move so quickly that switching off at any moment can result in them carving you apart. Swansea rarely did that to our defence, a defence that is still painted as not up to it. I think some people are stuck in 2011.

Serge Gnabry started the game in pragmatic style as he did against Stoke but just before the half time whistle, he zoomed up the gears and drove at the heart of the Swansea defence in that bustling style of his, he had the awareness to slip the ball to Giroud who was clean through but the Frenchman dragged his shot wide when he really should have scored.

It was also interesting to see us trying to press Swansea early on high up the pitch. Flamini often the furthest player forward trying to put pressure on the Swansea back four. Arsene switched this because it wasn’t working and the home side are fantastic at playing their way out.

We stopped pressing in the second half and played a more counter attacking style game, an approach that has served us well this season.

Both of our goals were wonderfully worked, quick one touch triangles ended up with the ball at Giroud’s feet but a Swansea player had nudged it away, Ramsey was on hand to pick up the pieces and flicked a first time reverse pass to Gnabry who had strayed offside but had the presence of mind to take a step back to stay onside then gather the ball and Theo Walcott style hit a cross shot into the corner. A typical Theo Walcott finish. But I love that an 18 year old in that moment of the game instinctively got himself back onside. Experienced players like Emmanuel Adebayor cannot grasp such things.

You can see that Serge Gnabry is gaining more and more confidence in himself and should he stay in the team then you can see that cannon of a shot coming into effect. I don’t think he will stay in the team though but at least he has shown that he can be trusted if called upon. One more point on the young German if I may. His defensive work *stands and applauds* is just remarkable.

His defensive work is almost like when Arsene sticks on Monreal ahead of Gibbs late in the game. He his aware and doesn’t fail to track his runner. Senior speedy wide forwards, take note.

The goal of the game for me has to be Aaron ‘score when he wants’ Ramsey. His flick around the corner, Wilshere’s commitment in the tackle, Giroud’s unbelievable awareness, especially for a player who had missed such a big chance in the first half and then Ramsey’s composure to check on himself, dance around the Swansea defender and rifle the ball high past the keeper. Wow.

We are still in September and the boy Ramsey is almost in double figures. Is it ridiculous to think that Ramsey could score 20 Premier League goals this season?

A goal last week against Stoke and then against Swansea. It is going all rather swimmingly for Ramsey who could well be our most important player at this stage.

Swansea City brought Bony on from the bench who won an awful lot in the air and caused us a few problems. It was his dink over Mertesacker that set up the Swansea fight back but we are now very comfortable in our defending. I am loving the Mertesacker one leg stick out, halting all around him and then him striding out. Given that he is are regular and simply has to play, I think he should keep the captains armband.

Szczesny deserves huge praise for his performance and recent form. Almost as if David Seaman has been sneaking into our training sessions. Szczesny is now catching everything the way that big Dave used to. He did that so well at the end when crosses were coming in. He used to punch far more but now he is taking the sting out of opposition attacks. Top display by him.

Another three points away from home puts us back on top.

I am trying to remain calm as there is an awful long way to go so being top in September means nothing but here is why I am excited. Our form goes back to March when we lost a game to Tottenham that we really should not have lost. We were the better team before our defence gave up two stupid goals.

Something happened after that, a new direction had been taken and I wouldn’t be surprised if Bould and Wenger had worked through this together.

We talk about players needing time to gel and work together, I wonder if this was the case with Arsene and his then new assistant manager. Perhaps the two approaches have finally found the middle ground. Maybe we should thank Tottenham once more for improving us as a team and potentially making us title challengers.

You want to know what else excites me? I mean other than Kelly Brook? well many have said that we lack squad depth. I ask the following..

We are at a weak point with so many players out yet we’ve won all our games since our defeat to Aston Villa. The truly exciting part is that Cazorla, Rosicky, Sanogo & Podolski are nearing a return.

Then we have Chamberlain and Diaby to return later in the season.

Well done to Arsene, Bould, the players and all involved. Long may it continue.