Is This Really Happening?

Is it really happening?  Top of the League.  Ten wins in a row.  Six points and four goals on aggregate in the group stages of the Champions League.  Two of those goals are away.  And accomplishing all of this with what has been termed by everyone, including our manager, a thin squad.  It's magical. It's magical in a way that a small child goes to sleep dreaming of Santa and wakes up to a mound of presents.  Amazing.

We may have rued Higuain joining Napoli leaving us with only Giroud.  We moaned when Cabaye didn't appear and we didn't acquire Bender.  I have never loved being wrong about the season's prospects more than I am right now.  Elated doesn't come close to describing it.

Herr Ozil was again a revelation with scoring his first Arsenal goal on the bounce after Ramsey offered up a terrific cross from the right side.  Ramsey playing on the right a year ago would have made me bury my head into my hands.  This season's Rambo Ready is an entirely different animal.

Coming into this match, Giroud had gone three games without a goal.  His all around play was still impactful, but I must admit, there was a tinge of doubt way back in the dark recesses of my mind that wondered if his early goal scoring form was a fluke.  I am delighted to say he vanquished all sorts of dust bunnies and any other sort of creatures that inhabit dark recesses.  He not only took part in the set up play that gave rise to Mesut's goal (won the header, held up the ball, passed it to Ramsey), but added to his goal tally by putting away an Ozil assist.

And it's not just a couple of individual stand out stars that are making a difference.  Don't get me wrong, signing Ozil seems to have conferred upon our boys even more confidence and inspiration that they achieved at the end of last season.

But it's a team thing:

Great win lads!!! What a nice atmosphere at the Emirates!! Gran victoria y ambientazo en el Emitates! pic.twitter.com/6LGdYalPsN
— Mikel Arteta (@m8arteta) October 1, 2013

Just one more observation before I go.  Wenger solved the Arteta/Flamini rotation issue by playing them both.  Why not?  Flamini has the energy to break up play anywhere on the field, and according to Wenger, deal with Hamsik.  Arteta was on the pitch to read the game and keep possession of the ball - a stat that increased to 67% after previous percentages of only 59% and 48% at Swansea and West Brom respectfully.

So we are on to West Brom on the weekend where some rested players from tonight (gasp - we were able to rest players?) will probably make an appearance.  I'll be back with more euphoric Arsenal thoughts before then.

Such as - what are we going to do with Santi when he returns?

Nice to have that problem.  Have a good one Gooners.