I was incredibly nervous at 5:30 yesterday, if offered I would have taken a draw right then and certainly no-one would have expected what followed.

6-1, incredible, we produced the usual scintillating and free-flowing attacking football for goals 1, 4, 5 and 6 with the two headers down largely to abysmal defending although both were excellent deliveries. However, this wasn't what impressed me most, as Arsenal fans we've spent the last 13 years spoiled and have almost come to expect this fine attacking football every week. What we haven't seen in the last couple of years is a bit of steel, being able to weather a bit of a storm and the ability to hang in there. This is something we did show yesterday, yes Everton were poor but at 1-0 up they played some good stuff, getting the ball to Pienaar, Baines, Hibbert and Osman and putting the ball into the box early. This time, we won virtually every header and as happens at least twice a season, when we didn't the importance of having a man on the line showed as Denilson cleared.

This impressive defending brings me to the second thing I was pleasantly surprised by. Yesterday, my family got a new television and it performed very well, seems very robust, although not as good and not as robust as another new TV yesterday, that being debutant Thomas Vermaelen. Many fans, my dad included have spent the past months despairing for a centre-back, usually Hangeland, to add some steel, win the ball and clear it, a no-nonsense defender and in his performance yesterday Vermaelen showed all that, as well as an excellent headed goal. He attacked every ball, made numerous key sliding challenges that were timed to perfection and won the ball in the air 9 times out of 10. Now, if he can replicate that performance throughout the season then why do we need another defender. There was one moment where Jo skipped round his tackle but Gallas was covering and dealt with it. I think they could be the perfect foils for each other, Vermaelen attacking and winning the ball, if he can't then Gallas is quicker and has the experience to cover in behind.

Let’s not get carried away, it was just one game and Everton were fairly poor but we were unexpectedly excellent against someone who finished 5th last season. There were also other causes for great optimism, despite my scepticism, as well as most other fans, about Bendtner's ability to play right wing or right forward. He was great, did fantastically well for the first goal (that was him at his best) and he did a lot of work for the team. The formation too, seemed to work to perfection.

Song as the holding man was magnificent, winning the ball well against top class players in Cahill and Fellaini and then distributing to Fabregas and Denilson. Those two seemed to flourish in their new roles, given the freedom to judge for themselves when to stay and when to go and Fabs running the show, picking up and playing the ball at will. Denilson started slowly, misplacing passes but what a goal and he looked comfortable in the same role as Fabs, he has always seemed naturally to be more creative than defensive.

The good problem for Wenger is that when Nasri returns does he drop an in-form Denilson just settling into a new position? And what of Rosicky, does he play central or on the wing? Then, when Walcott returns do you drop Bendtner? you can't drop Arshavin or Van Persie and what of Eduardo, does he have to settle for the bench each week?

Many questions to be answered but the most important one is can we challenge for the title? And on yesterday's evidence, the answer is, as the American President would no doubt tell you, Yes we can.