I took a delve back in time to the away game against Stoke City last season, a defeat that pretty much put the nail in the coffin of any lingering hopes that the team might be good enough to repeat the 2007-08 title challenge. Here’s a list of the players that started that game and yesterday’s:
Almunia, Sagna, Fabregas, Diaby.

These are those that were on duty at Stoke but did not start for various reasons at Molinex:
Toure, Silvestre, Clichy, Song, Denilson, Adebayor, Bendtner

Here are their replacements 12 months on:
Gallas, Vermaelen, Gibbs, Ramsey, Arshavin, Eduardo, Van Persie.

Now, given the way the game went against Wolves, you can more or less swap Song for Diaby as representing the difference in Arsenal a year on. That’s if you are doing a direct comparison, although the formation was 4-4-2 at this stage last season. But the team has been fundamentally improved by the addition of Arshavin and Vermaelen, the availability of the much-improved Gallas, the form of Van Persie and the jettisoning of Emmanuel Adebayor. And with hindsight, it appears the target of Gallas’ outburst that saw him stripped of the captaincy (and dropped against Stoke) was Adebayor rather than Van Persie.

The Arsenal dressing room seems to be a happier place these days, not least, I suspect, because all the players are pulling together and personal disharmony has been lessened by the sale of Adebayor and (if only because Gallas and he did not get on) Toure. Van Persie’s tale of Adebayor helping himself to the players’ boots and shirts after the final game of last season is very revelatory, as was the trip to Eastlands in September.

So an improvement in personnel and performance, although that threatened to prove in vain with the decision to rest Alex Song… a whole fortnight before the team will next take the field. What is Wenger worried about? Cameroon’s World Cup chances? Better for Arsenal if they were knocked out, although without looking it up, I assume they have already qualified for South Africa.

Anyway, he played Aaron Ramsey in the position, and although I won’t fault him individually, there is no question the side lacked cohesion without Song, which should worry the manager ahead of the number 17’s disappearance in January. However, the African Cup of Nations tournament seems to have been shortened in length. Assuming players are called up ten days before the finals, Song will be gone by New Year’s Day and – should Cameroon go all the way – play his final game for his national side on January 31st. In that time, Arsenal will face Everton and Man Utd at home, with trips to Bolton and Villa. All other games are domestic cup commitments.

Possibly the manager believes Denilson will be the player to fill the role. Yesterday he tried Ramsey. Maybe Wenger will bring a new face in. Whichever, Arsenal will have to perform better than they did for the first period of the game against Wolves. Whether or not the forced switch of Song for Diaby made the difference or the home team simply ran out of steam, I am not sure. All I know is that I was grateful that Song entered the fray with the game still goalless.

Now the good news. Arsenal then went on to outclass their opponents with the kind of football that we have become accustomed to. Including the consolation of a meaningless consolation goal for the vanquished opposition. But who cares if you are four to the good? Concentration will obviously slip, and better cheap goals are conceded under these circumstances.

Arsenal could have scored a lot more, but aside from their opener, those that were converted were delightful for different reasons, the third especially a thing of beauty. A lesson in how to use space on a football pitch. Not sure what Eduardo’s vest message was about, but it was good to see him start again. He needs games to get his sharpness back, although the penalty he wasn’t given early in the game was sadly, no surprise, even if he was brought down. That is the price he will pay for the media barrage and the subsequent UEFA charge after the Celtic incident.

Ramsey demonstrated how effective he is going forward and with Diaby possibly out for a spell, it will be interesting to see who the manager plays. The candidates would seem to be Ramsey or Nasri, although it won’t be long before Denilson is available again so there are some selection headaches, which is exactly how it should be.

Arsenal must continue to put away poor teams like Wolves, and ensure they take as many of the 60 points that are available from the teams that will finish in the bottom ten. Two were given up at West Ham recently, because the Gunners failed to kill a game they had as good as won. No repeat at Wolves, thankfully, and no ‘Olés’ from the visiting support at 2-0 up. Maybe lessons have been learned.

Now an international break and the hope that all the players return fit for the game against Sunderland on the 21st. The subsequent weekend sees the huge derby against Chelsea, which may prove significant come the season’s end. If Wenger can pick a strong eleven with none of the key names absent – the central defenders, Song, Fabregas, Arshavin and Van Persie – then it will be quite a game. Here’s hoping this afternoon’s four o’clock kick off ends with a point for either side, the best possible result for any watching Gooners.

Kevin Whitcher is the co-author of ‘Arsènal: the Making of a Modern Superclub’. The book can be bought by onlinegooner readers in paperback direct from the publishers with a £1 discount offer on the already discounted price. To take advantage of this offer, Click this link, select ‘buy now’, and on the next page you will have the opportunity to enter a promo code. Enter the word ‘gooner’ here and the amount is recalculated to £4.99. So, a £1 saving. Postage and packing (£2.49 in the UK) will be added before you complete your order.