City, Scum, Villa & Pool dropped nine points between them so it was a good weekend with the gap to 4th place and below being further extended. Our team are beginning to believe in themselves a lot more now and when we can use such unlikely players as Eastmond and Merida as interchangeable cogs in a reasonably efficient engine room then things are really looking up.

Having eleven players out is unhelpful. But with Van Persie, Song, Nasri, Bendtner, Walcott, Denilson, Ramsey, Djourou, Eboue, Gibbs and even Senderos all being unavailable it can't be easy for a manager when faced with a tricky away game. That said there must be a really big buzz in the dressing room these days as Wenger's latest Arsenal squad steadily climb the ladder to heights many of them are unfamiliar with.

The likelihood of overtaking Chelsea may still be somewhat remote but only fools bet against a Wenger side on a decent run. Ferguson will certainly know enough to take us seriously and other teams on the European trail are already starting to crane their necks as we continue our climb up the table. Being seven points clear of City and Spurs, nine clear of Villa and ten clear of Liverpool is certainly not what football's pundits were expecting at this stage of the season, or maybe at any stage of the season.

There is of course a long, long way to go and our injuries have got to the stage that we're looking for instant form from players returning who haven't played for months. But the fact that so many fringe players are coming in and playing a part must bode well for squad morale. Certainly it makes it harder for Wenger to purchase any stopgaps. If we could believe in the squad like Wenger does life would be easier for everyone.

I suspect that Mr. Wenger will make a few changes on Wednesday, if for no other reason to keep as many as fresh as possible. I'm guessing starts for Clichy, Vela and maybe even Silvestre. I expect Diaby to start as the holding player alongside Cesc and Merida if Denilson can play no part, but for Eastmond who did well at the Reebok, or even Coquelin to have some part to play at some point on Wednesday.

Clichy is unlikely to play a full match and I'm expecting Eduardo to be on the bench, not a form thing, more an easing back slowly thing as three games in a week would be too much for him at this stage. Early goals are needed in order to rest some of the big names for games yet to come but Wednesday's match will be no easier than Sunday's. We mustn't take three points for granted, they still have to be earned.

(Ed’s note – A piece on the weekend game v Bolton by another Gooner writer – David Oudôt - can be read on Maxim’s Passions of the Prem page)