On paper, everything looks fairly promising for the season ahead. Seven points from three matches, three off the leaders with a game in hand. At the same stage last season Arsenal had two points from nine. So, the draws of a year ago are now wins and the defeats draws. If that keeps up, the team has every chance of winning the title.

Of course the defence on Saturday had a couple of significant alterations due to the withdrawal of Senderos and Sagna’s early Flamini-inflicted injury. Whether or not that excuses the excellent opportunities that Man City were allowed is open for debate. Gilberto looked anything but solid, although mitigation might be that he wasn’t supposed to be starting the match but get 20 minutes at the end. Arsenal’s right side was exposed more than once with Flamini, once moved there to cover for the team-mate he’d injured, looking anything but a right-back.

So things have to be tightened up or sides more clinical in front of goal will make Arsenal pay the price. It is to be hoped that Gilberto’s return to the centre might help in this regard, but if Senderos is out for any length of time, then it seems he’ll be at centre-back. He did not have the greatest of games there against PSV the last time Arsenal played European football at home, so the portents are not that encouraging for Wednesday evening and the visit of Sparta Prague. Still, at least the score is 2-0 to Arsenal there rather than 1-0 to the visitors. Arsenal just have to make sure they don’t concede first and they should be alright.

Going forward, it was the usual mix of poor decision-making and simple lack of making the most of shooting opportunities. The players have to have it drummed into their heads that if they just shoot at the goal enough times and get it on target, there will often be rebounds even if they do not see a way past the keeper from a particular angle. A shoot on sight policy will bring greater rewards than continually working the ball until the perfect opportunity arises. If the players expect a shot rather than a pass when the moment comes, those close enough will home in to pick up the scraps. I am not advocating abandoning the build-up play which has become the side’s trademark, only stating that once the ball gets within five yards of the penalty area, the first player that can see the goal should shoot unless a team-mate is in an obviously better position. Most times, passes made on the edge of the area do not improve the situation.

As for corners, the players might as well forget crossing the damned thing and work an opportunity to shoot by starting with a short corner. Wenger being a man of statistics must realise how futile corners are for his team. Arsenal are simply poor in the air so should forget this way of attempting to score for the most part.

There was an element of fortune to Saturday’s win because Manchester City could and maybe should have scored prior to the Gunners finally taking hold of the game and creating enough pressure to get the winner. And yet, which successful team does not get some breaks along the way? Manchester United certainly had a few last season, but didn’t get any when beaten in their derby game with City a week ago. The hope has to be that Arsenal use the results achieved so far as a springboard to get a run going. To instil belief in the younger players that not only can they play good football, but that they can get results.

In looking at many of these players, the mind goes back to February and the Carling Cup Final. Arsenal were rampant initially and certainly the dominant side for the first 60 minutes. The game could have been sewn up if just some of the opportunities had been taken, ending with Diaby’s gilt-edged chance after the interval. Chelsea did not get as many chances as their opponents, but they didn’t need many. They had a clinical forward.

With Arsenal’s defence looking like it will always allow chances, the team need to get more clinical at the other end. Whether Arsene Wenger has the players capable of being just that or needs to buy before the week’s out is a moot point. One thing’s undeniable though. The manager can afford to buy, so if no-one comes in and things go the way of the past two seasons in the league, he has no-one to blame but himself. And if the chequebook stays under wraps, he is making one huge leap of faith. And if Arsenal are to succeed this season, based upon the Premier League performances so far, it will indeed be on a wing and a prayer.