As an Arsenal supporter, it is difficult to know what to think right now. On the one hand, this is a side that has won ten of its 11 matches this season.
On the other, it is a side struggling in the final third, one that is rueing the mistakes made in the transfer window over the summer.
Alas, since returning from the international break, they have bounced back from that disastrous 3-0 defeat to Brighton incredibly well. Over the last week, they have won by an aggregate scoreline of 6-1. That's not bad, is it?
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Yet, those scorelines don't paint a full picture. Against Nottingham Forest and Leeds, in particular, they found life tough.
The positives from Arsenal's win
Arsenal's depth was one of the main reasons they won the Premier League last season and it looks like it could be another huge reason for a sustained challenge in 2026/27.
A week ago, it was Bruno Guimaraes off the bench to score a lovely winner. This week it was another sub in the form of Noni Madueke.
On at half-time for a disappointing Eberechi Eze, Madueke was perhaps the liveliest of Arsenal's forwards and it said it all that with their only shot on target, they found the net.
Action Images via Reuters/Jason Cairnduff
Really, this is what Mikel Arteta's side are all about. They know they can keep things tight at the back. As a result, all it usually takes is one chance in front of goal. That's what it took on Sunday.
For Madueke, he will now hope this is the start of a vibrant run of form. A week ago against Leeds, he put in a really positive performance from the left but struggled when he returned to the right against Lille in midweek.
While the rest of the forward line needs to improve, Arteta would have been delighted with the defensive display, particularly that of summer signing Ezri Konsa.
The defender has been outstanding since arriving from Aston Villa and put in another exquisite performance against Forest. But for Konsa, it could have ended all square.
The centre-back showed remarkable recovery pace to hunt down Liam Delap in the dying embers to make what looked like a goal-saving challenge.
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The negatives from Arsenal's win
Over the summer, Arsenal let Leandro Trossard, Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Jesus leave on permanent deals. Ethan Nwaneri was also sent out on loan to Borussia Dortmund.
As a result, surely there were plenty of replacements on the way? Think again. Christos Tzolis was the only forward player to arrive and he is now injured. There's a surprise, right?
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Without the Greek, the Gunners have struggled for balance in the final third. Both Eze and Madueke have flattered to deceive at times but Eze is surely now on borrowed time at the Emirates. His performance levels in recent times, despite a first goal of the season versus Lille, have been unacceptable.
In every game he has started this season, it has been a struggle to watch, notably against Ipswich Town in the Carabao Cup, where, as Max Dowman ran riot, his elder colleague looked disinterested.
Eze has this nonchalance about him that looks great when he's performing well, but disastrous when he's not producing regularly. It was a trait the great Mesut Ozil had, but he obviously had an aura about him too.
Eze does not have that. Against Forest he was hooked at half-time without having a single shot or producing a key pass.
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At the end of the day, the England international is not a left winger. He was signed to provide additional competition in a more central area of the pitch. However, barring five goals against Tottenham Hotspur last season, the former Crystal Palace man has not set the world alight.
The changes Arteta must now make
Heading into Wednesday night's clash with Bayern Munich, it is abundantly clear that Madueke must start over Eze on the left of the attack.
Another change must also see Viktor Gyokeres come into the lineup for a rare start.
Action Images via Reuters/Jason Cairnduff
Why? Well, despite being entrusted as the leading centre-forward this term, Kai Havertz's performances have stooped to Eze's level.
For so long, it has felt that although the German may not be the man to score with immense regularity, he was a player who knitted everything together in the final third.
The German is such an intelligent player; his movement is clever and he holds the ball up exceptionally well. Yet, at the moment, he's arguably in one of the worst spells of his Arsenal career. He's now not found the net in his last six games for the Gunners and his display in Nottingham was perhaps his worst of the season to date.
The 27-year-old left the pitch after 66 minutes, having had just 23 touches of the ball, even fewer goalkeeper David Raya who had 41. He also had two off-target shots, did not produce a key pass for his teammates and won only three of his eight duels.
Havertz is a player who usually prides himself on winning duels, but even in that regard right now he is struggling.
Gyokeres is not everyone's cup of tea, but his cameo off the bench when he replaced his fellow striker was that of a man hungry to impress, hungry to grab his position back.
Action Images via Reuters/Jason Cairnduff
After scoring four goals in four games for Sweden over the international break, he's got his mojo back and now simply has to be given an extended run in the team.
The former Sporting centre-forward has long been viewed as something of a scapegoat since arriving but he did still finish last season as the club's top scorer with 21 goals. That has to be worth something now, with Arteta's men struggling in the final third.
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