Arsenal welcome that all important feel-good factor

That’s a little more like it, Arsenal. Finally, a win and a vital three points to hopefully kickstart the Gunners already faltering Premier League campaign. A second-half tap-in for skipper Pierre-Emerick gave Arsenal a 1-0 win and lifted them off the bottom of the table.

Mikel Arteta’s side burst out of the blocks and looked a shadow of their previous performances this term as they dominated possession and pushed Norwich back for the opening 15 minutes of the game.

It was a sight for sore eyes as it was Arsenal’s strongest team so far this year: defenders Gabriel, Ben White, and Takehiro Tomiyasu all started for the first time together and looked solid and composed barring a few nervous moments.

Tomiyasu showed that he is going to be a serious player for Arteta’s team as he had a near faultless debut. It could have been spectacular had his volleyed effort in the first half found the net, but the Japanese international was a solid contributor having barely had chance to unpack his bags following international duty.

Arsenal welcome the return of that all important feel-good factor as Aubameyang scores the winner in 1-0 win over Norwich

Martin Odegaard was excellent in the middle for Arsenal. His constant pressing, ability to find pockets of space, demanding of possession, and driving runs forward were a highlight. Nicolas Pepe, meanwhile, looked a handful out wide and was a constant menace to the Norwich backline.

Gabriel and Ben White look like a complementary pairing in the heart of the defense as several times White’s quality on the ball was on show, releasing Pepe numerous times down the flank. As for Gabriel, he was solid on his return – including a superb late block – as it looks set in stone that these two will be Arteta’s first-choice pairing going forward.

Albert Sambi Lokonga is one player who has hit the ground running. It was another encouraging outing from the 21-year-old in the middle of the pitch, who showed Ainsley Maitland-Niles how to play central midfield. He did have a few errant passes during that dodgy first half spell but overall, he had another impressive outing and already looks to be at home at the club.

It is a win that Arsenal needed, and needed badly. Although it did take some time to get what ended up being the winning goal, the manner of it matters little. It wasn’t the prettiest strike Aubameyang will ever score, but at this point, we do not care. Nobody will.

All in all, it was a decent enough performance from Arsenal who didn’t especially flatter. However, more goals would have matched the 30 shots Arsenal recorded.

This instills some valuable confidence that has abandoned the players in these opening weeks. Some will point at the opposition, but you can only play who is in front of you.

The feel-good factor is back, for now, at the Emirates after an improved display and now the club must build on this when they travel to face Burnley next in the Premier League. Confidence was gained and the first-choice players had crucial bonding time together. That was essential.

Yes, it is only one win, but it’s a platform. It keeps the wolves at bay for another week. Arteta is not out of the woods just yet, but it is a promising start with his full complement of players back.