What a difference a single game makes.

Prior to the game, I spoke about how our group was looking a little too tight for comfort. No team had a 100% record and as a result all 4 were still in the battle for the top 2. After game week 3, that picture has changed.

In a single game, we have gone from looking over our shoulder to being able to possibly qualify in 2-weeks time when we face Sevilla at home.

Winning that game will take us to 9 points. It will be mathematically impossible for Sevilla to overtake us. And then if Lens beat PSV in Eindhoven, the Dutch team will also be unable to finish above us.

Those results will see Arsenal on 9, Lens on 8 and Sevilla and PSV on 2.

Even if PSV beat Lens, you would still be very surprised if we fail to progress - both teams would have to beat The Arsenal in the final two-games to finish above us and win their game against Sevilla.

Last night was by no means a brilliant performance, but I will never moan about us winning away in Europe.

Whilst some commented on Martin Odegaard being subbed again (Arteta's Bergkamp?) and David Raya looking a little shakey, I would rather focus on the positives.

Takehiro Tomiyasu is back to his brilliant best, which is a huge plus for Arsenal.

The Japanese defender (and I will call him a defender rather than full back because he can play anywhere across the back line) was fantastic for us in his first season. Last year his level dropped as he bounced from one injury to the next.

Still only 24-years-old, I was baffled why some fans were saying "get rid" last summer. He is clearly a quality defender and gives us an option of being a bit more defensive.

For everything Oleksandr Zinchenko adds to us in possession, the Ukrainian can be a bit of a liability in defence; although much of this is due to the way he is asked to play resulting in him often being out of position if the opponents do a quick turnover.

Having Zinchenko and Tomiyasu gives us the option of being either attacking or defensive.

You can certainly see this weekend, against Sheffield United, Zinchenko being a better option. We will look to dominate play so Zinchenko provides us with that additional outlet.

But in those games where we might have to soak up a bit of pressure, or our opponents have a winger that hangs out high and wide regardless, Tomiyasu will become the better option.

Mikel Arteta has also shown that he is comfortable changing them in-game depending on the situation. We have often seen Tomiyasu coming on for Zinchenko in tight games that we are looking to hold on for in.

Considering both men have had their injury issues over the last 12 months, having them "job share" depending on the opponent is not a huge issue when we are facing a 50-game season.

Another man to step up constantly recent weeks is Declan Rice. He has been superb.

What he adds that Granit Xhaka did not is that ability to pick up the ball deep in his own half and run with it into space, releasing pressure.

When we are defending deep and opponents are over-committing, Rice can then exploit the space and turn defensive positions into attacking. In those situations last night, Xhaka would have either played the ball to no one in particular up field, or looked for a shorter pass that could have played the team into trouble.

In his time at the club, Rice has shown that he is a vastly superior "6" than he is an "8". It will be interesting to see once Thomas Partey is fit as to who Arteta picks to play further forward.

Like with Tomiyasu and Zinchenko, Arteta has an attacking and defensive option with the Rice / Havertz / Partey trio.

Those teams we look to dominate against, it will be Rice and Havertz. In those tricky away games, it will be Rice and Partey (or Jorginho if the Ghanian is out).

The good signings over the summer have given Arteta more options through their versatility and quality. We just need to keep taking it one game at the time...

On to Sheffield United at home!

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