Can Arsenal clinch a Champions League spot this season?

I ask that question at the start of the season when it looked unlikely that the Gunners would get near the top of the Premier League table.

However they have enjoyed a good recent run of form and are now looking in good shape.

Form

Arsenals form has seen them pick up seven wins from the last eight games.

If they can keep up this sort of form then they will be in with a big chance of finishing in the Champions League positions. Confidence is flowing through the team at the moment and that’s vital.

That confidence was missing in the first few weeks of the season. All the negative publicity surrounding the club seemed to spread to the players. And it seemed that the players started believing the negative publicity and just failed to perform.

However now they are pass that negatively the Gunners are looking like a decent football team again. Playing decent football with a slight swagger.

Flying

Striker Robin Van Persie was once again the hero for Arsenal as they defeated Norwich 2-1 at Carrow Road. The Dutchman scored a brace and was involved in everything that was good about Arsenal’s play in yesterday’s game.

Van Persie is really showing his class and leadership abilities this season. He is leading by example and giving his teammates the confidence they need. You would however fear for Arsenal if the Dutchman picked up an injury.

It would be hard to see where the goals would come from despite the increase in form. Let’s hope for Arsenal’s sake that Van Persie stays fit and healthy.

Defence

The Arsenal defence have looked slightly more solid than in previous weeks but there are still big question marks over the Gunners backline. The return of Thomas Vermaelen has definitely helped Arsenal gain a more solid look.

However it’s his centre-back partner Per Mertesacker that is a worry for me. I had always thought he was a decent centre-back but he has looked very shaky in the first few months of his Arsenal career. I feel the German international always has a mistake in him.

This was illustrated by Steve Morison’s goal for Norwich against the Gunners. The Welshman didn’t exactly have to strong-arm the German to take the ball from him. The giant defender has to improve or Arsenal will again be looking for a new centre-back.

Brazilian full-back Andre Santos worries me less. He is something of a free spirit and that really is what you expect from a Brazilian full-back. Santos is not great at defending but is really good going forward. If he just works on his defending slightly I think Santos will prove to be a decent buy.

Maestro

Spanish midfield maestro Mikel Arteta has settled into the Arsenal midfield like he has been there his whole career. The 29 year-old had became stale at Everton and it seems the player has had a new lease of life at the Emirates Stadium.

Arsenal like to play football and that very much fits in with Arteta’s style of play. Maybe now Arteta can find the form which deserted him for the last few years of his Everton career.

Morale

You get the feeling that morale is now sky high amongst the players at Arsenal. The team is now more settled and is winning. Winning always helps to improve morale and it needed improving after the terrible start to the season the Gunners had.

Realistic

Not even the most optimistic Arsenal fan would have predicted that Arsenal would win the Premier League title at the start of the season. Despite their title winning form at the moment the title is somewhat out their reach even at this early stage of the season.

The Gunners are currently 12 points behind league leaders Manchester City. The more realistic aim of top four looks achievable at the minute. Arsenal’s good form has taken them to sixth place and they are only behind fourth place Chelsea on goal difference.

Its been an almost phoenix from the ashes rise for Arsenal. The 8-2 defeat at Manchester United was the kick-start they needed. It might have been humiliating but after that result the Gunners season turned around.

That defeat at Old Trafford could very well be the best thing that could have happened to Arsenal this season in a strange way. It brought the players together and allowed for some franking talking in the dressing room.

Whether Arsenal can sustain this blistering form is a question that I can’t yet answer. However Arsene Wenger’s side is certainly in better shame than they were a couple of months ago and Gunners fans much be happier with their sides form.

Can Arsenal get a Champions League spot this season?