Just three days separated Arsenal from, arguably, their worst result of the season so far from, arguably, their best result of the season so far. Defeat to Rennes in the Europa League on Thursday felt like a nadir for the Gunners under Unai Emery. Victory over Manchester United on Sunday, however, had the air of a reawakening. If there has been one week to reflect the season Arsenal have experienced to date, it came in this three-day stretch. It can be difficult to know whether the Gunners are moving forward or falling backwards and these two games encapsulated the wild back and forth swings of momentum that have so far defined the 2018/19 campaign at the Emirates Stadium. A few weeks ago, it seemed Emery was experiencing many of the same problems succeeding Wenger that David Moyes experienced in replacing Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United. Defeat to Manchester City at the start of February saw Arsenal drop down to sixth place in the Premier League table, with an FA Cup exit at home to Man Utd just one week previously also hitting hard. Since then, the Gunners have won four from five Premier League fixtures, drawing the other one to drag themselves back into the top four. The objective set for Emery at the start of the season was Champions League qualification and Arsenal remain on course for that, whether that be through the league or through the Europa League (despite the loss to Rennes). At this point of the 2017/18 season, Wenger’s last season in charge, Arsenal had 48 points, while at present under Emery they have 60 points - an improvement of 25%. On current form, the Gunners are on course to finish the season on 76 points. Only once before in the last decade have they reached that tally. And yet, in the minds of many Emery’s appointment remains without vindication. Arsenal have taken so many steps forward followed immediately by steps backwards, or vice versa, that they have, by and large, stood still. They are just as likely to finish sixth as they are to finish in the top four. They are just as likely to crash out of the Europa League at an early stage as they are to go all the way. The Gunners have, all season long, been a contradiction. Some will argue that Arsenal’s development, or lack thereof, can be explained by the club’s transfer strategy. In attack, there are signs of progress under Emery. That is, not coincidentally, where Arsenal have invested heavily in recent years. They spent £56 million on Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang last year, also splurging £46.5 million on Alexandre Lacazette six months before that, meanwhile Mesut Ozil is the highest paid player at the club on a contract reportedly worth £350,000 a week. At the back, however, there are lingering signs of ‘Wengerism.’ How much of that is down to the way Arsenal have scrimped on defensive additions in recent transfer windows? Against Man Utd on Sunday, the Gunners came up against Victor Lindelof, a centre back who cost £31 million. In contrast, Arsenal’s entire back five was assembled for that roughly that amount. Josh Kroenke was in attendance at the Emirates on Sunday and so it’s possible, having been impressed by the performance turned in by Emery’s side against Manchester United, the American’s family will boost the transfer kitty for the summer. Nobody at Arsenal should count on that, though. It’s only a few weeks since the January window closed, when only loan signings were sanctioned. In the post-Arsene Wenger age, Arsenal’s structural problems have become clearer. Somewhat unfairly, the Frenchman became a scapegoat for the troubles faced by the Gunners over the latter period of his tenure. Of course, Wenger deserved criticism, but the discourse was dominated, to an unhealthy extent, by questions over his future at the club. There was no oxygen left to talk about anything else. Now with Wenger gone, other issues are finally being discussed.