Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has finally 'signed the ting'.Arsenal today announced that the club captain has penned a new three-year deal and it's a moment that could prove pivotal to the future of the north London club.Losing the talismanic Aubameyang would have been a massive blow and it could have undone a lot of the progress instigated by the arrival of manager Mikel Arteta late last year.But the 31-year-old striker is going nowhere and now, Arsenal fans can look very optimistically at the 2020/21 campaign.Below, we've provided seven reasons as to why the Gunners could be the Premier League's 'dark horses' this season following a landmark day at the Emirates Stadium.
1. Aubameyang signs
Tying the Gabonese striker down to a new contract will provide the perfect platform for Arteta to enjoy further success early on in his reign as manager.
There are few better goal scorers in world football and despite not having Champions League football to offer, the Gunners have managed to keep ahold of Aubameyang at the peak of his career - a watershed moment for the club.
2. They finally have a creator in Willian
Mesut Ozil being placed in exile last season by Arteta left Arsenal with a serious lack of creativity.
Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette had to feed off scraps, but Willian already looks as if he's the solution to the Gunners' lack of ingenuity.
The Brazilian claimed two assists in the 3-0 win over Fulham and noticeably improved the speed and potency of Arsenal's attacking play at Craven Cottage.
Willian may not be a Kevin De Bruyne, but he looks set to be an invaluable acquisition for Arteta's side.
3. Arteta's flexible tactics
For too long under Arsene Wenger, the Gunners were restricted to playing one brand of football, which had a heavy emphasis on attacking play and entertainment.
Against inferior opposition, it worked a treat, but Wenger's stubbornness and neglect of pragmatism cost Arsenal dear in the big games.
Under Arteta, that's not the case. When playing the likes of Liverpool and Manchester City, the Spaniard is not afraid to surrender the ball and grind out results.
'The Arsenal way' hasn't yielded success of late, but 'the Arteta way' may deliver the goods in the future.
4. The club finally has leaders on the pitch
'Arsenal don't have any leaders' was a common phrase uttered by pundits and fans alike for many years and it was a more than fair analogy.
But now, the Gunners have leaders. Granit Xhaka is the captain without the armband in the heart of midfield, while Kieran Tierney's no-nonsense approach in defence has been a breath of fresh air.
David Luiz's influence cannot be understated either. He's a leader on the pitch and is a valuable asset in helping the club's array of talented youngsters on the training ground.
Arteta has masterminded a change of attitude at the club in less than a year.
5. Strength in depth
For the first time in years, it feels like Arsenal have depth in every single position.
The acquisitions of William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhaes, Pablo Mari and Cedric Soares have reinforced the back-line, while re-signing Dani Ceballos on loan has bolstered Arteta's midfield.
Then you have Aubameyang, Lacazette, Willian and Nicolas Pepe as a quartet of attacking options from which to pick from.
We haven't even mentioned the majority of Arsenal's exciting youngsters yet...
6. Exciting youngsters eager to prove a point
But we will mention them here! There are few clubs in world football that have as many talented young players within their ranks.
Gabriel Martinelli, Bukayo Saka, Saliba, Gabriel, Eddie Nketiah, Joe Willock, Emile Smith-Rowe and Reiss Nelson are all aged 22 or younger.
Both the future and present at Arsenal are looking pretty bright these days.
7. No more top six hoodoo
Recent victories over Liverpool (x2), Manchester City and Chelsea were yet more evidence of a seismic shift in mindset at Arsenal.
No longer are the team mocked as the rest of the top six's whipping boys, a stigma that had previously curtailed any signs of improvement at the club.
A title challenge is out of the question in 2020/21, but there are many reasons to believe that Arsenal have a significant chance of gatecrashing the top four this season.