This is an Arsenal team with its swagger back.
All of a sudden, we’re seeing a Gunners side packing a punch and willing to compete among the very best in the country.
Since Mikel Arteta has come into the club, he’s done an outstanding job - beating Liverpool, Manchester City and Chelsea.
Those two final results, of course, came in their triumphant FA Cup campaign.
It has been a summer to savour with that success coming before a Community Shield victory.
Some impressive new signings have also arrived. Willian helped himself to three assists and Gabriel to a goal during the club’s 3-0 win over Fulham on the opening weekend.
In goal for that match was Bernd Leno. In Arteta’s eyes, he is the undisputed number one and his early save to deny the Cottagers going ahead proved as much.
However, a new goalkeeper could walk through the door in the not too distant future.
Fan favourite Emi Martinez is set to leave for Aston Villa in a £20m deal and few can blame him for wanting an exit given his performances in the back half of last season.
As a result, they’ll need a number two.
That could well be Icelandic stopper Runar Alex Runarsson who currently plays for Dijon in France.
The ‘keeper is set to be available for just £1.5m so will be an absolute bargain.
It seems as though a deal is as good as done too. Transfer guru Fabrizio Romano took to Twitter in the early hours of Tuesday morning to say:
“Yes. He’ll join Arsenal as Emi Martinez replacement, already reported days ago.”
GIVEMESPORT’S Matt Dawson says...
Runarsson is very unheard of on English shores but it’s a deal that makes plenty of sense given Arsenal’s position at the moment.
The Gunners had been linked with Brentford goalkeeper David Raya for a few weeks but with a £10m price tag touted, it would have been ridiculous to shell out that much on a number two.
It’s no secret that Arsenal’s funds are low and if they’re going to finance moves for either Thomas Partey or Houssem Aouar then they’ll need every penny they can get.
Thus, spending just £1.5m of the money they’ve recouped for Martinez would be superb business.
It’s not as though Runarsson has been plucked from thin air either.
Goalkeeper coach Inaki Cana Pavon has been tracking the 25-year-old since his days as a coach at Brentford so clearly rates him highly.
Most importantly for Arteta, though, is the fact he can comfortably play out from the back.
Runarsson completed 70.7% of his passes last term. For context, Leno managed 72.3% - only a slightly better record.