In typical Arsenal fashion, it has taken time for the Gunners' season to click into gear but, following a 3-0 mauling of Chelsea in the week of Arsene Wenger's 20th anniversary with the club, it seems that things are back on track.
After activity was dead for the most part of the transfer window, the Frenchman dug deep to appease the growing displeasure of the Arsenal faithful through the multi-million-pound additions of Shkodran Mustafi and Lucas Perez respectively.
Along with the £35-million signature of midfielder Granit Xhaka, the squad is now overflowing with quality and every position now has a good name anchored to it. Fantastic news for the club and fans of course, but more headaches for Mr Wenger who has bare witness to some incredible individual displays already this campaign.
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The side is slowly developing and the best tactical approach to take is gradually unveiling itself. Here's a look at how Arsene Wenger's Arsenal ideologies are slowly evolving...
In between the Sticks
With 101 saves and 16 clean sheets to his name last term, Petr Cech bedded any doubts hanging over his Arsenal career with an eventually sound debut season. When absent of Koscielny, the back-line was leaky and Cech's last ditch dives and cool head in one-on-one situations saved the Gunners on many an occasion.
Such confidence has transpired to this campaign too; the Czech's fine showing against Leicester was especially pleasing. Ospina has shown signs of a steady improvement in his game in his odd cup cameo but it would take a lot to reassure Wenger that Cech doesn't deserve number one spot.
At the back
The season started with a turbulent display at home to Liverpool, in which Wenger was forced to play Rob Holding and Calum Chambers at the heart of defence. Both looked calamitous and, although the former looks more comfortable with an experienced head by his side, it is apparent that neither will be regular features when the entire defence is available.
Hector Bellerin's 36 appearances in all competitions last season earned him a place in the 2015/16 PFA Team of the Year, meanwhile cementing his place in the Arsenal defence. With Jenkinson and Debuchy loaned out last campaign, it is evident the Spaniard is now Wenger's primary option on that side and he, like Cech, is another who is practically guaranteed a place each week.
Nacho Monreal and Kieran Gibbs have been an interchangeable pair over the last few seasons but it's the former-Malaga man who is getting the larger slice of showings and Arsene favours the 30-year-old's consistency over the less well-rounded dynamic offered by Gibbs.
This season has already asked questions of Wenger tactically, with the catalogue of injuries requiring some interesting pairings at the back. Arguably the most successful so far has been that of Koscielny and Mustafi. Both of similar playing styles, the duo favour pace and a high-line to the deep-lying, physically bombarding approach.
Wenger is starting to use the two as added options for the midfielders; their higher positioning almost forms a seven-man midfield. Mertesacker's lack of pace and mobility has always been a vulnerability for Arsenal but the German's injury hands the aforementioned, new French-German partnership of Mustafi and Koscielny the chance to string together a run of games in each other's company.
Midfield
One area of the pitch where options are plentiful and equally of great quality. The addition of Xhaka from Gladbach means that, along with Elneny, Coquelin and even Aaron Ramsey, the Gunners now have four potential options for the anchor role in midfield. Cazorla, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Özil and Walcott are all viable choices at the top end of midfield and this is still very much a work in progress for Wenger.
In every game Alex Iwobi has played this season, there have been goals. With three assists to his name this campaign, the youngster has added width to an otherwise restricted side that usually favours a more direct, short-passing style.
Wenger has used Iwobi to outline that he is adapting his philosophy to fit a league that, believe it or not, continues to improve in terms of pace and intensity. Elneny-Coquelin looks like a partnership in need of work; the two were paired up on just one occasion so far this season - the 4-3 defeat to Liverpool in which they failed to break down attacks from the Merseysiders.
Wenger seems to favour playing Cazorla alongside Coquelin; a partnership which has featured and succeeded in Arsenal's last three league victories. Coquelin gives the Spaniard licence to roam and link up in a triangle-like set-up with Özil and Alexis.
Up Top
Lucas Perez was brought in as the supposed 'Spanish Jamie Vardy' and already the comparison looks well justified given the former-Deportivo forward's barnstorming pace which was best exhibited in his brace against Nottingham Forest. He's similar in style to Sanchez but perhaps better moulded for a role through the centre, while he provides the versatility and speed absent from target-man Giroud's game.
Naturally, Wenger is cautious about throwing Perez into the mix and he's still unsure about who is the best option at the top of the tree. Many believe that Sanchez is better off being deployed on the flank where he sought success with Barcelona and Udinese, while others are so anti-Giroud that they'd probably opt for Ivan Gazidis as star striker as an alternative.
It seems that Wenger's determination to stick with Sanchez through the centre stems not from a dislike of Giroud but from the fact the Chilean offers a mesmerising resemblance to one Thierry Henry and Wenger may want to completely unearth that before he calls time on his tenure.
