Acid test for Wenger's new-look Gunners will ascertain quality of Arsenal's window

Arsenal's new look attack
Arsenal's new look attack unleashed on Everton

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Mesut Özil, Alexandre Lacazette, that's a formidable four capable of causing maximum damage for defences anywhere in the Premier League.

The introduction of Aubameyang and Mkhitaryan made it a highly successful window for Arsenal despite losing Alexis Sanchez, and the feel around the Emirates is that they've come out of the window stronger.

Three of the aforementioned players - Aubameyang, Özil and Mkhitaryan - all dazzled as the Gunners ripped Everton into shreds, blitzing into a 3-goal lead in under 20 minutes.

Everton didn't know what hit them

Sam Allardyce came to the Emirates with the intention to defend, leaving Čenk Tosun, Wayne Rooney and Tom Davies on the bench, in favour of solidifying the defence with Eliaquim Mangala, Micheal Keane and Ashley Williams given the task of stopping Arsenal's new-look attack.

It was an exercise in futility from the away side though, as the Gunners ripped through them time and again, it was a humbling lesson for the Merseysiders, Big Sam had to change tack by halftime, but not before Aubameyang had added another goal from a Mkhitaryan pass, the Gunners were playing absolutely amazing stuff and the home fans left the Emirates feeling satisfied and incredibly joyous at what they'd just witnessed.

The big caveat, however, is the fact that this same Everton side were hammered for 5 at Goodison Park earlier in the season by Arsenal and so, too much shouldn't be read into it just yet.

True test lies ahead

Will Ar
Will Arsenal go toe-to-toe with Pep Guardiola's Manchester City?

The games that would mean so much more in the long run, however, are the upcoming ties against Tottenham and Manchester City in the league before another game against the Citizens in the Carabao Cup final.

The Gunners have always been lacking something that meant they couldn't impose themselves on most of the big games they've played this season, they've just been below that elite rung due to some inadequacies they possess both, in attack and in defence.

These games would be the acid test for Arsenal's new-look attack, the games that would offer a proper judge of where the Gunners now stand in the race of the heavyweights, are they going to flinch or are they going to fight?

The trio of Aubameyang, Mkhitaryan and Özil all meshed well against Everton with flicks and tricks everywhere, smart movements from Aubameyang accompanying the guile and finesse in Özil and Mkhitaryan.

They did it against Everton but can they do it against arguably the best teams in the country right now? A strong and dominant performance from Arsenal in these games would go a long way in showing that they mean business and that they were, indeed, revitalised by the winter transfer window. A weak performance in either game, however, and the old Arsenal feeling of weakness returns again.

The foundations for Manchester City's successful season started last winter as they started showing signs of getting their act together in the winter and the effect trickled into this season and they've been heads and shoulders above every other team.

Arsenal have dazzled against Everton but unless they do it against Spurs and Man City, the Everton game would just be one of the many false dawns we've witnessed at the Emirates in recent times.

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