Vito Mannone has impressed everybody with his consistent performances so far, and with consistency being the key to success in the English Premier League, the Italian goalkeeper is convinced Arsenal can challenge for the title this season.
Players have come and gone each year, with the promise of a trophy, but it has been seven long years since the Gunners have tasted some silverware. However, this season there has been a marked improvement in the team, not just in the results -- Arsenal have lost only one Premier League game in seven so far - but also in the mentality.
The belief and consistency to stay right up there seems to have permeated through the entire squad, causing the Gunners faithful to genuinely believe their team might garner some success this season.
"I am pleased with our start to the season," Mannone told the club's official website. "The team is doing great, we had the big games already.
"It's not easy because every game in the Premier League and Champions League is a big game for this club, so you need to have the right standard and you need to prove to everybody what you've got.
"We had a few good wins and a few draws away, and not many other teams will get draws at Man City or a win at West Ham. It is not easy to win at Liverpool, as well.
"I think we have started the Champions League well too, the team has got a good base to kick on from. I am looking forward to some big achievements.
"We have a good solid squad and I think we can go for it. I have no doubt that if we keep our focus and we keep our mentality, it's not a doubt that we are going to challenge for the title.
"This is a club that is made for victories, it's not a club that just wants to do well and get the third or fourth place. This club wants to win trophies and I wish that I can give my help for this team to do it."
With the lull that sets with an international break set to get over, Arsenal can turn their attentions towards their next Premier League game - against Norwich City, with the team no doubt taking the confidence from their come-from-behind 3-1 win over West Ham.
"It was very important (to get three points against West Ham) because we bounced back from the home loss to Chelsea," Mannone added. "We did really well in two difficult games, one in the Champions League against Olympiakos and then West Ham away.
"That is a really difficult game because it is very physical and I thought we came out with a really good win.
"It is great for our confidence (to come from behind), the spirit in this team is great. It was great before but after the Chelsea defeat we felt a bit like we needed to come back and come back strongly.
"We managed to do it with two good games and we are looking forward for more wins.
"Norwich is another team that plays really well, especially at home. It is not an easy one, again, I would compare it to West Ham. It will be a difficult test for us, we need to dictate the game and impose ourselves. If we let them do what they know, it will be a difficult game.
"We need to stand up, defend well as we have been doing -- that is always our base I think. From there we have massive quality up front and we can win the game."
Not too many times have Arsenal sides off late been able to build from a solid defensive base, but such has been the Gunners rearguard this season, that the North London side can indeed start to rely on their back-four and collective defending to win them games - because as we all know, Arsene Wenger's side will always score goals.
