So Southampton were the visitors to the Emirates last weekend; last season we didn't fare all that well against promoted sides, dropping points in three of the six fixtures, but the Saints went marching in, and marched straight back out again on the wrong end a 6-1 thumping. With that in mind, is it too soon to talk about this being our season, and how we look like legitimate title contenders again?

In a word, yes.

But that needn't detract from what was largely an accomplished display on Saturday. Southampton had failed to pick up a single point before coming to North London, although their schedule had included a visit from Manchester United as well as a trip to Manchester City, and they'd acquitted themselves well in each game, losing 3-2 both times. Top scorers in last season's Championship, and with Grant Holt mk2. (aka Rickie Lambert), I was expecting a fairly close affair.

The Southampton defenders had the unenviable task of facing a front three of Oxlade-Chamberlain, Gervinho and Podolski, while Cazorla pulled the strings from just behind the strikers. Making up the rest of the midfield were Arteta and Coquelin, the latter deputising for Diaby who picked up a knock on international duty. The defence was unchanged from the game at Anfield, while Szczesny returned after recovering from a bruised rib.

It was evident from early on that the visitors defence would struggle to deal with the movement of the strikers, while tracking Cazorla seems increasingly like an exercise in futility. The Spaniard pops up practically everywhere on the pitch, and has a hand in almost anything positive that happens. I don't know what will happen if he gets injured - the word irreplaceable springs to mind - but in the eight years since he broke into the Villareal first team he's played at least 30 games in 6 of those eight seasons. Whatever his injury record is like, when fit he must be the first name on the team sheet every time. He knows where everyone else on the pitch is, and he can receive a pass and pick out a teammate thirty yards away in practically one movement. In case this hasn't been adequately conveyed, I'm very, very excited about this player.

Oddly enough Cazorla had little to do with any of the four first half goals. The first was an own goal after the Saint's keeper couldn't parry a Gibbs drive, the second a Podolski free kick, the third a nearpost strike from Gervinho after he was played in by Arteta, and the fourth another own goal from a Gibbs cross. Southampton pulled one back after a defensive blunder by Szczesny who flapped at a cross and left an open goal, but the game was wrapped up in the second half after a second goal from Gerv and one from ex-Southampton prodigy Walcott.

6-1 is obviously an excellent scoreline against any team in the top division, even if they are newly promoted. The visitors rarely threatened the Arsenal goal, and their high line proved their undoing as the offside trap was routinely breached. That said, this Southampton team has not hit its stride yet. They've got a couple of exciting new signings in Gaston Ramirez and Maya Yoshida, who, at the tender ages of 21 and 24 already have 32 caps between them for their respective nations of Uruguay and Japan. They both made their debuts at the Emirates as substitutes - Yoshida was thrown on during the first half after an injury, despite having had just one training session with his new team.

Southampton are struggling with the change in pace between the top two tiers, but they'll improve, and the fixture at Saint Mary's won't be the cakewalk that we witnessed on Saturday. Even though it was only lowly Southampton, there were a number of positives to take away from the game. No one knew quite what to make of the Podolski signing, myself included; would he flourish under the bright lights of the Emirates, or would he wither like he did at Bayern? Early indications suggest the former - his well taken free kick was the highlight of an excellent performance. The German completed every single one of some 35 passes that he attempted, and it was his strength and vision that set up the first goal of the afternoon. He looked uncomfortable with his back to goal in the first game of the season, but the striker already seems a more composed and technically capable player than he did 5 weeks ago.

Meanwhile Gervinho had what I reckon was his best game in an Arsenal shirt. Usually lacking a clear idea of what he's going to do next with the ball, the Ivorian seemed uncharacteristically composed, consistently beating fullbacks down the outside, drifting into the middle to assist with build up play and generally being useful all over the pitch. His 2 goals were simply icing on the cake. .

New boy Oliver Giroud came on with about a quarter of an hour to go - he failed to break his duck, but you'd be an idiot not to be patient, especially since the goals are coming from elsewhere right now. This description of Giroud is from French Football Weekly: With Giroud, France has a tall, powerful striker than can sit in the box, hold up play and provide opportunities for on-rushing players, especially Benzema. He has done this with great effect in his limited appearances for France, providing a real threat with his flick-ons and chest-downs (the latter of which is fast becoming his legendary skill). Although his Arsenal career has not quite got off to a flying start, it’s hard to see him struggling for goals and assists—he’s just pure class. Watch this space

Montpellier away tonight as the curtains open on a brand new Champions League. Three points would be nice, but we rarely get out of the group based on points won away from home. The more pressing matter is this weekend's fixture in the blue half of Manchester. The new-found defensive solidity will be sorely needed if we're to take anything away from that game, but I'm confident we can take at least a point.

Allez les rouges!