Like the prodigal son he returns, a phoenix rising from the ashes; back again to save this club's season and mock those who doubted him. Yes, Francis Coquelin has rejoined Arsenal after his loan spell at Charlton. Also returning from a year long hiatus is me, your humble scribe and companion on our annual football pilgrimage. Just in time for Christmas too, so consider this an early present.

Nicklas is clearly delighted by the return of this blog

So what's happened since last we spoke? Well inevitably Arsenal's tilt at the title last season ended in disappointment, but the year ended on a high point when we came from behind to smash the mighty Hull City and win the FA Cup. A summer splurge saw the signing of significant stars such as Sanchez and er, others (Debuchy, Welbeck, Chambers & Ospina) while we bade farewell to stalwarts like Vermaelen, Sagna, Fabianski and thatch-headed wastrel Nicklas Bendtner (currently without a goal in the league for new club Wolfsburg; go get 'em, Nick).

Consequently the 2014/15 season started on an optimistic note. An attacking quartet featuring Olivier Giroud, Mesut Özil, Alexis Sanchez and anyone else you care to throw into the mix (Oxlade-Chamberlain, Welbeck, Walcott, Cazorla etc.) could strike fear into the heart of just about defence in Europe. Quick, intelligent movement, passes into feet or over the top, direct and powerful running; who or what could possibly slow down this new, dynamic strikeforce? Well, injuries for one - you remember them right? - which completely derailed the start of the campaign. Even before Giroud, Özil and Koscielny picked up knocks that would keep them out for several months the team had looked distressingly anaemic, drawing a string of games that on paper they should have won, and so with several key figures out missing, a season that promised much has fallen flat. Low points have included throwing away a 3-0 lead at home to a distinctly average Anderlecht side, shipping 3 first half goals to the thugs at Stoke and dropping points to two of the three teams currently in the relegation zone.

Predictably Wenger has come under fire for stubbornly refusing to bring in more defensive reinforcements (injuries and suspensions meant that Hector Bellerin, the third choice right-back, started against Newcastle on the weekend, while first choice for that position, Debuchy, was drafted into the middle), and it's true that we've struggled to keep clean sheets this season. The absence of Koscielny has been keenly felt, especially since his replacement was usually the left-back Nacho Monreal. Defensively the squad simply isn't deep enough, and a lack on continuity with regard to the personnel in the back four has had serious implications.

At the other end of the pitch there has at least been some cause for optimism. Alexis Sanchez (pictured on the right looking like someone who gives seminars on how to hypnotise women in bars) has somehow conspired to look like a steal at 35 million; the man simply does not stop running, and his 9 goals and 5 assists are the only reason that we're just two points off the Champions League places. Danny Welbeck (also right, dressed surprisingly tastefully) is having a decent enough season, while Oxlade-Chamberlain has been perhaps our second best player this year. The return to form of Santi Cazorla has proved a much needed tonic, while the return to fitness of Theo Walcott should do likewise. Moreover Özil is due back in the next few weeks (although Koscielny and Ramsey will miss the next month or so).

On the weekend we got a glimpse of what happens when the entire team turns up to play, if only for 90 minutes. A shower of goals, some (fairly) robust defending and a show of support for our beleaguered manager; it was heartening to see. Newcastle won't be the strongest outfit to visit the Emirates this season, but they've turned over some decent teams in the past couple of months and could have posed some difficult questions of a team and manager still reeling from the defeat at Stoke the weekend before. Two goals from Giroud and one from Cazorla effectively ended the contest twenty five minutes before the end, and though Newcastle depressingly pulled one back from a set piece towards the end, Cazorla restored the three goal cushion with an impudent Panenka penalty. For the first time in a long time, Arsenal were the better team from start to finish and the scoreline reflected that.

A tricky festive period sees us visit Anfield, Upton Park and St Mary's, and there's an increasingly small margin for error as mediocre sides such as West Ham and Manchester United continue to defy the odds and pick up points week after week. Arsenal need to string a run of wins together sooner rather than later, or they'll find themselves adrift of the Champions League places before January is over. A few reinforcements in the transfer window wouldn't go amiss either; latest news is that we're looking at Benedikt Howedes, the German centreback from Schalke. Another midfielder should probably be on the shopping list too, especially if Mikel Arteta is going to remain a perpertual injury concern.

In case you forgot where Arsenal FC hailed from (Eng)

Good news also from the Champions League draw - after once again finishing second in the group, we were faced with potential ties against one of Real Madrid, Atletico, Bayern or Barca, any one of which would probably hammer our injury ravaged squad. Instead we visit Wenger's old stomping ground Monaco, who scored just four goals in six group stage matches (but somehow finished top of their group). A stay of execution then, at least until the quarter finals. Allez Les Rouges!