Just after the final whistle had blown last night I described the 1-0 win over PSV as a ‘3-0 win masquerading as a 1-0’ and the more and more I’ve thought about it, the more this feels like exactly what Arsenal delivered yesterday.

We were totally dominant from start to finish and probably deserved two or three more than we got.

As expected Arteta named a blend of regular first teamers along with some of the rotated players that we’ve seen in this competition so far. So out went Ramsdale, White, Saliba, Partey, Ødegaard and Martinelli, in came Turner, Holding, Tomiyasu (for White at right back – I know he started against Leeds but not in his natural position), Sambi, Vieira and Nketiah. Despite the rotation though, the team picked up its performance from last weekend and within a couple of minutes we were creating chances. We’ve tended to start games fast and quick and you could tell that the PSV game plan was to hang in there at the start and then try to hit us on the counter, but we never really let them get in to their rhythm. Efforts from Tierney, Gabriel Jesus and Xhaka didn’t find the target though and as we approached the half hour mark it seemed strange that we weren’t ahead.

It’s weird though, because I never really felt like we wouldn’t get the goal in the end, even though at halftime we had nothing to show for our dominance. In that first half we’d had 67% possession, eight attempts at goal (although none on target), we’d created two big chances and limited PSV to one lowly effort off target.

I didn’t think the deployment of Eddie wide with Gabriel Jesus through the middle worked, if I’m honest, with Eddie more of a striker and Jesus able to play that wide forward position well. It seemed obvious to me that the two should have swapped but Arteta made his choice and ultimately we won so I suppose the complaints should be kept to a minimum.

The second half was more of the same from Arsenal and we dominated that nearly as much as the first, only this time we exchanged possession dominance for efforts on goal and cutting edge. We doubled our efforts on goal in the second half to 16, with eight of them on target, creating three big chances and eventually getting the goal that secured the game. And who else is it going to be to get that goal than Mr Redemption himself, Granit Xhaka, finding space in the box and on his weaker foot, slamming the ball home. It was a very fine finish from a decent Tomiyasu cut back and as Arsenal fans we are all loving Xhaka’s advanced position this season. That’s three goals and three assists and already he is getting closer to equalling his best ever tally in an Arsenal shirt, which I believe was 20189/19, but he got four goals and five assists in 40 games. He’s only played 14 this season so if he keeps going at this rate we’ll see him hit double figures for the first time in his Arsenal career.

And this is important, because what it shows is just how many goalscoring options we have on the pitch now, because we’re not reliant on the front three to do everything. Saka has been scoring, Gabby Jesus has been scoring, Martinelli and Ødegaard have been scoring, but we’re getting goals from other sources too, like Xhaka, Saliba and Gabriel. We are a potent team and even on a night in which we don’t have our shooting boots on like last night, we still have players who will step up and chip in.

As for PSV, well, I’ll admit that I thought we were going to get a sterner test than we did. We may well – and probably will – face a different PSV when on their own turf, but based on last nights showing alone, I can’t say I’m too concerned as I type up my post match thoughts this morning. We looked in total control of the game and we thoroughly deserved that victory last night; a victory that takes us to 12 points and means a point next week secures top spot in the group.

This is a serious Arsenal outfit that looks like it means business and I’m all here for it.

And what’s also impressive is how we are managing rotation. Partey and Ødegaard got 20 minutes, as did Martinelli, whilst off came Gabriel Jesus on 76 minutes to ensure we keep a bit of freshness for Sunday. I probably would have brought Saka off at that time too for Nelson instead of leaving him on until the 85th, but perhaps Arteta just wanted him to run off the knock he took in the second half after being fouled on the edge of the box. Hopefully he’s all good for Sunday.

We’ve done our job in the Europa League with aplomb so far. We look like we’ve got total control of the group and Arteta has also managed to maintain this winning run we’re on. But the tests just keep on coming and on Sunday we’ll see a tough one away from home to Southampton, who have often bested us on their ground and won in midweek against Bournemouth, so they’ll be buoyed by that. But so will we be, because we keep doing what we’re doing, we keep winning, which is breeding a confidence in the team that you can just see is oozing from the players. Long May it continue.

I’m going to leave it there for today. The job is done in the Europa League and I’ve got a day of with The Management’s family, so I’m going to enjoy it.

Catch you all tomorrow.