If you'd told me before the game Aaron Ramsey would get a hat-trick, with three assists for Henrikh Mkhitaryan and a debut goal for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, I may not have believed you.
Arsenal did just that though in what was a thumping 5-1 win over Everton at the Emirates. If this is a sign of things to come then maybe things are finally on the up and we can have a strong final three months of the season.
But no matter how good we were against Everton and how pleasing on the eye it was, it doesn't paper over the cracks of some very poor results including the recent defeat at Swansea.
It is typical that this is one of the few matches I missed, although I have now caught up on it, and to get three goals inside the opening 20 minutes is fantastic. I won't get carried away as it is just one result, but I'm certainly going to enjoy it. Losing players including Alexis Sanchez and Olivier Giroud was tough, but Mkhitaryan and Aubameyang have at least given us reasons to feel optimistic.
Our attacking force now looks stronger again, but I still feel we need to strengthen the defence if we are to truly mount more of a title challenge next season. Things are still far from perfect, but the link up play between Mkhitaryan and Aubameyang is certainly exciting and this was one hell of a win. Fingers crossed it can be the start of a great run of form.
It took just six minutes for Arsenal to open the scoring and what a lovely move it was. Mesut Ozil, who has just signed a new contract with the club, set up Aubameyang, whose clever pass found Mkhitaryan for the Armenian to cross for Ramsey to score from close range.
Mkhitaryan's long-range effort hit a post soon after, while Aubameyang's shot deflected behind for a corner as the Gunners looked hungry for goals.
The next goal didn't take too long to arrive and after 15 minutes Arsenal had doubled their advantage. Ozil's corner was flicked on by Shkodran Mustafi for his fellow defender Laurent Koscielny to head in.
Ramsey added his second five minutes later as his shot from the edge of the box deflected in beyond Jordan Pickford following great play from Alex Iwobi and Ozil.
At the other end, Cuco Martina shot harmlessly wide before former Gunner Theo Walcott, who only left us earlier in the month, wasted arguably Everton's best chance of the first half. The forward ran towards goal and looked odds on to score after getting the better of Nacho Monreal, but Mustafi denied him with a superb sliding cover tackle.
Arsenal increased their lead eight minutes before the break as Aubameyang latched onto a pass from Mkhitaryan before dinking the ball over Pickford.
It could have been more for the Gunners before half-time, but Monreal saw his header hit a post before sending a deflected shot wide for a corner. Monreal was forced off sick at the break with Sead Kolasinac coming on in his place.
Everton nearly reduced the deficit within six minutes of the restart following a fine ball into the box by Walcott, but Oumar Niasse's effort hit a post.
Mkhitaryan continued to look lively for Arsenal in the second half, but he wasted the chance to get his name on the scoresheet when he shot straight at Pickford following a good exchange of passes with Ozil.
Everton grabbed a consolation goal after 65 minutes as substitute Dominic Calvert-Lewin headed in a cross from Martina, but Arsenal soon resumed control by restoring their four-goal advantage. Mkhitaryan once again provided the assist as his pull back was met by a low first-time strike from Ramsey, who completed an excellent hat-trick.
Shortly before that goal the hosts lost goalkeeper Petr Cech to a calf injury, so David Ospina played the final 20 minutes and it is unclear as of yet how long the Gunners' number one will be out for.
Everton substitute Tom Davies tried to help reduce the deficit further when he set up Calvert-Lewin, but his fellow substitute shot harmlessly wide as Arsenal romped to victory.
OPPOSITION VIEW
Everton fan Paul O'Neill was left feeling unhappy with the performance and is not convinced by new loan signing Eliaquim Mangala, who joined the club from Manchester City.
"Absolutely terrible performance from the boys in the first half," said O'Neill. Thankful we only drew 1-1 in the second half - 'politician response'.
"What an embarrassing first half, the Emirates dominated the Blue boys and it was gutting. Class told and some amount of millions from Wenger eventually paid off.
"I'm grateful eventually we got a goal, but if Everton want to challenge the top boys we can't start like that anywhere for the first 20 minutes.
"Mangala is a prime example of why you should never sign a Premier League reject from any club. Clueless and absolutely no presence for the first 20 minutes.
"I felt sorry for Williams when he tried to positionally dictate what was going on. A fair result we all move on."
MY FINAL THOUGHTS
If that is a sign of things to come then brilliant! But I am well aware that anything could happen in the final months of the season and we still have plenty of work to do.
If there was ever the performance you wanted to prepare for the upcoming NLD, it would be this one so from that point of view it was very positive and the new signings certainly look great. It was also excellent to see Ramsey get three goals as it will boost his confidence and hopefully he can show more of the same in the upcoming matches.
A trip to our bitter rivals Tottenham is next up and presents a completely different challenge. If we can play like that, or replicate the performance from the reverse fixture against them, then it could be a special day, but I am taking nothing for granted.
It will be a tough game so there is no margin for error! This isn't just about three points, this is the NLD, so there are no excuses for the whole squad not to be fired up for this one! Let's go do this!
COME ON YOU GUNNERS
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