Has the turnaround this season from the car crash last summer and the awful start a sign of real progress this time? Something we'll build on. Or is it yet another false dawn?

I'm a lot more hopeful this time for the following reasons:


RvP looks like a proper captain and not one who is endlessly making eyes at another club. Yes there will be bids for him this summer but I believe he'll sign another contract and stay.


The Podolski thing sounds like a done deal. A promising sign that we're going to get business done early this summer and not be scrambling around panic buying on deadline day.


We have stronger characters in the team, players who seem to get what playing for The Arsenal is about. I'm thinking Verminator, Jack, Ches and the Ox looks to be one too.


There seems to be a real team spirit at the club, a willingness to fight for each other.


The mental strength seems to be better, 4 games in a row we came from behind to win games recently. We bounced back from the QPR defeat. We were miles behind the Spuds and 2-0 down to them, the atmosphere was turning nasty. Other years I think we'd have fallen apart, this time we didn't; we came back and thumped them and have overhauled them.


There's a real connection between the players and fans which has been sadly lacking in the last few years. This is in some ways the most significant thing but the atmosphere feels different at The Emirates right now.


So...is anyone else feeling more positive about things than for a long time or are we just deluding ourselves and it's another false dawn?