Fourth. We’re actually fourth. Three games in hand on United behind us, and we’re one point ahead.

It’s testament to our consistency over the last 10 games, taking 25 points from a possible 30.

A game full of fantastic goals, and completely brilliant football by Arsenal. I’m going to stick my neck out, and say that Liverpool and City are the only other sides that can play like that.

Bar the last five minutes, and some shaky defending, it was the perfect day - and how good is it to see Arsenal back in our old reliable position? 

Watford was again a really nice away day. It was really similar to Norwich to be fair. Not in terms of distance or the place really, but the pleasantness that I mentioned on Boxing Day.

You don't have to worry about being an away fan and, as much your United and Leeds away’s bring their own enjoyment, it’s a welcome change to be able to step out not worrying about whether your Arsenal shirt is showing under your coat. It wasn’t the stress free day that I had envisaged after five minutes, but the same result nonetheless.

Me and Harry (for one final time before his travels) set off at about 1215pm from Euston on a 15 minute (!) train to Watford.

The train was full of Arsenal fans, and we got chatting to a couple on the way up. One of them told us his ideal striker choice was Richarlison. The other one was quite drunk and said he didn’t care but he wanted someone “hooge hooge”, whatever that means.

We lost them at Watford Junction, as they decided they couldn’t brave the 20 minute walk and so hopped on another train. We braved the walk, and despite the sun there was quite the chill. 

Watford seemed strangely familiar to me. Maybe because it is your quintessential English town, but more likely because I’d seen every corner through Ben Foster’s Go Pro during his lockdown vlogging. The long road littered with hotels and offices felt like one I’d been down so many times before. 

The ground, again like Norwich’s, was easy to miss. Opposite a very pretty cemetery, Vicarage Road doesn’t prove itself a huge presence in and amongst the surrounding houses.

It doesn’t eclipse everything around it as some stadiums do, and more just slots itself in the middle of a few residential streets - which I suppose does add to the soul of the ground.

It’s a little bit of a Tardis too, as the ground (despite having a capacity of 21,000) feels much bigger than it actually is. I’m not sure that’s how the Tardis metaphor works but I’m going to roll with it anyway, you know what I mean.

Our seats were really good. Half way up, right behind the goal. We got in with time to see the warm up, and of course Partey stuck a few into the top corner. The attacking drills were very interesting, with all bar the CBs and Ramsdale involved in an exercise that essentially involved putting a quick move together on the edge of the box over and over again. Clearly these drills taught them something…

After a touching show of support for the atrocities occurring in Ukraine, we were off. 16 seconds in and the stress free afternoon I had planned looked in jeopardy, as Dennis slotted home only for the flag to go up. We then woke up, and really started to play.

Within 5 minutes, we found ourselves ahead. Saka found Ø, who flicked delightfully around the corner back to Saka who found Ø again to slot into the bottom corner. Liquid football, from two players who are quickly becoming a couple of the best in the league.

I did think we would go on to batter them to be honest, but a freakishly good goal from Cucho Hernandez made things all square five minutes later. This inevitably boosted Watford, and I’d say they had the better of the next 20 minutes without really threatening Ramsdale’s goal. 

You could see that scoring goals/creating chances were not going to be our problems in this one. Our quality was evident, despite it being 1-1. In the 30th minute, Saka changed that. He caught Cleverly napping, and rolled it into Lacazette who backheeled back to Saka to rifle into the top right corner. I’ve seriously run out of words for Bukayo Saka. He’s just… perfect.

I think you’d be hard pushed to find a better sound in English football right now than that of an Arsenal crowd when Saka gets the ball in space. Expectant, excited, mesmerised. He is very quickly becoming the best Arsenal player I’ve ever seen, and my favourite - and he’s 20. Bukayo Saka plays for Arsenal - what other sentence can make you happier?

2-1, HT. It could only get better, right?

Right. Some more liquid football, and our third was one that Arsene would have been mighty proud of. Arteta has been credited with an assist, as he ran to collect the ball for Saka to take the throw in quickly. Cedric then played it inside for Ø (another who I’m quickly running out of words for) who helped it on to Laca, to lay back for Martinelli… 3-1. Beautiful one touch football, with a bit of help from Mikel Arteta along the way. We always say he looks like he’s playing himself, and this time he really did. What a manager, what a goal. 

We were then fairly comfortable. Controlling possession, and creating chances which could have easily led to a fourth. The last 10 were much less enjoyable than they should have been though. Some poor positioning from Xhaka, and then poor defending from Ben White gave Sissoko the chance to make it 3-2. He duly obliged. A painful 3 minutes of normal time, and a five minutes of added time ensued but we held out. We shouldn’t have got to the point of holding out though. Mikel will know that, and he won’t be satisfied - and that’s one of the many things I love about him. 

Three points, and United got spanked. Perfect. Fourth. Five points behind Chelsea with a game in hand too. We were bottom of the league after three games. Bottom. Look at where we are now.

Mikel has got this team playing, and he has them in a Champions League spot now. Hopefully we don’t look back. Look at some of the decisions Mikel has made that has got us in this position too… Ø over Maddison, Tomiyasu, Ramsdale, Ben White, even playing Saka at RW. He has been a manager inspired and he deserves those Champions League nights, the players deserve it, the fans deserve it.

Another six days to wait for Leicester who visit the Emirates.

A very big six days follow that… Until then, Gunners.