After three successive defeats, Arsenal appear to have got their top-four tilt back on track with consecutive shock wins over Chelsea and Manchester United.
Those six points, mixed with neighbours Tottenham dropping points away at Brentford last weekend, have ensured the Gunners return to the much-coveted fourth spot while Spurs sit two points behind in fifth. Arsenal's next two fixtures see them travel to West Ham before welcoming Leeds to the Emirates.
After that meeting with Jesse Marsch's men, Mikel Arteta's side will arrive at the home of their most fierce rivals in Spurs knowing a win could all but seal their place in the Champions League next season. Easier said than done, especially considering the two team's contrasting power when it comes to their respective strike forces.
Arsenal had their chances of top-four take significant damage after a defeat by Crystal Palace earlier this month saw Thomas Partey aggravate a thigh injury that, at first, sparked fears he would miss the rest of the season. The games that followed highlighted just how important the Ghanaian is to Arteta's system.
A Partey-shaped void in the middle of the park for losses at home to Brighton and away at Southampton was evident, as young deputy Albert Sambi Lokonga failed to hit the kind of heights Partey so often does in an Arsenal shirt.
However, in what is promising news for the Arsenal faithful - Partey may be ahead of schedule in his recovery effort after the former Atletico Madrid man uploaded a short clip of him running on a treadmill. Decked out in Gunners training gear, the 28-year-old looked to be running without any discomfort.
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While Arsenal fans will be keeping their fingers crossed that Partey is deemed fit to play in the upcoming North London Derby - they, much like Arteta himself, will know what happened last time the club tried to rush the midfielder back for a game away at Spurs.
It prompted the humiliating image of Partey trying to walk off the pitch to inform the medical staff that the injury had flared up again while Spurs launched a counter-attack with the score already 1-0 in favour of what was then-Jose Mourinho's men.
Arteta proceeded to intervene by attempting to shove his player back on the pitch to try and thwart Spurs' efforts, but it was all too little too late as they had soon arrived inside Arsenal's penalty area before Harry Kane lashed home a thunderous strike off the underside of the bar.
The incident came at a time where Arsenal were some way off the pace and languishing far lower in the table than they are nowadays. Arteta must ease Partey back into action, if that means he is unavailable for what could be the biggest game of the Gunners' season - then so be it.
