So much for a calm, measured start to the season! Like so many times in the past the boys in red have found ways to keep the supporters’ stress levels high. From a frankly tepid performance on the opening day to the shockingly bad performance at Burnley to a thrilling five-goal second half at Wigan, United have produced the full range of footballing exhibitions.

Where does this leave us now? Which is the real Manchester United? With Arsenal to come and much tougher tests down the road, it is important that the team is at their best every week. There were obvious improvements seen in the Wigan match. Ben Foster has grown in confidence and is producing strong work between the sticks. Nemanja Vidic is back and with him comes new assurance in our back four. Darren Fletcher has come a long way from being a favourite whipping boy of supporters to the one name that is most probably a certainty to start any big match. And, of course, our strikers all found the net; that can only send confidence spiraling upwards.

There are some concerns. Rio Ferdinand’s injury deprives of us a key figure and important leader. Johnny Evans’ continued struggles with an ankle lessens our depth at the centre half position. But, perhaps more than that, there is a lingering suspicion that Sir Alex is having to rotate players not so much to rest them, but because he cannot get a string of consistent performances from a core group of players, particularly in midfield. Michael Carrick has certainly looked off the pace, as has Anderson. Nani has begun to exhibit some of his undoubted skill, but the jury is still out. The old guard of Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs cannot be counted on as week-in week-out contributors.

It is hard not to think that our biggest rivals have the upper hand in the middle of the park. The likes of Fabregas, Lampard, Gerrard, Essien, Mascherano, Robinho, and others have clearly defined roles and are usually ever-presents in their sides. We are having to chop and change and it seems that this is to do with players having a lack of consistency from match to match. Of course, at a big club, rotation is unavoidable to some extent, but it would be nice to see one or two players really stake a claim to a midfield spot on a more permanent basis.

The transfer window is coming to a close and Sir Alex has said repeatedly that he is not shopping. And, realistically, who is going to be available and willing to move? The usual suspects keep being named (Aguero, Villa, Silva, Ribery), but it appears increasingly unlikely that a big name is coming anytime soon. If that is the case, then it really is an opportunity for the present squad to make their case. The chance will be there for all of them to grab. And the first big chance comes against the Gunners; a win against the Premiership’s form team would be just the tonic for any niggling doubts about this season’s title chances.