Even though he is a player not lining up for the side currently occupying the position at the top of the league and one clearly not capable of generating the level of headlines that some of the more ‘obvious’ candidates for player of the year will achieve without even trying, Arsenal’s young Frenchman Samir Nasri is beginning to have a significant impact upon the Gunners’ season.

With the Frenchman starting to show a touch of a younger Ryan Giggs in his mazy runs and well placed finishing, Wenger may be forgiven by those giving out football betting tips for wondering if this is the same player he originally signed, such has been the improvements in the player’s game.

Despite the fact that he appears to be an older player in the Arsenal squad (yes, 23 is almost geriatric for an Arsenal player!), he is still young enough not to have reached his full potential. With this in mind, his stellar performances in an Arsenal shirt this season take on an even greater significance, despite the majority of the headlines being directed towards young Jack Wilshere.

If Nasri continues to display performances of the kind shown in the club’s away fixture at Manchester City, he will surely be central to any title challenge that Arsenal are hoping to launch. If Nasri does end up propelling Arsenal to their first league title since they so famously won the Premier League unbeaten, then he may well be able to gain the admiration of his peers to such an extent that he emerges as a surprise contender in the PFA player of the year awards, despite not earning the column inches that the likes of Drogba, Rooney and Torres are able to generate year on year.

With the season about to enter a crucial phase, those looking at the football betting odds are about to find out just how good both Nasri and Arsenal can be.