Arsenal ensured north London was red on Saturday with a thoroughly impressive performance against bitter rivals Tottenham .
First-half goals from Shkodran Mustafi and Alexis Sanchez earned Arsenal victory as Spurs wilted under the spotlight.
The result leaves the Gunners sixth in the table, one point behind Tottenham - and the Premier League top four.
But Arsene Wenger's side have shown a tendency to struggle against the so-called weaker sides in the league.
And with Burnley and Huddersfield next on the Emirates' club's agenda, Wenger will be under pressure to repeat his side's promising display.
But with Manchester City seemingly strolling towards the title, Arsenal look set to be left chasing a top-four spot.
Here, our writers debate whether they will return to the Champions League next season...
Andy Dunn
After another relatively uninspiring transfer window, last season’s fifth-placed finish and the ongoing issue with Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil, it looked a daunting challenge to finish in the top four before the campaign began.
It still does.
While the victory over Spurs was probably their best performance of the season (I was impressed with them at Everton, as well), Arsene Wenger’s team still look a little way off Manchester United and further away from City, of course.
On the evidence so far, you could perm any two from the four of Arsenal, Chelsea, Spurs and Liverpool for third and fourth.
Chelsea still look the strongest of those and, after that thumping from Spurs, Liverpool’s confidence appears to be on the rise again.
I thought Mauricio Pochettino's side would make a serious run at the title this season.
Only 12 games have gone and they still might but their recent displays at Old Trafford and the Emirates would suggest otherwise.
It is going to be nip and tuck all season long, that is for sure, and it could come down to has the greater misfortune with injuries.
But if I had to take a punt now, I wouldn't have Arsenal in the top four.
John Cross
I don't think Arsenal will finish in the top four because the competition is so fierce - the two Manchester clubs, Tottenham, Chelsea and Liverpool.
I still don't think Arsenal have enough in the squad to be consistent enough to finish about that sort of quality opposition. The last few windows have left Arsenal trailing behind and, even though they are capable of big results, I can't see them maintaining it for a whole season.
Their best path into the Champions League might be via winning the Europa League.
Matt Lawless
The worry with Arsenal is consistency.
Arsene Wenger’s side put in a brilliant performance and earned a deserved win over Tottenham - one few expected.
But can they follow that up against Burnley this Sunday?
Sean Dyche’s men are level on points with the Gunners.
And beating Burnley is crucial to their hopes of a top-four finish, even at this early stage of the season.
Arsenal then host Huddersfield and Manchester United. Seven out of nine points is the minimum they should hope for.
Then ask me again in a fortnight if they can finish in the top four.
David Anderson
Despite Arsenal’s morale-boosting win over Tottenham in the North London derby, I still think it will be tough for them to finish in the top four.
Manchester City are disappearing out of view, Manchester United have fresh momentum with the return of Paul Pogba and Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Chelsea are finding their form and Tottenham are still strong.
Liverpool will also believe they can climb back into the top four, with Mohamed Salah driving them on, and six teams into four places does not go.
If Arsenal are going to prove me wrong, they have to start winning away - and Sunday’s clash with Burnley at Turf Moor is the perfect place to start.
The Gunners were extremely lucky to win there last season and only West Brom - with a flukey victory - have managed to leave there with three points this campaign.
Arsenal have lacked grit and character on the road and only hapless Crystal Palace, Everton and West Ham have a worse return away from home than their four points.
They must show the same desire they did against Tottenham on Saturday when they worked so hard to close Spurs down.
Arsenal could learn much from Burnley and they are a well-honed unit, where everyone knows their role and everyone works for the team.
They have overcome last season’s travel sickness to go unbeaten at Chelsea, Tottenham, Liverpool and Everton and Arsenal could do worse than follow their example.
James Nursey
The Gunners underlined against Spurs that on their day they can still hit the heights but I don't think they are consistent enough to finish in the top four.
It will be very hard for them to do so given the quality of their rivals, plus the on-going uncertainty and unrest surrounding Arsene Wenger, Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez.
Mike Walters
Let's put it this way: Will Arsenal finish above Manchester City this season? No way - nobody will.
Are they going to finish above Manchester United? Nope, Jose Mourinho doesn't do that specialist-in-failure gig.
Are they going to finish above Chelsea? Probably not - the champions have blown hot and cold, but there didn't look to be much wrong with them at West Brom on Saturday.
Are they going to finish above Liverpool? They are level-pegging for now, but they could both miss out on the top four.
And are they going to finish above Tottenham? Well, it turned out Spursy again at the Emirates, and Arsenal have lost only two of their last 36 north London derbies at home in all competitions - an impressive record.
But one glass of champagne doesn't make a great party, and Arsenal still have it all to do.
They finished outside the Champions League places for the first time in 20 years under Arsene Wengrer last season, and there seems little doubt that Alexis Sanchez will be off in 2018.
A top-four finish for the Gunners? It's a 'No' from me.
Liam Prenderville
Saturday's performance was up there with Arsenal's best in recent years but they must ensure it is not another false dawn.
A few years ago it appeared the penny had dropped after an excellent win at Manchester City but Arsenal soon allowed their level to drop once again. Beating your north London rivals, and in that kind of fashion, should be the catalyst for a good run of form.
Manchester City are running away with the title but behind them it is all very close.
You would expect United to join them in the top four so there are two spots up for grabs between four teams (sorry Burnley).
Liverpool and Chelsea both have their flaws while Spurs cannot keep affording to slip up against their rivals. They may have missed out last year but nobody has a better record of securing Champions League football than Arsene Wenger and I fancy him to deliver again.
Thomas Bristow
One game doesn't define a club's season. Yes, Arsenal were brilliant against Spurs, take nothing away from that, but you have to look at the bigger picture.
There's a reason why Arsenal sit sixth in the Premier League, they're inconsistent and have conceded more goals than second from bottom Swansea.
Arsene Wenger's men rose to the occasion on Saturday, but they won't be able to do that every weekend. As well as a lack of strength in depth, too many questions loom over the club - will they hang on to Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez in January, for example.
Frailty and uncertainty will cost Arsenal this season, and that's why they will finish outside the top four.
Freddie Harding
Arsenal may have lost four games already this season, but they are now only one point behind fourth place and Saturday's win could well kick-start a timely run of form.
They showed against Spurs that when they are at their best they are still one of the strongest sides in the country and with the games coming thick and fast, they have a great chance of keeping that momentum going.
There is of course an argument that they would be better off focusing on the Europa League, to reach the Champions League in the same way Manchester United did last season. However, they have a great opportunity to finish above Spurs this season, and that should be enough motivation to concentrate predominantly on the Premier League.
It will be a close race, and they will need to have a good January window, but Wenger has only failed to finish in the top four once and I don't believe he intends to do it again.
Mark Jones
Arsenal were absolutely brilliant against Spurs and thoroughly deserved their win, but their home form is the one thing we've never really questioned. Their four defeats on the road this season - at Stoke, Liverpool, Watford and Manchester City - are far more concerning.
No-one in the top six has lost more, and they won't get into the Champions League places if they're losing two-thirds of their away games.
Their progress in the Europa League has been comparatively serene up until this point, and given just how competitive it is at the top end of the Premier League then Arsene Wenger might well be better served following the Jose Mourinho route back to European football's top table.
Winning that competition would also give him the European trophy he's craved, and get a few more doubters off his back.