Around 14 months ago, the fixture list for the 2013-14 season was released. Speculation had been rife on who Arsenal would face on opening day, Liverpool away was a fixture that had been 'leaked'. The fixture Arsenal were given was Aston Villa at home, a game that didn't strike fans as a difficult fixture. It was. A 3-1 home loss on the first day of the season is a result no club wants. A year later, Arsenal are contemplating another home opening day fixture, this time against Crystal Palace. How far have Arsenal come since Aston Villa though, or will Arsenal be staring at the match report if another home opening day loss?

Transfers

Since the Villa game, Arsenal's attitude towards transfers changed. The fans at the Emirates were angry at the lack of transfer activity, there were "Spend Spend Spend" banners at the Emirates. Since than Wenger has started to spend, Arsenal have spent over £100 million in a year, something that would have been unheard of a few seasons ago. 

Squad morale

After the Villa match the squad were obviously demoralised, it must have been a devastating result. The aftermath of that result was a lot better though. Arsenal didn't lose at home in league again that season and went unbeaten for the next nine league games. Coupled with the signing of Özil, the squad morale must have been sky high around November time. The squad morale was high for the majority of the season and the season ended on a high after the FA Cup win. The squad are quietly confident going into the season. Squad morale has improved a lot since Villa. 

Tactics

The tactics that Arsene Wenger plays now aren't dissimilar to the tactics he played on the fateful day in August last year. Arsenal were deployed in a 4-2-3-1 formation although different players would most likely play if this fixture were to be repeated now.  The tactics haven't really evolved but the standard of players playing has. 

Media view of the club

Last season, most media outlets predicted that Arsenal would finish outside the top four. Some media outlets have consistently predicted this for years but Arsenal always seem to prove them wrong. This season though expectations from the media are higher, some people are still saying outside the top four, but others are saying that Arsenal can win the league. 

Fan expectation 

Before the Villa match fan expectation of the season to come was quietly confident, top four was expected and maybe a trophy. After the match though, those expectations plummeted. Over a year later, going in to the 2014-15 season expectations are higher. Now that Arsenal have won the FA Cup the fans want more. In that respect Arsenal have come a long way since Villa.   

Overall, it is generally thought that Arsenal have come a long way since the opening day of last season, but the only way to answer those would don't think that they have come a long way is to win on opening day this year.