Manchester United season so far: Are Louis van Gaal's men genuine title contenders?

ANALYSIS: After the international break we've taken a look at Manchester United's season so far...

(Getty Images)

How is it going?

Have a glance at the Premier League table and things appear in pretty good shape - Louis van Gaal's team are third in the league and just two points off top spot.

But scratch beyond the surface and there are some bigger problems brewing. United were awful at Arsenal, of course, but they may have beaten Tottenham and Liverpool but the performances were far from convincing, while they struggled in long spells of the wins against Aston Villa, Southampton and Sunderland.

Wayne Rooney's decline seems terminal, Van Gaal's tactics continue to bewilder, there is a defensive crisis brewing, and the club seem over-reliant on certain players.

As long as United keep winning the cracks will be papered over, but United fans should be more worried than their league position tells them.

Who's on the horizon?

The run until the end of October almost seem like make or break time for this squad, with four tough opponents lying in wait.

Will the poor Arsenal defeat signal the start of a poor run of form or will they bounce back? Next up is a trip to an in-form Everton, never an easy prospect. Then they have to fly to Moscow to face CSKA in mid-week, before a massive Manchester derby at Old Trafford on Sunday 25th. They finish the month with a trip to Selhurst Park, one of the toughest away days in the Premier League.

Positive results and performances in those games will turn this team into legitimate contenders. But equally, defeats will signal a call for changes to the squad.

Who's playing well?

David De Gea has continued last season's fine form despite the Real Madrid distraction, while Chris Smalling and Daley Blind (up until last weekend) have surprisingly formed one of the best centre-back partnerships in the Premier League.

Juan Mata continues to show Jose Mourinho why he should have never been sold and Anthony Martial has taken England by storm.

It's a massive shame that Luke Shaw got injured when he did because he had been brilliant and the side have looked lost in attack and defence without the balance he was providing from left-back.

Who's playing badly?

Wayne Rooney look away now. As mentioned above, Rooney has been dire. He struggled mightily in the No 9 role and has done nothing as a No 10 with just one goal and no assists in seven matches. But apart from his form in front of goal, it's his general play and lack of effort that are also suffering. He put in a lacklustre shift at the Emirates and was dominated by Santi Cazorla, despite being the man tasked with shutting the Spaniard down. He should be out of the team.

It's a continued mystery why Ander Herrera fails to get into the team, while Marouane Fellaini has become a spare part since the emergence of Anthony Martial.

Wayne Rooney has been poor this season

How have the summer signings settled in?

Surprisingly well, bar one. Memphis Depay has shown little of what caused Van Gaal to splash out on the winger over the summer, the Dutchman scoring just once and providing no assists so far this season. Ashley Young has been much more threatening when playing wide left.

Anthony Martial has been a brilliant surprise, though it's worrying there is already so much of a burden on a relatively untested teenager.

Bastian Schweinsteiger has come as advertised, brilliant in possession but can no longer get around the pitch because of years of wear and tear, while Morgan Schneiderlin (who should've played at Arsenal) looks like a star in the midfield for years to come.

Before his relentless mauling at the hands of Alexis Sanchez, Matteo Darmian had looked good as well.

Anthony Martial has taken the Premier League by storm (Getty Images)

Anyone injured?

Luke Shaw, obviously and sadly. Paddy McNair will be out until the end of the month as well.

Phil Jones is yet to start a game for the club but managed 90 minutes as England beat Lithuania.

Marcos Rojo is expected to return to left-back after missing the Arsenal defeat.

What needs to happen?

Van Gaal still hasn't really settled on a strongest XI and continues to persevere with a couple of under-performing players, Rooney and Depay. It'd be risky but taking those two out of the team and playing Mata in the centre and Young on the left would arguably make United a more attacking team.

With so many options in central midfield the Dutch coach really needs to decide which is his strongest pairing and give them an extended run of games together.