The feeling around Norwich City has completely changed following the weekend's superb victory over Arsenal, according to defender Sebastien Bassong.

The Cameroon international was a tower of strength as City claimed their second Premier League clean sheet of the season on Saturday – and more importantly, their first victory. It lifted the Canaries to 15th in the table, and most notably lifted the mood around Carrow Road – and Bassong admitted the two-week international break before their clash with the Gunners played its part too.

'In the mind, this win changes things completely because we are going back home with a smile and this week we will be really happy, and it's going to give us more confidence,' said Bassong.

'We have got such a good squad and the mentality in the squad is really good. Everyone is working well and the competition is really tough too. Everyone is pulling the same way and I think we deserved the win and maybe the two-week break helped a little bit. But we must not take that wrong. We have got to keep working. It was a good taste for us against Arsenal but after, we have got to forget it and look forward to the next game against Aston Villa.'

The Villa game will take on a greater significance for some of Bassong's team-mates, rather than the centre-back himself, as City come up against the manager who led them through two divisions to Premier League survival.

Skipper Grant Holt will be one of those – but regardless of the game, Bassong is just glad he does not have to battle against City's number nine on matchdays any more.

'When you play against him, he's such a beast,' smiled Bassong. 'He's annoying, always running at you, never leaves you alone. So I'd rather have him in my team than against him.

Bassong added: 'We have got to take the lessons from the Arsenal game and look forward to trying to be better and better with each game. We never know what's going to happen each game but for now we enjoy the last one.'