All of the ingredients are there for Arsenal. Four points clear at the top, their rivals in varying states of disarray, a squad with two top class options for every position, an impregnable defence and a manager laser focused on success.
Surely, even the most pessimistic Arsenal fan would struggle to disagree that this has to be the year they finally end their wait for Premier League glory?
Given the ways in which Mikel Arteta’s most recent teams have construed to miss out on silverware, it would be foolish to take anything for granted particularly at this early juncture in the season.
The stars do, however appear to have aligned for this latest incarnation of Arteta’s Arsenal, a mean machine that that has conceded just three goals thus far and only one from open play.
An impenetrable brick wall comprised of four monsters at the back in William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhaes, Jurrien Timber and Riccardo Calafiori take the majority of the credit, but there is a healthy supporting cast.
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Declan Rice and Martin Zubimendi, world-class midfielders in their own rights, have dovetailed superbly and formed an instant understanding that has helped underpin much of what has been good about Arsenal, particularly over the course of a flawless October.
In attack, Arsenal are yet to fully click into gear with recent wins over Fulham and Crystal Palace reduced to slugfests decided by set-pieces.
Bukayo Saka has endured a stop-start campaign, while Viktor Gyokeres hasn’t proven to be the oven-ready solution to Arsenal’s seemingly endless search to replace Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
The Sweden international’s tireless work rate and bulldozing style have,at least offset some of the concerns over his less than prolific form. His ability to bundle beyond defenders and hold off challenges may look a little clumsy but it allows Arsenal to turn transitions into key chances.
That’s particularly vital against teams who employ low blocks that proved particularly hard to break down for an Arsenal side who last season drew 13 Premier League games.
Injuries has meant Arteta has been forced to rotate his squad more regularly than he may otherwise have done, but last night’s routine win over Brighton in the Carabao Cup emphasised the talent he has at his disposal, boosted by a trio of Hale End Acedemy gems.
It seems inevitable that Arsenal will win the league. However, there’s still six teams hoping to stop them…
Liverpool to bounce back?
Liverpool, boosted by their unprecedented summer spending spree, were the overwhelming favourites at the start of the season and that status was cemented after they won their opening five matches, including victory over Arsenal at Anfield.
Nobody could have foreseen a run of six defeats in seven matches in all competitions during which even the form of Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk has been called into question.
Liverpool’s defensive issues are their biggest problem right now. They’re conceding too many goals from set-pieces and there’s an obvious vulnerability to long balls and counter attacks.
The Reds signed a number of new players this summer as Alexander Isak, Florian Wirtz, Hugo Ekitike, Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong came in, but Arne Slot has struggled to come up with a coherent system in which the new talent he has collected can thrive in the same starting XI.
The likes of Wirtz and Isak will surely come good in time but by the time they do Arsenal may well have sailed off into the distance.
Haaland to fire Man City to glory?
City’s experience and mentality makes it impossible to rule them out either.
They’re not as strong or dominant as they once were, but we’re still talking about a club which has clinched four of the last five Premier League titles.
Erling Haaland has been in outrageous form this season, conjuring up 11 goals across nine top-flight matches. If anyone is going to smash through Arteta’s brick wall, surely it’s the Norwegian striker.
But City’s defence has been exposed when the team has transitioned from attack, particularly when the ball has been lost high up the pitch. Can Pep Guardiola lead his team to glory? It’s not ridiculous to think he can.
Bournemouth or Sunderland to do a Leicester?
Leicester City gave every Premier League team outside of the so-called ‘Big Six’ a reason to believe they can do the unthinkable when they won the Premier League title at odds of 5000-1 nine years ago.
If any teams are capable of matching what the Foxes achieved, it’s AFC Bournemouth or Sunderland, who incredibly sit second and fourth in the current table.
Bournemouth are flying under the management of Andoni Iraola with their high pressing and direct style. Could superstar winger Antoine Semenyo be their Riyad Mahrez? Will new gem Eli Junior Kroupi be their Jamie Vardy?
It’s early days but Bournemouth and Sunderland could start dreaming if they keep this form up. The only problem will be if they lose key players to injury, if huge bids arrive in January or if their managers leave mid-season.
What about Tottenham and Man Utd?
It’s flying under the radar how good Tottenham have been since Thomas Frank came in as head coach. They are the joint-top scorers in the Premier League this season and have the joint-second best defensive record.
Under Frank, Spurs have become notably more compact and harder to break down. They are more willing to press high and mix that with a low block when needed. Their set-pieces have improved significantly.
Spurs’ biggest problem is that there’s an over-reliance on width and attacking the flanks. They lack creativity through the middle – but if they address that in January – Tottenham could be serious title challengers.
And what about Manchester United? You’d have been laughed at for suggesting they could win the title at the start of the season but they have been quietly surging up the table after an impressive run of form.
Look at the teams they’ve beaten in that period – champions Liverpool (at Anfield, by the way), high-flying Sunderland and Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea.
Ruben Amorim’s attack is really starting to click after smart summer buys in Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha. It seems a little farfetched they could go all the way and land the Premier League title – but they have no European fixtures to worry about and have more rest time than their rivals.