Arsenal's Premier League dominance appears to be intact, at least for now. The Gunners' impressive form has left Manchester City and Liverpool struggling to keep pace, with the former dropping points equivalent to their entire 2017-18 campaign already this season.
It's a far cry from last year's World Cup winter, when perceptions were distorted by the break in fixtures and ultimately led to a collapse against Liverpool and West Ham. This time around, however, Arsenal have been able to maintain their focus and apply pressure on their title rivals.
The key factor is mental toughness – something that separates the champions from those who are merely chasing glory. As the season wears on, the run-in becomes increasingly important, with pursuers gaining momentum as they close in on their targets. In football, it's almost entirely a psychological state, and Arsenal have excelled in this department.
While there will always be doubts and misfortunes along the way, it's hard to see anyone stopping the Gunners now. Their squad looks deeper and more coherent than any other Premier League team, with players capable of performing at an elite level on both open play and set pieces. Liverpool may have conceded too much ground, while Chelsea will need a remarkable run-in to catch up.
For now, Arsenal's title hopes remain as strong as ever. They've put together the most impressive 20-game sequence in Premier League history, with goals conceded at an astonishing rate of fewer than one per match. It's clear that this is their season – and unless something drastic happens, they'll be crowned champions come May.
The upcoming weeks will provide some much-needed respite from the pressure, though. With a Champions League tie against Bayern on Wednesday to precede a match against Chelsea next Sunday, Arsenal have shown an admirable ability to handle their business in both domestic and European competitions. Whether they can maintain this level of form over the remainder of the campaign remains to be seen – but for now, the signs are very encouraging indeed.
In short, it's time to start writing off those who predicted a title challenge from other teams. With Arsenal at the helm, the Premier League is theirs for the taking – and no one appears capable of stopping them just yet.
It's a far cry from last year's World Cup winter, when perceptions were distorted by the break in fixtures and ultimately led to a collapse against Liverpool and West Ham. This time around, however, Arsenal have been able to maintain their focus and apply pressure on their title rivals.
The key factor is mental toughness – something that separates the champions from those who are merely chasing glory. As the season wears on, the run-in becomes increasingly important, with pursuers gaining momentum as they close in on their targets. In football, it's almost entirely a psychological state, and Arsenal have excelled in this department.
While there will always be doubts and misfortunes along the way, it's hard to see anyone stopping the Gunners now. Their squad looks deeper and more coherent than any other Premier League team, with players capable of performing at an elite level on both open play and set pieces. Liverpool may have conceded too much ground, while Chelsea will need a remarkable run-in to catch up.
For now, Arsenal's title hopes remain as strong as ever. They've put together the most impressive 20-game sequence in Premier League history, with goals conceded at an astonishing rate of fewer than one per match. It's clear that this is their season – and unless something drastic happens, they'll be crowned champions come May.
The upcoming weeks will provide some much-needed respite from the pressure, though. With a Champions League tie against Bayern on Wednesday to precede a match against Chelsea next Sunday, Arsenal have shown an admirable ability to handle their business in both domestic and European competitions. Whether they can maintain this level of form over the remainder of the campaign remains to be seen – but for now, the signs are very encouraging indeed.
In short, it's time to start writing off those who predicted a title challenge from other teams. With Arsenal at the helm, the Premier League is theirs for the taking – and no one appears capable of stopping them just yet.