For now, at least, the title chasers can breathe a collective sigh of relief that Arsenal's Premier League dominance remains intact. The Gunners' seven-point lead over Manchester City, their closest challengers, is not under immediate threat, and it feels like more than just a mere psychological advantage.
While some might argue that the longer the season stretches on, the more pressure comes to bear from those nipping at Arsenal's heels, the reality is that Mikel Arteta's team have been far superior to their rivals thus far. In fact, approaching a third of the way through the campaign, they've outperformed everyone in the league.
It's worth noting, however, that this season has seen an alarming trend of teams handing out title glories prematurely. As Pep Guardiola and Jürgen Klopp's rivalry came to a head back in 2018, it became clear that being champion was no longer just about accumulating points – it was about anticipating potential pitfalls ahead of time.
In this case, though, Arsenal have been fortunate enough to escape some potential challenges unscathed. While their first serious title push came in the 2022-23 season, when they were seven points clear at the top and seemed like they had a run-in on their hands, this has proven to be a more manageable proposition.
This weekend's north London derby against Spurs was a prime example of Arsenal's dominance, as they dismantled their local rivals with ease. The 4-1 win over Spurs not only highlighted the team's brilliance in open play but also served as a statement of purpose – that this season is well and truly under control.
The absence of Gabriel, one of Arsenal's most crucial players, was barely noticeable, apart from perhaps the fact that they didn't find the back of the net from a set piece. But even that minor hiccup couldn't bring down the team's cohesion, as seen in their performance against Spurs.
It's still early days in the season, and anything can happen – but for now, at least, it seems like Arsenal are well on course to win the title without too much drama. Liverpool, while struggling to keep up, seem all but done for the season, and even Manchester City's best efforts might not be enough to bridge the gap.
With 26 games still to play, there's certainly room for misfortune or doubts to creep in – but so far this season has shown that Arsenal have a squad that looks almost impossible to stop.
While some might argue that the longer the season stretches on, the more pressure comes to bear from those nipping at Arsenal's heels, the reality is that Mikel Arteta's team have been far superior to their rivals thus far. In fact, approaching a third of the way through the campaign, they've outperformed everyone in the league.
It's worth noting, however, that this season has seen an alarming trend of teams handing out title glories prematurely. As Pep Guardiola and Jürgen Klopp's rivalry came to a head back in 2018, it became clear that being champion was no longer just about accumulating points – it was about anticipating potential pitfalls ahead of time.
In this case, though, Arsenal have been fortunate enough to escape some potential challenges unscathed. While their first serious title push came in the 2022-23 season, when they were seven points clear at the top and seemed like they had a run-in on their hands, this has proven to be a more manageable proposition.
This weekend's north London derby against Spurs was a prime example of Arsenal's dominance, as they dismantled their local rivals with ease. The 4-1 win over Spurs not only highlighted the team's brilliance in open play but also served as a statement of purpose – that this season is well and truly under control.
The absence of Gabriel, one of Arsenal's most crucial players, was barely noticeable, apart from perhaps the fact that they didn't find the back of the net from a set piece. But even that minor hiccup couldn't bring down the team's cohesion, as seen in their performance against Spurs.
It's still early days in the season, and anything can happen – but for now, at least, it seems like Arsenal are well on course to win the title without too much drama. Liverpool, while struggling to keep up, seem all but done for the season, and even Manchester City's best efforts might not be enough to bridge the gap.
With 26 games still to play, there's certainly room for misfortune or doubts to creep in – but so far this season has shown that Arsenal have a squad that looks almost impossible to stop.