From goner to Top Gunner... Arteta revival at Arsenal has been amazing FOWLER

ROBBIE Our Anfield legend always hits the mark

I DON’T think I’m alone in beginning to think Arsenal’s form this season is uncannily echoing Leicester’s crazy 2016 title-winning campaign.

I won’t compare the two teams or their histories, but I am comparing the way that both of them were constantly, incessantly, written off – even this late in the season.

In that sense, the Gunners really are mimicking that miraculous Claudio Ranieri side.

They got off to a flier and people said it wouldn’t last.

They consolidated in December and were top at Christmas, but then had a little wobble where they dropped behind the favourites, but then came back with a real show of grit and character. Leicester went virtually every game until Easter with people saying it couldn’t last, they would collapse, but the Foxes went on to claim the title by TEN points. So who am I to write off Arsenal now?

I’ve maintained throughout this season that Manchester City have won over course and distance so many times it has to make them favourites.

And no doubt they know how to string together an intimidating run of victories on the home straight.

But are we doing Arsenal a disservice? They had that bad run in February, and everyone was saying, ‘Here we go, the collapse is coming.’ But the reaction has been remarkable. Seven straight Premier League wins.

They’ve not played fantastic football in all those matches, but that’s the point.

Like Leicester, the momentum and confidence that comes from winning has given them an ‘all together now’ edge – as they showed during their 4-0 win over Everton last month (above).

I know they have to go to Liverpool this afternoon, and also City and Newcastle, but I’m not betting against them now, for a very simple reason – the manager has created the perfect environment.

It’s Easter Sunday so we can talk about resurrection, and maybe it’s not pushing things too far to say

Mikel Arteta has brought Arsenal back from the dead!

What a transformation it’s been (above, left) for him to be able to celebrate last month’s comeback win against Bournemouth... from the ruins of a 2-0 defeat at Brentford at the start of last season.

I remember a couple of years back, even more recently than that in fact, he was getting booed by his own fans and there were genuine questions about his chances of survival. And players like Granit Xhaka (right) looked finished.

It’s almost unique these days to see a manager and his players come under pressure like that, and the owners not pull the plug almost immediately. Instead, they showed belief in Arteta’s methods and his philosophy.

And, most importantly, in the environment he was fostering.

His backing for Xhaka, for instance, has delivered a player who has been vital this season – but also one who buys into the environment completely.

It is so unusual these days to see players arrive in the summer and fit in straight away. Usually, only the megastars do that, and even not always with them.

It’s no coincidence. Even the players who arrived in January – such as Leandro Trossard from Brighton – have contributed massively, and that’s because they’ve come into the right atmosphere, a place where the players are happy, and believe.

It used to be like that throughout Jurgen Klopp’s reign, but not any more, which is why you can see Arsenal doing the unthinkable – in recent years anyway – and winning at Anfield today.

If Klopp doesn’t know what the problem is with Liverpool, then I’m not going to second guess.

But it strikes me they’ve always been a side whose confidence is based on momentum, as we’ve seen so many times under this manager.

They get on a successful run and the confidence that breeds maintains it.

But the reverse can happen too.

Liverpool have been stripped of momentum all season – and when they’ve had a little positive run, there’s always been something to stop it.

I think, sadly, the answer won’t come until the summer now. I don’t see them getting top four, and I think Klopp will have to resolve it in the transfer market.

But then Arteta has shown if you bring in the right players, rather than just throwing a bunch of big-money signings at the problem, it is possible to come back from the dead.