If their key men stay fit, Arsenal CAN win title

IF YOU are in that Arsenal dressing room, it is not something you necessarily talk about. You are not shouting from the rooftops that you are in a title race. But deep down you believe that you can achieve something special together. Can Arsenal win the Premier League? Of course. Fourteen games in, they are not only top — they are top by five points after Saturday’s win over Wolves. They have shown tremendous consistency and they have got 24 games to go. January will be interesting. Arsenal did so well in the summer, signing Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko — business that Manchester City can only regret now. Mikel Arteta will look to strengthen in the transfer window, sensing the opportunity. But if the bulk of Arsenal’s XI can stay fit, from Jesus to Zinchenko to Martin Odegaard, then why can’t they compete with Manchester City for the title? City have made mistakes and Arsenal are capitalising.

Arteta will downplay their chances. He will not want to pile any pressure on his players. But all of football is looking at Arsenal now as title contenders.