Arsenal look good to end title misery with a team built on defensive steel

Arsenal have been here before - several times - and not gone on to win the Premier League - so do not, for one minute, think the title race is done and dusted.

- ANDY DUNN

And if you think the bookmakers’ odds of 1/2 are worth taking, you must be daft.

Yes, they have a magnificent defence, that is for sure. Yes, they clearly carry all sorts of threats from attacking set-pieces. But as highly competent as they are, is Arteta's team one that should strike fear into the opposition in every single game?

In the same way as, say, Manchester City did in their title-winning heyday?

Absolutely not. Liverpool have beaten Arsenal, City took a draw from the Emirates, and Manchester United were unlucky to lose by the only goal at Old Trafford on the opening weekend of the season.

The powerhouses will come good again, and there is a swathe of teams who were probably earmarked for mid-table that now look capable of challenging further up the table, Spurs being one of them. In the Premier League, Arsenal are in the best form right now, but to suggest the title is now a formality is ludicrous.

JEREMY CROSS

If Arsenal don’t go on to win the title this season, Arteta should be sacked. He will never get a better chance than this to lead his team to the ultimate domestic glory. Arsenal have flattered to deceive in recent seasons, coming up short.

But mistakes of the past appear to have been learned from, while Arsenal's miserly defence smacks of being one which belongs to a champion side.