ARSENAL'S LONG AND GRINDING ROAD TO THE TITLE

Top of the league but the stuttering has started with strikers struggling for goals

- BY JOHN CROSS

THE path to true love rarely runs smoothly.

And after three near misses, Mikel Arteta decided to take Arsenal on a different route to glory.

This season has been all about getting the job done. Arteta has been characterised as a risk-averse, safety-first manager to finally deliver the Holy Grail of the Premier League title.