Mikel Arteta has hailed his side for defying all expectations as they surged five points clear at the top of the Premier League to seal their place as Christmas No1.
A second-half double from Martin Odegaard was enough to win at Wolves, the Gunners’ 12th victory in their first 14 games – a position from which no Premier League said has failed to win the title.
But Arteta, whose reign has been characterised by the purge of difficult personalities such as Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Matteo Guendouzi from the dressing room, insisted the atmosphere around the club is just as important as the results on the pitch.