So far, so good for Arsenal. Top of the Premier League table by five points at the season’s halfway point, a first title since 2004 is, possibly, on the horizon.
Tuesday night’s pummelling of third-placed Aston Villa makes such a case even more convincing. Though, as Mikel Arteta has experienced in their last three campaigns, it is from New Year’s Day by which the real title race begins.
Nineteen league games have been played, 19 remain. In the past at this stage, the north London club have found themselves either first or among the favourites for the No1 spot.