The Gunners have won eight games and drawn one in the league but have not faced any of the other so-called big four teams.

It should also be noted that they have enjoyed a fixture schedule which has seen them play six of their league games at home in the Emirates Stadium.

Some still feel Arsenal lack steel and do not cope well with setbacks - and confidence can disappear quickly when things go wrong.

As Nigel Winterburn points out: "Arsenal travel to Liverpool on Sunday and host Manchester United the following Saturday. We'll see after that if they are strong title challengers."