Arsenal legend Liam Brady has claimed it is a "joy" to be a Gunners fan right now as he admitted he was wrong to doubt Mikel Arteta.
The Premier League leaders will seek to win a sixth consecutive match when they visit FK Bodo/Glimt in the Europa League on Thursday night. It is a stark contrast to last season when Arsenal made their worst start for 67 years by losing their first three Premier League matches.
And 1979 FA Cup winner Brady, one of Arsenal’s greatest ever players, said: "I am delighted. Not only are we top of the league but we are playing some great football to watch. I have been to a few games at the Emirates this season and I am highly delighted with the way things are going.
"You have to give Mikel Arteta a lot of credit for what has gone on. I must admit a couple of years he was in charge earlier on, I was wondering whether he had the experience to look after a club like Arsenal but he is absolutely doing a great job now.
"And you have to give credit to Arsenal to show faith in him. We recovered well last year - we were in the top four right till the last game of the season. We would have qualified for the Champions League but to be fair to the people who were in charge at Arsenal, they stuck with him and re-invested in the transfer market and what has been done has really paid off. It is a joy to be an Arsenal supporter at the moment."
Arteta has opted to leave Jesus and Zinchenko at home for the trip to Norway with the Europa League tie staged on an artificial pitch. But the former Republic of Ireland midfielder claimed the whole squad has matured.
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Brady told BBC Radio 4: "The team is playing with so much confidence and believe. The signings have made a huge difference. Oleksandr Zinchenko and Gabriel Jesus are playing very well. William Saliba, who is only 21, he has come in at centre-back and looks a brilliant player. Xhaka seems to have got his act together. We have got tremendous wingers in Martinelli and Saka.
"They are well under 30 - I think they are in their early 20s. The youngsters have obviously gained experience the last year or two. And with more experience, the better they become. I would say that talent maturing is the biggest factor."
Manchester City remain hot favourites for the title but the mid-season break for the World Cup is an unknown factor in this title race.
"There is a big question mark about this season but from what I have seen so far, I am confident we will be in the Champions League next year," Brady added. "To give Manchester City a run for their money is a tall order but I am hopeful, put it that way."
