Mikel Arteta may play down talk of a Premier League title challenge, but Arsenal are looking like contenders early on - and could not have made a better start to the season.
The Gunners head into the clash against Manchester United this afternoon top of the table and could extend their lead to four points with a win at Old Trafford. Gabriel Jesus has been a revelation since arriving from Manchester City in the summer transfer window, registering six goal contributions in his first five appearances.
Arsenal have been hit with injuries this week as Martin Odegaard and Aaron Ramsdale picked up knocks in the win over Aston Villa on Wednesday. The Gunners captain and No.1 goalkeeper are being assessed ahead of the game, with Arteta unable to select Thomas Partey and Mohamed Elneny in midfield due to injury.
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Writing in his column for The Mirror, former Liverpool star Stan Collymore insists that Arsenal will not be title challenges this season despite their strong start. Collymore wrote: "I'm willing to stick my neck on the line right now and tell all those Gooners who think they will be challenging for the title after five wins from five that they simply have no chance.
"Last season, I was so confident Arsenal would fail to make the top four that I vowed to buy a shirt with ‘Arteta 8’ on the back if they did and plaster pictures of me wearing it all over social media. To be fair, it’s not a chance I’m willing to take this time out after seeing the start they have made, but just as I’m happy to concede they could well qualify for the Champions League next May.
"The smart money is on Manchester City to win the Premier League by anything between nine and 15 points and history tells me that Arsenal won’t be anywhere near them at the pointy end of the season. Just look at the gap they have to close – 24 points last season – and reflect on the previous seven or eight years.
"There is nothing to suggest they can now mount a serious challenge, even after starting brightly. What baffles me is that supporters and pundits alike seem to regularly suffer from collective amnesia when it comes to remembering how seasons pan out."
Collymore believes tougher tests are yet to come for the Gunners and has concerns regarding how Gabriel Jesus will perform following the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. The 51-year-old continued: "It’s not a case of teams playing 38 games on beautiful sunny days in front of a really enthusiastic crowd.
"There’s cold weather to deal with, wet weather, international breaks, injuries, loss of form and a whole plethora of off-field issues, all of which will come along and test Arsenal. They are one of the best teams on the planet at playing when there’s no pressure, no stress, no hassle, when the pitches are beautiful and the days long and sunny.
"I love the way Jesus, in particular, has started the season. But, as Mikel Arteta said a couple of weeks ago, the lad made just 18 Premier League starts in two seasons prior to joining the Gunners, so it’s a fair question for any of us to ask 'Can he keep up this form for an entire campaign?'
"We don’t know yet how he will respond after the World Cup, or how will he play in January and February when it’s cold and wet and he’s still expected to be the main man. Those of us who know what it takes to play 38 games in a Premier League season know the physical and mental demands that come with it, and Jesus still has to learn all about that.
"It’s not as if the team has faced a really tough test yet – at least three of their five games have been against teams who could well end up in a relegation scrap. So while I've enjoyed watching Arsenal’s performances, their fans need to enjoy the start for what it is.
"If your club does get to third or fourth, I will say, 'Well done, you were right to give Arteta the time and money to do what he has done.' Although qualification for the Champions League still isn’t winning the title, is it?"
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