Arsenal legend Martin Keown has admitted he is "surprised" by the fact the Gunners currently sit top of the Premier League table after seven games.
Mikel Arteta's side have won six games and lost just once, away at Manchester United, prompting discussion among fans and pundits as to whether the North Londoners can be regarded as title challengers this term. Keown is clearly an admirer of the work the Spaniard has done so far, citing his amazement at just how quickly Arteta has turned things around.
Morale was low around the Emirates just four months ago when Arsenal capitulated in the last knockings of the season to miss out on Champions League qualification, but few fans have carried that feeling into the new campaign as a result of the efforts from both the players and the manager.
Speaking exclusively to Mirror Football, on behalf of BT Sport, Gunners legend Keown conceded his surprise at Arsenal's form as he explained: "Well, I am surprised they are top of the table yes. There was an always opportunity that if they got the right signings in Arsenal could compete, because if you look at the base of [Gabriel] Martinelli, [Bukayo] Saka and [Emile] Smith Rowe – they were carrying the team, Odegaard coming in later.
"So it was just a question of if you got some role models, some players that have already done it, that experience, that was always going to add to the group. Even [Granit] Xhaka, he is now an Arsenal favourite - that's how much it's turned around."
While things are going well at the Emirates, a visit from their North London neighbours and fierce rivals Tottenham on Saturday afternoon marks the biggest test they've faced so far this season.
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Keown has admitted the Gunners have proved nothing yet and must keep striving for excellence to silence any detractors and doubters they may still have.
"It is surprising, I think you've got to build on that now, we are now looking at an Arsenal team that has got to keep developing, got to keep showing it's got the personality, the character, there were question marks last season," the ex-Arsenal star added.
"I thought the performance against Brentford was the best I'd seen, the most complete in every department, they really were second best Brentford that day and that doesn't happen very much in their stadium."
What Arsenal should truly be aiming for in terms of the title or top four will become clear after a tricky October, but Keown has nailed his colours to the mast and has named the four sides, including the Gunners he thinks will be occupying the top four spots come the end of the season.
"When you think about how strong Manchester City are, it's about staying in the running and trying to stay ahead of Spurs.
"I predicted at the start of the season that these two would make it into the top four, that might be a difficult season for Chelsea – there is still a long way to go in that."
Watch Arsenal v Spurs live on BT Sport 1 from 11:30am on Saturday 1st October. For more info, visit btsport.com
