Arsenal will be top of the Premier League table at Christmas after losing just one game in the English top-flight so far this season.
The Gunners head into the World Cup break off the back of a brilliant win away against Wolves as club captain Martin Odegaard scored twice to move Arsenal five points clear at the top of the table. Manchester City's defeat to Brentford came as a huge boost to Mikel Arteta's side who will return to action on Boxing Day with a tough match against West Ham.
Gabriel Jesus signed for the Gunners from City in the summer transfer window after completing a £45million transfer to the Emirates Stadium. The Brazilian striker enjoyed a brilliant start to life in north London but has struggled in recent weeks, failing to score in his last nine appearances, dating back to the North London Derby victory against Tottenham.
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Arsenal have impressed in their opening 14 Premier League fixtures but need to navigate 24 more games before they can claim a fourth Premier League title and their first since 2004. Owen Hargreaves believes the Gunners can go all the way, but they must strengthen one area of Arteta's squad to maintain their form.
"They [Arsenal] earned the right to be there. I don't think they could ever have envisioned at the World Cup break being top, ahead of Man City and Liverpool," the former Man City and Man United midfielder told the Premier League website.
"We could argue last season they were two of the best teams in the world, never mind in the Premier League. [Arsenal are] still ahead of schedule, they're over-achieving, but credit Mikel Arteta, he turned that toxic atmosphere around that was at Arsenal. They're a fantastic side, one of the youngest sides in the whole division, but they are there and they've given themselves a chance to win the Premier League."
Despite believing the Gunners could challenge at the top of the table until the end of the season, Hargreaves hopes the club back Arteta in the January transfer window to sign reinforcements. Hargreaves continued: "Now, I just hope they can go and add to it and bring someone else in to strengthen the team.
"You look at City and Liverpool, Tottenham, Chelsea, the depth that they have. I think Mikel needs one more [attacker] to help Gabriel Jesus.
"He [Jesus] does a lot for the team, but right now he's not scoring a lot of goals. Yes they're [goals] coming from Saka and Odegaard and Martinelli so that's okay, but they're right there and you want to see them finish it off."
Michael Owen has agreed with Hargreaves' praise of the Gunners but still believes Pep Guardiola's side will overtake Arsenal in the end. "There's been a massive improvement for Arsenal this season," the former Liverpool striker said.
"I still think that Manchester City are the best team, they should be favourites. Them losing against Brentford has given a few teams that thought they may have been out of it [the Premier League title race] a little bit of a boost."
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