Pep Guardiola has described Arsenal as "exceptional" and admitted his Manchester City team should be top of the Premier League table. It is Arsenal who top the table and will remain there at Christmas should they beat Wolves in their final Premier League game before the break for the World Cup this weekend.
The Gunners hold a two-point lead over Guardiola's Citizens, having dropped points in just two games this season - against Manchester United and Southampton. It has been, as Guardiola says, an exceptional start to the 2022/23 season for Mikel Arteta and his men, particularly given the heartache of missing out on Champions League football in the last three games of last season to fierce rivals Tottenham.
Arteta has always called for supporters to "trust the process" and that process appears to be coming to fruition this season. There is, however, still a long way to go and Arteta will be anxiously watching the World Cup, hoping his players all come back with a clean bill of health.
