\n
\nAs Mikel Arteta passionately celebrated Arsenal\u2019s victory at Leeds United on Sunday, supporters lauded his side with the chant \u201c1-0 to the Arsenal.\u201d<\/p>\n
\nIt paid homage to the teams of yesteryear who often showed defensive resilience and tactical acumen to achieve such a result.<\/p>\n
\nIt is something not associated with the Gunners in recent seasons as inconsistent performances have seen them fall out of the Premier League\u2019s top-four picture and a place in the coveted Champions League.<\/p>\n
\nFabulous one game, feeble the next, and subsequent questions about their mentality and quality.<\/p>\n
\nNow Arsenal stand four points clear at the top, having impressively won nine of their opening 10 league games in a season for the first time since 1903-04.<\/p>\n
\nAs Arteta said afterward: \u201cThis is not a coincidence, it shows the willingness that I see in the eyes of the players to win, to compete. This is something special.\u201d<\/p>\n
\nThe 40-year-old Spanish manager, who took over in 2019 after three years as assistant to Pep Guardiola at Manchester City, is creating something special at the Emirates Stadium as his young side passed another big test of their credentials to challenge the title favorites.<\/p>\n
\nMohamed Salah\u2019s fourth goal this week, accounting for City\u2019s first league defeat of the campaign at Liverpool, has added fresh intrigue to a race that did not feature Arsenal as contenders at the start of the season.<\/p>\n
\nAfter all, they have not been champions since Arsene Wenger\u2019s \u201cInvincibles\u201d went unbeaten in the 2003-04 season, and last finished in the top four in 2016 when they were runners-up to Leicester.<\/p>\n
\nYet Arteta\u2019s men deserve to be in the frame again as their displays have combined stubborn resolve with a slick and quick attack, producing performances that bear the hallmarks of past title-winning sides.<\/p>\n
\nThey followed a thrilling 3-2 win over Liverpool last weekend with a defiant one at a hostile Elland Road against a Leeds outfit that allowed Bukayo Saka to smash in the stunning winner, via a Rodrigo mistake, and then pummeled the Arsenal backline with aggressive intent.<\/p>\n
\nThe outcome could have been different had Patrick Bamford not sent a penalty wide, nor VAR overturn another spot kick and red card for the otherwise impressive Gabriel \u2014 both injury time decisions changed after Bamford was adjudged to have initially barged the Brazilian center-back who lashed out with a high kick.<\/p>\n
\nArteta said Arsenal were made to \u201csuffer\u201d but crucially did not succumb as before.<\/p>\n
\nKeeper Aaron Ramsdale, another to stand firm with a string of fine saves, reveled in his side\u2019s ability to \u201cwin ugly\u201d \u2014 where top teams sacrifice attractive football for a pragmatic approach to secure victories.<\/p>\n
\nThe visitors had opened Leeds up in a first half delayed by a power cut, with brisk counterattacks soaked in class.<\/p>\n
\nIn Martin Odegaard, they have a player capable of orchestrating attacks with intelligence and industry.<\/p>\n
\nThere are glimpses of Kevin De Bruyne, David Silva and Luka Modric \u2014 footballing artists who are just a joy to watch \u2014 in Odegaard\u2019s passing and knack of finding space. With such creativity and the captaincy at just 23, the Norwegian could lead Arsenal by example in the way Cesc Fabregas once did.<\/p>\n
\nHaving engineered an opening for Gabriel Jesus, which the Brazil forward chipped over with a neat backheel flick, a sublime pass between two defenders then released Saka to blast in from an acute angle.<\/p>\n
\nWith four goals in his last three games, England winger Saka is thriving like the rest of his team.<\/p>\n
\nYet Arsenal did not play to these strengths in the second half as Leeds pressed more vigorously, dropping deeper, not controlling possession and inviting pressure that they eventually managed to defy through determination and good fortune.<\/p>\n
\nHaving set higher standards, Ramsdale said: \u201cIt\u2019s the worst we have played. Another day they probably beat us 2-1, 3-1.<\/p>\n
\n\u201cWe want to play our way, we want to control games, but sometimes you just can\u2019t.<\/p>\n
\n\u201cFor us, to get through this game, get three points and a clean sheet away from home, is massive.<\/p>\n
\n\u201cSometimes you have to win ugly, smash and grab with not many chances on goal. We don\u2019t want to do this every week, we want to be winning with nice football.<\/p>\n
\n\u201cBut it\u2019s now in the back of our minds to know we can do it and, at a place like Leeds, gives us confidence. It\u2019s important to do that.<\/p>\n
\n\u201cIt\u2019s polar opposites in terms of performances (to the one against Liverpool), but in the end it\u2019s the same result. It\u2019s all about that balance, you have to be able to do this.\u201d<\/p>\n
\nThe Gunners will still have to show their rise is not followed by an expected fall, and they are not primed to fold under the pressure of being leaders.<\/p>\n
\nBut spirited wins over Tottenham, Liverpool and now Leeds should dispel some doubts and give them belief they should be feared rather than be fearful.<\/p>\n
\n\u201cWe are still developing and learning,\u201d added Ramsdale. \u201cWe are in a great position at the minute, but we aren\u2019t the finished article.<\/p>\n
\n\u201cWe are not going to (go) everywhere and out-pass every team and win every second ball. Sometimes you have got to grit your teeth and that\u2019s what we did against Leeds. We had to grind it out.<\/p>\n
\n\u201cWe don\u2019t feel added pressure being top. We go into every game with a big smile on our face, trying to win a game of football.<\/p>\n
\n\u201cWe are just loving going into games because we know at our best, and at our worst, we can still win.\u201d<\/p>\n
\nArsenal\u2019s fine start has poured scorn on those who feel City are unstoppable in achieving a hat trick of titles.<\/p>\n
\nGuardiola\u2019s men remain favorites, but Liverpool have revived their hopes, Tottenham\u2019s start to a season is their best since 1963, and Chelsea should not be discounted either following Graham Potter\u2019s arrival and five straight wins.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\n
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