In defence of Arsenal – is criticism of Premier League leaders unfair?

Arteta and Arsenal need to retain the courage we are all questioning now.

But it seems a bit contradictory to single out Arsenal for their style when they fall short, then be carped in a tight fight for the four top honours, once they reach March.

This is what Arteta means when he talks about the “noise” surrounding title races, especially when your club hasn’t won a title race since 2003/04.

But are criticisms of Arsenal’s systematic style really fair?

Arsenal became the team that scored the most goals (58) and conceded the fewest goals (22) in the Premier League. The goal difference of +36 is at its highest level.

Predictably, Arsenal are well ahead in goals scored from set-pieces, including penalties, with 21 goals, while Manchester United are second with 15 goals.

This season, they scored 27.6% of their goals from 16 corners. Spurs, who are at the top of this ranking, scored 13 of their 38 goals from corners; 34.2% overall.

Arsenal had more touches (981) in the opponent’s penalty area than any other team. Liverpool is in second place with 939 points. According to OPTA statistics, they are tied for second place with Brentford in terms of creating big chances. They have 87 compared to City’s 89.

This speaks to the efficiency and success so far this season, although Arteta admits things need to be better than the Chelsea win ending in panic.

He said immediately afterwards: “This is something we will definitely discuss because we need to improve it and do better.

“I’m trying to stay calm but we weren’t getting the control we wanted, especially against ten men.

“You see in every team that wins a game, everyone suffers and the margins are very small. But that’s good.”

City have suffered similarly stressful results in their last two wins against Newcastle United and Leeds United, but isn’t that what champions, or wannabe champions, do?

Are Arsenal also paying the price for the elite level of football offered by Pep Guardiola’s City, who won six titles under the Catalan, and their closest rivals Liverpool under Jurgen Klopp, who won one before successor Arne Slot repeated the feat in his first season?

While Guardiola’s style became the template for purists, Klopp’s explosive “heavy metal football” provided a thrilling counterpoint.

Arteta has made Arsenal more pragmatic in their bid to finally bring the elusive crown to the Emirates Stadium.

There is more than one way to win the Premier League title and if Arteta’s worldly approach ends the 26-year wait, not a single Arsenal convert will care what the critics say.