Can the Gunners keep firing on all cylinders to win the EPL?

The table-topping Gunners will be sitting top of the tree come Christmas Day for the first time in 15 years. They Londonders, aside from their defeat to Manchester United, have either beaten or drawn against their biggest rivals this season and look the real deal.
The enforced English Premier League (EPL) break to tackle the FIFA World Cup finals in Qatar has suited some sides. With so many shocks at the winter tournament, for most leading clubs there can be no excuse about the line-up being jaded when the season resumes.
Arsenal’s ambition is to deny Manchester City a third successive title and spring a surprise to be crowned league champions for the first time since 2004. Whether they can fend off the chasing pack of the traditional top six, plus unfancied package Newcastle, remains to be seen.
The annual title tussle generally only involves two teams, and before the break this season this was no different with sportsbooks backing another two-horse race this term.
Arsenal, who have surprised fans and pundits alike, are tentatively priced at +3.85 to win the EPL. They trail Manchester City’s superstars, whose slick passing and ability to throw on a game-changer from the bench has them as a +1.51 shot.
Mikel Arteta, who has been Arsenal head coach for three years, has remarkably opened up a five-point lead over the reigning champions. Newcastle lie third, with Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United making up the top five places.
Liverpool and Chelsea are off the pace for an automatic Champions League berth, but when the EPL resumes the race can swiftly alter.
Arsenal appear to be a hungry, sharp and young unit rather than a team full of superstars. Without injured Brazilian striker Gabriel Jesus, the second half of the season could revert to normal service with the cream rising to the top.
Jesus and Raheem Sterling were two players that moved from Manchester City during the summer. The money from the pair was spent on bringing in prolific striker Erling Haaland as a marquee signing, and he has been powering in the goals. Yet the side don’t drill out their usual perfect results that head coach Pep Guardiola has long relied on solely from flashes of form and silky skills.
Newcastle and Liverpool lie as generous outsiders with Betfair Australia to win the EPL at +36 and +40 respectively. Newcastle’s impressive run, thanks to a mean defence, has seen them soar into the Champions League places under English head coach Eddie Howe.
Liverpool’s poor away form and string of injuries has seen them fight back from initially tumbling down the table. They were finding their rhythm before Qatar intervened, with head coach Jurgen Klopp given the break to iron out issues.
Tottenham have yet to impress under the predictable tactics from head coach Antonio Conte, yet they have managed to stay in the running to win the league. A plethora of erratic performances and close scrapes leaves Spur lagging behind the big boys as a +70 long shot.
Manchester United have drifted to +85 outsiders. Head coach Erik ten Hag has finally dispensed with Portuguese icon Cristiano Ronaldo, so will aim to kick-off a new era at Old Trafford. He has ground out some decent results since being installed, but the changing of culture and style remains a challenge this term.
The pause for Qatar 2022 suited recently-installed and underfire Chelsea head coach Graham Potter. The team’s initial improvement after he replaced the sacked Thomas Tuchel, took a U-turn although partly down to so many injuries.
Brighton & Hove Albion, his former club, kicked off a torrid set of results that have seen Chelsea fans make it known that they want him given the boot. Priced at +380 to win the EPL, the Blues fans are more likely to bet on a new manager come the start of next season if they miss out on a Champions League berth.
The resumption of top-flight football, with the elite clubs brimming with international aces, is going to be intriguing. Their involvement at Qatar 2022 could take its toll for some clubs, although the incredible depth of the squads for the likes of Manchester City and Arsenal points to only those teams chasing top honours this term according to sportsbooks.