Manchester City were again scoring and creating for fun this time against Sunderland at home. Eleven goals in their last three games tells a story even if the recent outings against Fulham and Leeds United were anything but a walk in the park. The fabulous skills of Rayan Cherki and the recaptured form of Phil Foden in particular have made a huge difference.
It does now look a little menacing for Arsenal and everyone else but not in the fiercely ominous way City sides have been in the recent past. Defeats at Newcastle and Villa have shown that they are long way from being invincible. Even though the gap is now a paltry two points I don't think Arsenal fans should go into a blind panic. They were never going to stay far ahead in such a competitive league and Mikel Arteta has known this all along.
Just look at Arteta's body language after the last-minute defeat at Villa and the fact he was quick to mention this was their first defeat in 18 games. Villa Park is an extraordinarily difficult place to go, only Arsenal themselves and Manchester City have better home records this season.
As Emi Buendia roofed it in the 96th minute to take all three points many thought this could be a sign that Arsenal are not title wining material.
I saw precisely the opposite. Instead of watching the scorer, look at the desperate defending, the herculean efforts to keep the ball out of the net. There are four Arsenal players ignoring everything and throwing their bodies at a volley of incoming shots.
That showed me desire and endeavour to the last, and that is without their rock like centre-back partnership of William Saliba and Gabriel.
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