'Can't be busy' - Mikel Arteta refuses to accept Arsenal being labelled new Premier League title favourites after shock Liverpool collapse

Since their loss to Liverpool in August, Arsenal gone unbeaten in five successive league games and eight across all competitions. Out of their eight Premier League matches thus far, Arteta's side have won six and have secured 19 points from the 24 on offer. Their latest 1-0 victory over Fulham has helped the Gunners to extend their lead at the top of the table. They now lead second-placed Manchester City and third-placed Liverpool by three and four points respectively. 

Amid their terrific run of form in the 2025-26 campaign, the Gunners are being increasingly considered the new favourites to win the Premier League title this season. The Gunners have come agonisingly close  multiple times in recent seasons to breaking a two-decade plus drought in pursuit of their 14th English league title. Thus, Arteta has remained cautious as less than one third of this season completed. 

Speaking to reporters ahead of the club's upcoming Champions League fixture against Atletico Madrid, but more pertinently the day after Liverpool's latest defeat, Arteta told reporters: "The only thing I embrace is when I see the team, the energy, the temperature, the commitment and quality that they can deliver. That gives me the conviction that we can go all the way.

"But that's just a feeling, then the next day you have to prove it and you can't be busy thinking about those topics. There obviously is a lot of narrative after [Liverpool lost to Manchester United]. Every game in this league in must-win. We are very appreciative of that, so we don't get carried away with anything."

Arsenal created a lot of hype in the summer transfer window when they beat competition from top club in Europe, including English rivals Manchester United to sign Viktor Gyokeres from Sporting CP on a staggering deal worth €73.5 million (£63.4m/$86m). However, the star forward has failed to live up to expectations in the opening weeks of his Gunners career.

The former Coventry man, who netted 54 goals last season for Sporting CP, has scored just three times in his opening eight league matches, including a brace in a routine 5-0 home win over Leeds in August. The 27-year-old last scored against Nottingham Forest in what was Ange Postecoglou's first game in charge - he has since been sacked. Gyokeres is now on a run of seven club games without a goal, a streak that stretches to nine matches if we include his two Sweden outings this month.

Amid the Swedish striker's goal drought, Arteta sent out a message to his star player as he said after the Fulham clash: "He was very close today again, two or three times. We were all begging for him to score. The work rate he puts in for the team is phenomenal, so we try to give him support and love and it will come. He looks at you and doesn't move. He was on the screen like this and he just said: 'It's fine'. That's him. There's no emotion there, he just has a single-targeted mindset. That's what I love about him."

Arsenal are dealing with a serious injury crisis within two months of the new season as they are missing services of several key first team players like Noni Madueke, captain Martin Odegaard and star forwards Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus. A hectic schedule tops the injury crisis as the Gunners are scheduled to play six matches across all competitions, starting with a difficult Champions League fixture against Atletico Madrid on Tuesday. At least summer recruit Piero Hincapie is finally available for that.

Before the next international break in November, the Gunners are also scheduled to face difficult English clubs like Crystal Palace and Brighton in Premier League and Carabao Cup fixtures respectively in what remains of this month.