ARSENAL announced themselves as a legitimate threat to Manchester City’s Premier League crown after mercilessly slaying rivals Tottenham 3-1 at the Emirates.
Heading into the North London Derby, you’d have to go back 16 league matches to find the last time a visiting team left with three points.
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It was in March 2014 when Arsenal beat their rivals Tottenham 1-0 at White Hart Lane.
Since that day, both sides have held their nerve when defending their turf – and Saturday’s fixture at the Emirates was no different.
Arsenal came into the fixture top of the league, having won seven of the opening eight games.
Such form had fans declaring Arsenal title challengers to Manchester City’s crown and they backed up those claims with a dominant win over Spurs.
Mikel Arteta has Arsenal playing with swagger again, something they had become accustomed to under legendary boss Arsene Wenger.
Solid at the back, creative and ruthless in attack.
And they put Tottenham to the sword from the moment Anthony Taylor blew his whistle.
Quick, aggressive passing, as well as pressing, had Spurs pinned back inside their own half for most of the game.
And despite heading into half-time level, after a Harry Kane penalty, the Arsenal faithful clapped their team off knowing what was to come.
A rousing half-time team talk by Arteta saw the Gunners start the second half how they started the first.
Gabriel Jesus continued to show why Arsenal splashed the cash on him in the summer, restoring the lead with a close range strike.
Watching Arsenal zip the ball across the pitch was undoubtedly a painful sight for Tottenham’s fans and players.
So painful Emerson Royal decided to leave a mark on a rival with a rash challenge, resulting in a red card and all but putting the game to bed.
Did Arsenal take their foot off the gas? No.
They went in search of a third to finish Spurs off and it came through fan favourite Granit Xhaka, who has gone from zero to hero under Arteta.
The result didn’t just to remind Tottenham that North London was red – it was also to put their other Prem rivals on notice of their wider ambitions.
Arsenal have taken an astonishing 21 points from an available 24.
And with usual title contenders Liverpool and Chelsea getting off to a slow start, Arteta and his young, exciting and free-scoring team will fancy themselves of pushing champions City.
If the Derby win wasn’t enough to make rivals sit up and pay attention – Arsenal have another opportunity to do so next Sunday.
The Gunners host Premier League and Champions League runners-up Liverpool with Jurgen Klopp’s men lagging 12 points behind.
