"It is reassuring to know that if your performances are right, you do not need bad results from somebody else, Arsene Wenger said after watching Arsenal leapfrog surprise package Leicester to go top of the Premier League a few days after Christmas in 2015. That is one less stress. Once you are first, you can just focus on your performance."
"Across that period, which started with the post-Invincibles season in which they led for the first 10 weeks before being derailed after Manchester United ended their 49-match unbeaten run and has included a record of being top for 248 nights and finishing second in 2022-23, they have spent 773 nights (as of Saturday morning) the equivalent of more than two years in pole position without taking the chequered flag."
"Although they have not won on their past two visits to Saturday's opponents, Fulham, cathartic victories in successive matches: Newcastle, Olympiakos and West Ham sides Arsenal have struggled against under Mikel Arteta have created a growing sense of optimism at the club that this could be the year they finally get past the post. We cannot pay too much attention to that because the feeling was: You go to Newcastle, if you lose in Newcastle, the Premier League is over,' said the Arsenal manager"
Arsenal reached the Premier League summit a few days after Christmas 2015, with Arsene Wenger stressing that strong performances reduce reliance on rivals' poor results. The team spent only 26 nights at the top that season before Leicester's 5,000-1 title surge. Since the 2004 championship, Arsenal have accumulated 773 nights in first place—the equivalent of more than two years—without winning the title. Liverpool were champions last season after 234 nights as leaders. Arsenal are top again after Liverpool's recent defeats. Recent wins over Newcastle, Olympiakos and West Ham and improving form under Mikel Arteta have increased optimism despite recurring struggles against some opponents.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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