‘Arsenal digging deep to show character’

There were nerves during Sunday’s 2-1 home win against Chelseabut Arsenal responded by losing a 2-0 lead at Doomed Wolverhampton Wanderers with this result, following an emphatic 4-1 triumph in the north London derby at Tottenham Hotspur.

It was a show of character demanded by outside observers, but other brickbats stepped up to score both goals from corners.

It was fresh ammunition for those who decried Arsenal as one-dimensional, but Mikel Arteta will be right to point out that he is using what almost amounts to a lethal (and legal) weapon thanks to the work of French coach Nicolas Jover and the superb performance of Declan Rice.

Narrow, scrappy victories are generally considered the most important in triumphant title campaigns, the preserve of champions.

Arsenal have been criticized, including here, for missed chances and suffering under pressure in the past, and they still have Manchester City on the neck.

The day of doom could arrive in April when Arsenal take on City at the Etihad Stadium.

Today, however, Arsenal are currently in a magnificent position, but remain largely unloved outside of their particular part of North London.

The bottom line is this: if Arsenal won the title (other pieces of silverware are available), there wouldn’t be a single unhappy Gunners fan. No one will discuss how many set pieces they scored from, or whether they were fun to watch, whether the celebrations begin.

Arteta’s job is to please his superiors at Arsenal and their supporters, not to please the cognoscenti or endear himself to opposition fans.

It’s winning. And that’s what he does.

Qualifying is that Arteta must now win – the Premier League crown being the one that matters most – because if Arsenal go another season without a title then he will be in doubt.

One more season without a title is one season too many.

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