Arsenal head into the mid-season break for the Qatar 2022 World Cup top of the Premier League, earning 37 points after 14 matches played. It means the Gunners will be at the summit at Christmas for the first time since 2007, while also registering their best start to a season.
They confirmed that status with a huge 2-0 win over Wolves at the weekend, made even bigger by the fact that rivals Manchester City lost to Brentford earlier in the day. It means the side now have a five point gap to second place, heading into the break in even more positive fashion.
"It’s great to be where we are and we are enjoying that moment," Mikel Arteta said in review of the season so far. "Now we have a big break and we have to reflect on what we’re doing and be prepared for after the World Cup. Our aim is to play better as a team every day, to have better tools to do what we want to do. I can say it’s been phenomenal to work with these players and staff."
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The Gunners won't be able to continue their domestic campaign until late December though, with the break for the World Cup coming at an unusual time of year. Ten Arsenal stars have joined up with their nations in search of glory in a tournament that could throw a few surprises.
Meeting up with squads also means that some players are meeting up with rivals of their clubs within their international squad. That was particularly present in the England squad, where 25 of the 26-man squad play solely in the Premier League and therefore against one another through the season.
While they will be putting these rivalries behind them when it comes to the national team matches, the squad meeting up did throw in some discussions over factions. One of which was from Kyle Walker, who greeted Arsenal star Bukayo Saka in a video produced by England.
The Manchester City defender turned to the youngster and said: "You guys need to stop winning." in a clear message about the current title fight. Saka laughed and hit back with: "Don’t worry about that now."
While it is likely to be another huge and tense battle between the two clubs when action resumes next month, for now all focus remains on the World Cup.
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