It seems as if Mikel Arteta is as surprised as the rest of us, but sooner or later a good start will turn into a genuine title opportunity.
Arsenal went into the World Cup break with a five point lead, owing to a shock Manchester City defeat at home to Brentford and their own win at Wolves.
Arteta has seen his side win 12 of their 14 league games thus far, beating the likes of Liverpool, Chelsea and Tottenham in the process.
Last term the north Londoners missed the opportunity to finish in the top four, several summer signings were supposed to bolster their hopes of a Champions League return, but they could now achieve far more than that.
Arteta said going into the winter break: "It’s great to be where we are. We are enjoying that moment, and we have a big break. We have to reflect on what we are doing, and be very much prepared for what is going to come after the World Cup.
"But, our aim is to play better as a team every single day; to have better tools to do what we want to do on that pitch. I can say that it has been phenomenal to work with these players and staff."
Arsenal's last league title came when in their Invincible season. In the 19 years since the Gunners have changed venues and struggled to consistently mount a challenge. Finishing second to Leicester in 2016 is their best effort over the past decade, underlining the size of their current opportunity.
The condensed season means their Boxing Day clash with West Ham will be their 15th game of the campaign - by the same point last term they'd played 19 games. It means their status as league leaders on Christmas Day isn't quite the statement it would be in years gone by, but the team have shown few signs of falling away.
Several pundits are still expecting the Gunners to endure a drop off, which would allow someone like a City to steal a march and claim a hat-trick of league titles. The two teams haven't met yet after their original fixture was postponed, which was seen as advantageous for Arsenal at the time.
Gary Neville has been among those to pour water on their title charge, adamant that the defining period is still to come. He said on the Overlap : "I honestly still think, with tough moments of the season are still to come. You lose two, three matches are all those teams that are below you are up with you. The acid test will arrive in February or March and that's the question they have to answer."
Arsenal have as many reasons to be excited as they have to be apprehensive. At every hurdle this term, the type of game where you go 'we'll learn about Arsenal today' they've come out with flying colours. Be it the north London derby to a trip to Stamford Bridge.
"Obviously, nobody expected us to be where we are right now and the amount of games that we have managed to win, but I am more focused on our way of playing," said the Gunners boss. They have so far played, largely, pressure free, but that will not last if the team begin to accept that they have something to lose.
Arteta's settled side has largely picked itself this term. Eight players have started in all 14 games, which brings with it a sense of consistency, but also raises fears about burnout with the depth of the squad not able to stand up against their rivals.
That moment is set to come with Gabriel Jesus returning from the World Cup with a serious injury, despite only being used sporadically. He's had to undergo surgery and could be sidelined for three months - leaving a huge hole. Jesus' arrival is seen, so far, as the catalyst for this season's performances.
Eddie Nketiah will need to fill the void, but questions remain over whether the Englishman is capable of leading the line for a side with title aspirations. The supporting cast - Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka - have also seen huge demands placed upon them this season.
Their minutes will be amongst the highest in the league, but Arteta has refuted any concerns over burnout, adamant that his top stars can play 50 plus game a year. As a starting XI, Arsenal look primed to go toe-to-toe with the best of them in England, as they've proved so far.
Arteta has them playing in a style that has Pep Guardiola's DNA all over it, owing to their time together in Manchester. Arsenal have asserted themselves against their rivals, often scoring early, in several games this term and have managed games effectively.
A six-game period, beginning in January and finishing the following month, will see them travel to Tottenham and Everton whilst hosting City, Manchester United and Newcastle. Those five games yielded six points from a possible 15 last term and a repeat performance will surely see their lead whittle away.
Successfully negotiate those games however and Arsenal, who for many are early pace setters but not necessarily outright contenders, will have to be seen as close to the real deal. Since their 2004 triumph the fans have been able to enjoy five FA Cup wins, a Champions League final, but little else.
A title win this year, which admittedly remains a long way off, won't be able to surpass the once in a lifetime Leicester success, but in the Premier League era will surely rank second to that as a champions season no one saw coming.
