Thierry Henry has picked out three Arsenal stars when explaining what has impressed him the most about his former club this season.
The Gunners beat Tottenham Hotspur in Saturday's north London derby to stay top of the league after eight games. Thomas Partey put Mikel Arteta's team ahead, only for Harry Kane to equalise from the penalty spot, and then second-half efforts from Gabriel Jesus and Granit Xhaka gave the home side the points.
Arteta's men stayed top with the victory, which continues their impressive home record against their neighbours and keeps their fate in their hands ahead of a huge game against Liverpool on Sunday. Henry wasn't surprised to see Arsenal follow last season's 3-1 win with another victory, but the former title-winner did notice the impact of a number of players which had helped this term.
"I’m not surprised with the result because whenever they come to us, I don’t know what happens with them, but they don’t usually perform – one win in 29 visits, so it usually happens,’ Henry told CBS Sports. "But what I like with the Arsenal team right now is that it’s a different team. If you talk about something that’s important, it’s a different team.
‘Gabriel Jesus is really changing, not only him. Saliba at the back allows them to play in a back four, so Mikel goes into what Pep does also with City with Zinchenko.
"Xhaka is playing way better. That’s what I was more impressed with than the result because that's what happens all the time."
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Henry was then asked whether he considered his former club to be title contenders. The former Monaco star won the Premier League twice with the Gunners, including in their 2003-04 'Invincibles' season, but last season's fifth-place finish made it six years without the club even qualifying for the Champions League.
"Back to competing, I would say," the 45-year-old responded "What is nice to see is a team that can compete.
"Competing and for me, I always say it’s not because it’s Arsenal or any different team, when you pass Boxing Day and Christmas, it’s going to be different because you have the World Cup, but when you pass January and you’re still up there, competing for the title, then you’re a title contender."
Due to the World Cup taking place in November and December, as well as match postponements relating to the death of Queen Elizabeth II, Arsenal will have only played 16 times in the Premier League before the turn of the year. One of the games which will need rearranging is the home clash with Manchester City, the Gunners' closest challengers and the only unbeaten team in the league.
Next up for Arteta's team in the Premier League is a clash with Liverpool at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday afternoon. The visitors are coming off a Champions League group stage victory over Rangers, and will have had two extra days to prepare with the London side in Europa League action on Thursday.
