With a seven-point gap on Manchester City, 2023 promises so much for Arsenal. If the World Cup loomed over early season and brought with it considerable collateral damage, Mikel Arteta’s team are yet to lose their step.
There are vulnerabilities. Brighton scored two late second-half goals, another ruled out by VAR, to stop this becoming a new year’s parade. There will be further nerves to face down, starting with Newcastle on Tuesday and Arteta may soon have to locate some means to hide his personal fears.
At times, he cut a tortured figure but in Bukayo Saka, Martin Ødegaard, Eddie…
