There is a lot that goes into a successful Premier League title challenge, and Arsenal seem to have found that we are lacking in at least one of them in every season since the invicibles won it without losing a single league game over a decade ago.
This season we have heard from the likes of Arsene Wenger and Theo Walcott about this being the strongest Arsenal squad for years, with the England international repeating the claim this weekend as reported by Metro. The results are certainly backing up this theory but then again we have been on top of the table plenty of times in recent years only for the Gunners to falter.
We have had more than our fair share of big injury problems but one of the major reasons for our title credentials to be called into doubt is the winning mentality and the ability to keep winning when the pressure is on. The fact that is has been 12 years without a title and none of the current squad have experienced it could be a problem.
We saw how the pressure of not winning a trophy for years affected us in the 2011 league cup final and then the FA cup final against Hull City. We did eventually come back to win that game and lift the trophy but only after the nerves and pressure had seen us go two behind early on.
As well as Arsenal having that long spell without a title, our main rivals at the moment are Chelsea and they won it with a lot of the same players they have now just over a year ago. Does this give them a crucial edge? I think that Wenger is definitely worried that it might, so the question is how is he going to get the Gunners over this mental hurdle?
Bob.