'Let's write some beautiful chapters' – Arsenal 'closing' in on Man City

After 2 seasons of being runners-up successful nan Premier League, Arsenal are hoping to spell 1 amended this clip around.

And their quest to triumph their first top-flight title since nan 2003-04 play began successful encouraging manner with a comfortable 2-0 triumph complete Wolves connected Saturday.

The Gunners person been tipped by 11 of nan 30 BBC TV and power pundits to go champions, while erstwhile England striker Alan Shearer besides believes Mikel Arteta's broadside will triumph - moreover though he thinks they could do pinch different centre-forward to flooded a Manchester City broadside chasing a 5th consecutive Premier League crown.

Arsenal head Arteta remains optimistic arsenic he said: "This is simply a caller story, this season.

"A beautiful 1 hopefully that we person to constitute from nan beginning. This is nan first section of that. Let's constitute immoderate beautiful ones."

It took Kai Havertz until nan 25th November past twelvemonth to people a extremity successful unfastened play for Arsenal - his first play astatine nan club.

This term, it took him conscionable 25 minutes to get up and running.

And pinch location being nary presence of a caller centre-forward successful nan existent transportation window, Havertz's narration pinch Bukayo Saka - Arsenal's apical scorer successful nan erstwhile run - could supply plentifulness of encouragement if it continues to flourish.

The England winger, who was nan Gunners' main inspiration against Wolves, laid connected nan opener pinch a superb shot successful from nan right.

Germany world Havertz past repaid nan favour aft nan break pinch a speedy pass, albeit Saka still had plentifulness to do erstwhile he trim wrong visiting left-back Rayan Ait-Nouri.

"Bukayo had an unbelievable action to make nan people 2-0," said Arteta.

"With bully players it's for illustration that. With [Lionel] Messi, I cognize he's going to travel successful and do that, but you can't extremity him."

Asked astir his 22-year-old team-mate, Havertz added: "Saka is unbelievable. There are not a batch of players for illustration him connected nan satellite and he is still truthful young.

"He tin get better. It is very uncommon to spot a young subordinate for illustration this execute each week astatine nan highest level."

Arsenal missed retired connected nan title by 2 points successful May contempt winning 16 of their last 18 games.

However, while players are still getting up to velocity aft returning to training astatine different times successful pre-season they were still capable to get nan occupation done pinch nan minimum of fuss against Wolves.

"Arsenal were comfortable," said erstwhile England goalkeeper Paul Robinson connected BBC Radio 5 Live.

"They dominated nan crippled successful nan first half, collapsed nan property really good and created chances from nan back. They looked for illustration they picked up wherever they near disconnected astatine nan extremity of past season."

Arteta's broadside did not conscionable bask much possession and create much scoring opportunities, they besides covered 8 kilometres much than their opponents connected Saturday.

"What I’ve seen is nan willingness. Whether we're going do it aliases not, we'll person to show it each time successful really we play and nan results that we return away," nan Spaniard added.

Winger Gabriel Martinelli besides stressed Arsenal are wished to footwear connected aft becoming nan squad closest to ending City's top-flight domination successful caller years.

"This is nan astir difficult convention successful nan world and we cognize really difficult it is to play against City," said nan Brazil forward, 23.

"We judge successful ourselves and we cognize our value and will spell for it."

So tin Arsenal do it? Plenty of pundits judge nan northbound London broadside will beryllium knowledgeable capable now to prise nan trophy distant from City and clasp disconnected different challengers.

"Arsenal took nan title title correct until nan past crippled of nan season, truthful they weren't that acold away," added Shearer, who helped Blackburn go nan English champions successful 1994-95.

"And they are not that acold away. Four titles successful a statement for Man City is an astonishing achievement. To spell again, to person that motivation...they person a brilliant successful complaint successful Pep, for him to person that information to spell again. I deliberation I fancy Arsenal for nan title."

Dion Dublin, who was portion of nan Manchester United squad that claimed nan inaugural Premier League crown successful 1993, added: "I deliberation Arsenal get moreover closer. I americium reasoning Arsenal [will situation Man City].

"It is not if, it's erstwhile - and I deliberation Arsenal are astir apt nan closest."