The ruthless slaying of Brighton on opposition turf felt like a swift Arsenal elbow into the gut of their two title rivals for a more pertinent reason than the scoreline itself.
In the Premier League, Arsenal have scored the most goals (75), conceded the fewest (24) and kept the most cleansheets (14).
Yet it was the north London club’s form away from home which temporarily saw them slip from championship view.
Three of their four defeats in the league this season — Newcastle, Aston Villa and Fulham — were all on opposition turf.
Now, the Gunners are unbeaten in their last six away league matches — they inflicted Brighton’s first defeat at the Amex Stadium since August – and it is this recent ability of picking up victories on the road which could well settle this tightest of title races.
Arsenal are unbeaten in their last six away games after their ruthless 3-0 win over Brighton
Arsenal moved to the top of the table before Liverpool’s clash with Manchester United
Arsenal’s current excellent form on the road could settle the title in the Gunners’ favour
Arsenal face Tottenham and Manchester United on enemy territory within their final four games. With Manchester City and Liverpool tussling with them at the top, wins in both games may be non-negotiable if the Gunners are to lift a first title since 2004.
When asked if Saturday’s convincing 3-0 victory increases the team’s belief going into a tough finale of away fixtures, Mikel Arteta said: ‘Yes it does. This is a really, really tough place to come and win but also in the manner and the formula we have done it. Hopefully yes, we can carry on doing what we are doing.
‘We know that we are going to have to play (well) as we have won 10 and drawn one of the last eleven and are not top of the league.
‘It is like, “Come on!”, but this is the level and this is why we have to improve so quickly as a team to try to be there.’
It was not a just an ordinary away win, too. The scars of losing 3-0 against the Seagulls at the Emirates in May, amid Arsenal’s implosion of an eight-point to relinquish last season’s title to Man City, will still have been present in some way — even if Arteta did joke on Saturday, ‘I forgot (that) already!’
It poses the question: what has clicked away from home?
‘It is about performances,’ he said. ‘You have to earn the right to win in this league and the teams ask you a lot of questions.
‘There are a lot of things you have to control to win a game in the Premier League away from home and the team seems to be controlling those moments much better and are comfortable in different stages of games when the teams are demanding other stuff. That is a big step as a team.’
Arsenal’s away trips to Manchester United and Tottenham could decide whether the title heads to the Emirates, or alternatively, Liverpool or Manchester City
Trips to Man United and north London rivals Spurs will not be easy. Such atmospheres, particularly the latter meeting, would test the most strong willed of players.
But if the Gunners can continue in the same vein of recent weeks on enemy territory, they will take some stopping.
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