Premier League title rivals swooped to troll Mikel Arteta and Arsenal after Pep Guardiola reportedly agreed to stay at Manchester City beyond 2025.

There is time aplenty for gaps to be made up with more than two-thirds of the Premier League campaign to be played. Like an endurance race, however, the pace has been set. A brisk one at that. Liverpool have burst out of the blocks,

Mikel Arteta is hopeful that Arsenal’s easier run of fixtures and shortening injury list can reignite their title hopes over the hectic Christmas period. Arsenal currently find themselves nine points behind early Premier League leaders Liverpool and were winless in their last four league games prior to the international break.