Gunners.... front runners?

Dismissed as too young and inexperienced, pitied for to their losses during the transfer window; could the lack of fear felt towards Arsene Wenger's men this year lift the burden of expectation and allow the young guns to flourish in this season?

Wenger's ethos has left as him one of the few 'untouchables' in football management while the Emirates Stadium has now ensured the clubs financial progress is not just possible but almost assured. What is glaringly absent from the red side of North London is success.
Each season every newspaper column, radio phone-in and TV panel show pours over the necessity of some Arsenal silverware, the mounting years since their last championship and the fruitless promises that have come at the start of the last five seasons since the Gunners last Premiership title. This year, thanks to the unbridled spending of Manchester City, the continuity of Chelsea's squad and the so-called triumphant return to a central role for Wayne Rooney at Old Trafford Arsenal have all but escaped the demands placed on them every season since their F.A Cup win in 2005.

Barring Cesc Fabregas, few of the Arsenal squad would be guaranteed a starting place amongst the European elite but their have the unity Man City lack, a youthful exuberance that eludes Chelsea and a shared responsibility that Liverpool must find. They are free from the distractions that can disrupt a season and filled with the hunger that earns trophies.

As this is being written Arsenal are brushing aside Celtic to secure their place in the Champions League group stage and are lying in third spot in the Premier League with a game in hand having scored ten goals in their opening 2 league fixtures.

Of course it is too early to tip them for the title but, when you think about, its may be too premature to rule them out too.