Arsenal's perfect start still needs some fine tuning.

Arsenal have started the English premier league in fine form winning 7 games and drawing just once. The main challengers to Arsenal's perfect start are Chelsea, Liverpool, and Manchester United.

Chelsea famously have started the process of decline in my opinion, all sparked off by the parting of ways of Mourinho and Abramovich. This was always an uneasy partnership, yet if Abramovich had just let Mourinho control team affairs and transfers then it is likely Chelsea would have continued to dominate for last year and maybe this year. The beginning of the end was last January when Terry was injured and Abramovich denied the coach the funds to go out and get a player to fill the void. Chelsea went on to surrender their title at Arsenal in May. The signings of Ballack and Shevchenko upset the balance of the team and wingers like Duff and Robben were discarded for central midfielders. Murinho took the easy way out and left before he would be humiliated by Manchester United. Chelsea have since dropped valuable points and Arsenal have a 7 point lead with a game in hand.

Liverpool in the first few weeks frightened me slightly, they spent big buying Babel and Torres amongst others and they started well...something they had not done last season. They should have taken 3 points against Chelsea but referree error led to a 1-1 draw. Benitez has shown a stubborness to continue in the rotation policy when it has clearly shown itself to be a problem in obtaining results. Without Agger against Tottenham they struggled to get a draw. They remain unbeaten like Arsenal but have a lot of questions to answer fully. Four wins and four draws leave them 6 points behind Arsenal.

Manchester United had a poor start to the season not withstanding the injury to Rooney and suspension to Ronaldo, they did not play well and lost to a new look Manchester City. With that loss and two other draws in their first three games they fell behind early.Since then they have had a series of 1-0 wins lucky, fortunate or deserved it still remains that they won those games. I had been hoping for a draw or loss in their games so that Arsenal will have a bigger cushion. They are starting to play well but I am hoping the law of averages will kick in and they will drop some points. Manchester United are the main challengers to Arsenal and if Arsenal can win their games in hand they can have a 5 point lead.

With those points cushions of 5,6 and 7. Arsenal have built up a nice protective space and allowance for any dip in form. Of course I hope that this does not occur but realistically there are going to be difficult games to come. It has been pointed out that Arsenal have played a lot of games close to home in the london area. However I would say that some of these games would not have been won last season and that Wenger's team is showing a mental toughness that dare I say it, champions are made of. Truly there is a long way to go and a lot of hard work ahead. The end of October and beginning of November will tell a big story about the fate of this team this season. Liverpool away is always a tough place to go to and a win there always shows champion potential. After LIverpool away the following weekend will be Manchester United at home a game we always do well in. These two games will show a lot. I hope for the cushions to get bigger and for Arsenal to win these games. If Arsenal have had an easy first 10 or so games then the rest of the league schedule will be tougher, but its always good to go into these games with real confidence and a swagger. However this swagger can go quickly so Arsenal make hay while the sun shines.
The team is scoring freely but also conceding slightly regularly one every other game. Sunderland nearly got some reward from their recent game with Arsenal, this game must be used as a lesson and putting teams away when you are on top is paramount. Something to work on as you cant always guarantee 2-3 goals every game.

it still remains that this Arsenal team seem hungry and harmonious, similar to Manchester United. Without question Chelsea and LIverpool have some small problems in those departments. For this reason I see a return to old days when Manchester United and Arsenal do battle for the destination of the premier league, yes Liverpool and Chelsea will be there or there abouts but for now I can see another famous Ferguson/Wenger war to the bitter end of this exciting premier league season.