Tottenham news conference: Frank - 'Spence and Van de Ven apologised' for snub

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Arsenal's upcoming fixtures

Arsenal

It has been rather plain sailing for Mikel Arteta and Arsenal so far but there are some difficult fixtures on the horizon, including that old potential "six pointer" against Sunderland...

Should Arteta and his side manage to navigate this next bunch with a similar record to their opening few months, belief will really start to grow around the Emirates.

Slavia Prague (a) - Champions League

Sunderland (a)

Tottenham (h)

Bayern Munich (h) - Champions League

Chelsea (a)

Brentford (h)

Aston Villa (a)

'Arsenal are in the driving seat'

Shay Given

Former Newcastle and Man City keeper on Sky Sports

Liverpool won the league last year and then in the summer spent a big number on a lot of attacking players and then with recent results, obviously people were saying the wheels had come off but they got back on track yesterday.

And they will be within a shout, but it just feels like with the way that Arsenal are going about their business, I think they have only conceded three goals, which is just incredible. They have brilliant attacking players, which Liverpool and Man City have as well but the best teams that have won the league in recent years have been so solid at the back.

Arsenal's defensive unit isn’t just the keeper and the back four, but the midfield in front of that and the protection they give will make it difficult for any team to break down so they are really in the driving seat.

Watch: Spurs training live

Tottenham Hotspur

From one north London team to another, just for a brief moment.

At 12:15, you will be able to watch Tottenham's training session before their Champions League match against Copenhagen on Tuesday.

This will be a perfect opportunity to judge the mood of the camp and head coach Thomas Frank after Spurs' 0-1 loss to rivals Chelsea.

Defensive duo Micky van de Ven and Djed Spence will be ones to keep an eye on after the pair were caught on camera snubbing their manager and going straight down the tunnel after the match instead of doing a lap of appreciation for fans.

Frank, when asked about it, said it is not a big problem.

Just click the 'Watch live' tab at the top of this page when it appears to tune in.

'Why not have the belief that they can finish first?'

Burnley 0-2 Arsenal

Nedum Onuoha

Former Manchester City defender

When I first started doing punditry in 2021, Arsenal's biggest failing was they are a bit soft-centered, you could almost bully them.

Now you look at the way they can play. If it needs to be a fight, it will be a fight. If it needs to be a footballing game, it can be a footballing game.

People don't want to be classed as favourites for anything at this part of the season. There is a lot of pressure that comes with that. For the Arsenal side, three years in a row they have finished second, why not have the belief they can finish first?

Arsenal's defensive record

Arsenal

One of the big factors behind Arsenal's early season success has been their defensive record.

Incredibly, they have conceded just three goals in all competitions - all of which have been in the Premier League.

Three goals in 15 (fifteen) games.

A worldie from Dominik Szoboszlai in their defeat by Liverpool, a goal from Erling Haaland in the draw to Manchester City and Nick Woltemade's opener in the win at St James' Park remain the only times that this Arsenal defence has been breached.

'Good is potentially the enemy for great'

Former Newcastle winger Matt Ritchie sharing his thoughts on the title race with Sky Sports: "I think Liverpool are still well in it, Man City of course, and the psychology for Arsenal after what has happened in the two previous seasons having been in this position before and not quite getting it over the line will be on their minds.

"So for me, good is potentially the enemy for great. In this moment I’m sure Mikel Arteta is hammering that message home, saying lads we’re good but to be great we have to keep pushing everyday."

'Hopefully Arsenal can concede a goal one day'

Manchester City

While you ponder on those questions, let's ask an expert - someone who has won six of the last eight Premier League titles, maybe?

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola was asked whether his side are in the title race, following their victory against Bournemouth: "Well, hopefully Arsenal concede one goal one day, right? That is not easy for them.

"I said, the energy that we didn't have we have. I have had the feeling since the Club World Cup that we were in the moment. It is just 10 games. There are 28 to play and many, many things are going to happen. It is important to be close and feel that the team is getting better and better."

get involved

Get Involved - Is the Premier League title race alive?

Click 'Get Involved' at the top of this page to have your say

With so many questions, we need your answers.

With Manchester City's impressive victory on Sunday and Liverpool finally returning to winning ways - is the Premier League title race still alive?

With key players returning to fitness for City, have they shown they have enough in the locker to challenge?

Will Liverpool's win against Aston Villa kickstart their season? Or will their jittering form continue?

Can any other dark horses mount a challenge?

Or, maybe more importantly, are the Gunners just too good no matter who steps up to the plate?

Click 'Get Involved' at the top of this page to have your say.

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