Mikel Arteta admits Arsenal outstripping expectations in Premier League

Arsenal will be top at Christmas and when they return to host West Ham on Boxing Day.

Mikel Arteta believes Arsenal are outstripping expectations after they went five points clear at the top of the Premier League.

Martin Odegaard’s second-half double assured the North London club take control of the title race as they won against Wolves 2-0 in an away fixture.

They put clear daylight between them and Manchester City in the final game before the World Cup break after the reigning champions’ shock 2-1 home defeat to Brentford.

It meant Arsenal will be top at Christmas and when they return to host West Ham on Boxing Day.

“I am more focused on our way of playing, our way of living together, the atmosphere we have around Colney and what we have generated with our supporters in our stadium. That is much more powerful.

“It’s great to be where we are, we are enjoying that moment. We have a big break, we have to reflect on what we are doing and we are very much prepared for what is to come after the World Cup.

“When a team is in the moment you want to carry on playing. It’s not possible so we have to use the time now in the best possible way.

“Our aim is to play better as a team every single day, to have better tools to do what we want to do on the pitch.”

Arsenal replaced Granit Xhaka after just 15 minutes and Arteta confirmed the midfielder was suffering from illness.

He added: “He wasn’t feeling good at all. We had a few boys with tummy issues.”

Wolves’ resilience impressed in a tight first half where Gabriel Jesus hit the crossbar while Gabriel needed to deflect Goncalo Guedes shot wide after William Saliba’s mistake.

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