Last Sunday had the potential to change everything in the Premier League title race. Instead, it changed nothing.

Arsenal ended the weekend as they started it: five points clear of Manchester City with a game in hand.

Mikel Arteta's men took seven points from consecutive matches against third-placed Newcastle United, fifth-placed Tottenham and fourth-placed Manchester United.

They have passed the various tests left before them and maintained a healthy lead over City.

But they still have not played City themselves this season. That will change on Friday – just not in the Premier League.

The FA Cup fourth-round draw paired England's best two teams, providing a warm-up at the Etihad Stadium for their Emirates Stadium league clash in February.

These coming encounters are likely to bring more pressure for Arteta and Arsenal, who are without a title since 2004 and unfamiliar with such high-stakes matches of late.

The manager perhaps has a decision to make then on how to approach this cup tie – both in terms of his personnel and their approach.

When Arsenal exited the EFL Cup at home to Brighton and Hove Albion in early November, they did so with a team showing 10 changes to the line-up from their prior league win at Chelsea.

But does Arteta want to shuffle the pack again here and give the upper hand to City ahead of a far more important game in three weeks' time?

Speaking on Wednesday, Arteta weighed up the merits of cup progress – "that gives you more momentum, more confidence and prepares you better for the next match," he said – but he was also certain the league and cup matches would be "two very, very different games".

That was the case in Arsenal's double-winning campaign of 2001-02, when the Gunners beat eventual Premier League runners-up Liverpool at this stage of the FA Cup. That blood-and-thunder cup tie followed a fortnight after a tepid league draw.

Arsene Wenger praised the "outstanding" mental fortitude of his side, who were second at that point but did not lose another domestic match all season.

It was one of 16 examples – across 13 ties – in the Premier League era of the teams who finished first and second meeting in the FA Cup, EFL Cup or Champions League in the same season.

Although Arsenal's win against Liverpool was one of only seven victories for the league champions in those 16 attempts, another was the Gunners' round five win against Chelsea two years later, which was followed in their very next match by three points at Stamford Bridge that took them seven clear at the top.

Some consolation saw the Blues eliminate Arsenal from the Champions League later that season – a two-legged quarter-final tie around which Wenger's men stuttered in the league but clung to their unbeaten record.

In those cases, it appeared Arsenal benefited from getting a good look at their rivals in the first game before winning the second, precisely as Arteta suggested.

Meanwhile, the fear of losing momentum is understandable. Arsenal have played twice more against top-two rivals in the FA Cup and lost twice to Manchester United, who went on to take the title in both 1998-99 and 2002-03.

Such is the feel-good factor at Emirates Stadium right now, it is difficult to imagine defeat away to City with a much-changed team would dent Arsenal's confidence too significantly.

But heading home with a win on Friday would surely only increase belief in this side further.

Given the eight-day gap before the next Premier League match, Arteta – whose only major silverware to date was the FA Cup in 2019-20 – might be wise to consider this a helpful test rather than an unwanted distraction.

Mikel Arteta is not enjoying battling Pep Guardiola for honours, describing the "challenge" he faces in taking on someone he considers a close friend.

Arteta spent three and a half years as Guardiola's assistant at Manchester City before taking the manager's job at Arsenal.

After finishing eighth, eighth and fifth in the Premier League in his first three seasons in charge at Emirates Stadium, only now has Arteta put together a team capable of matching City.

Arsenal are five points clear at the top of the table with a game in hand over Guardiola's second-placed side.

Seeing City suffer is not easy for Arteta, however, given his attachment to his former boss.

Ahead of an FA Cup tie between the two sides, their first meeting this season, Arteta said: "I would prefer to do it with someone else, to be fair.

"I want the best for him, genuinely the best for him, and when you're challenging like this, something comes in between.

"It's a strange feeling. It is what it is, and that's our challenge."

However, with City the standard-bearers in English football, Arteta knew this day would come if he was going to turn Arsenal into contenders again.

"I always hoped that was going to be the case one day, and it's happening this season," he said.

"Obviously that's not going to change any friendship, the moments we had, how important he is in my life, how important he is in my profession.

"We're both wanting to win and defend our clubs the best possible way. That's always been the case since day one."

Mikel Arteta expects to learn a lot about Arsenal from their FA Cup clash with Manchester City, even if that match is "very, very different" from next month's Premier League encounter.

Leaders Arsenal are yet to meet second-placed City in the league this season, but Arteta's men have forged a five-point gap to the defending champions with a game in hand.

It means their first meeting of the campaign will come instead in the fourth round of the cup, where the Arsenal manager plans to measure his team against elite opposition.

"It's a big test for us against, in my opinion, the best football team in the world," Arteta said.

"We're looking forward to it, because it's going to tell us a lot about where we are."

That tie will take place at the Etihad Stadium, before the teams do battle in the league at Emirates Stadium next month.

Asked how one result might impact on the other, Arteta was dismissive.

"I think they're going to be two very, very different games," he said. "The context is extremely different. Let's see."

The numbers bear that out, with Pep Guardiola winning 13 of his 16 matches against Arsenal as City manager but suffering his only two defeats in this fixture in their two FA Cup clashes. Arsenal have won four in a row against City in this competition.

Arteta added: "Obviously it's important to play well and to win; that gives you more momentum, more confidence and prepares you better for the next match. That's our focus, to do that on Friday."

Former Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas believes the club are unrecognisable from the side he represented, due to manager Mikel Arteta's impact.

A last-gasp Eddie Nketiah winner against Manchester United at Emirates Stadium on Sunday handed the Gunners a 3-2 victory, maintaining a five-point lead over Manchester City at the top of the Premier League.

Now considered to be the favourites for the title, Arsenal have enjoyed a remarkable resurgence under Arteta, who has made wholesale changes at the club.

Fabregas has revealed that a recent trip to London Colney showed "everything had changed" since his days at Arsenal, including an image at the entrance that highlights Arsenal's 19-year wait for Premier League glory.

"I was lucky enough to be at the training ground recently and it felt like I had never been there before because everything had changed so much," he told Sky Sports.

"The manager of the training ground told me that 95 per cent of the changes were Mikel's.

"He's changed the perception of the club, a lot of positive messages around the training ground, much bigger facilities, better equipment, the pitches are better. Everything, you name it.

"In the entrance they have a symbol of the Premier League, an empty Premier League. Arteta wants to send the message that: 'guys, we need to put the work in'.

"It's a message and inspiration to the players for them to really want to put the Premier League in there. He's changed the mentality of the club since Arsene Wenger left. It's fantastic what he's done."

Fabregas also highlighted the vast improvement on the field that has seen the Gunners quickly jump from top-four hopefuls to leading the charge for the Premier League title.

All three of Arsenal's goals against United came from academy graduates, with Nketiah's brace coming either side of a superb Bukayo Saka strike.

"Remember, they finished eighth for two consecutive seasons. To do what they're doing in a short space of time and doing it in the manner they're doing is quite inspiring," he added.

"Arsenal gave time to Mikel and this proves and shows to other clubs to not panic when things go wrong. Sometimes, finishing eighth and almost making it to the Champions League but just falling short, just having that process, and it is a process.

"The club understood that it took time to achieve it. I still believe they are way ahead of where they thought they'd be at this moment.

"Players like Saka and Nketiah, they came from the academy, they cost nothing to the club. And they've maintained that belief and the results are paying off."

Mikel Arteta did not quite envisage Eddie Nketiah could perform to the level he has done for Arsenal this season but backed a player with "a real Arsenal heart and spirit".

Nketiah is now Arsenal's leading scorer this season with nine goals in all competitions, having netted twice in Sunday's 3-2 defeat of Manchester United.

He has four in the Premier League despite only starting five matches – averaging a goal every 147 minutes – after beginning the season as back-up to Gabriel Jesus, who was then injured at the World Cup.

Arteta had faith in Nketiah to step up but acknowledged there was little prior evidence of the "incredible" standard to which the striker is now playing.

"What Eddie's doing is incredible," Arteta said. "We cannot say we saw that [coming] – we were hoping that he could do that, because of the way he is, because of his mentality, because of his qualities and how those qualities fit within the team.

"Losing Gabby was a big blow, and it is a big blow today, but Eddie's responding – and the team – in an exceptional way."

Asked just what he had seen in Nketiah, Arteta replied: "The qualities that he has, how much he wants it, how much belief he has in himself to become Arsenal's number nine, his desire, his background.

"We are with him every single day. He's a special kid, so loved by everybody at the football club.

"He's got a real Arsenal heart and spirit within him, and that's special. You cannot put that into numbers, but he is really, really good."

Nketiah had six shots against United and it looked as though he might have passed up the opportunity to earn a dramatic victory when he was denied by David de Gea six minutes before his last-gasp winner.

But Arteta explained Nketiah's mindset: "The next time he's going to try again.

"He's going to miss chances, and he's going to miss more chances, for sure, but I guarantee you that the next one he's going to try to do it again. He's not going to hide."

With Nketiah keeping Arsenal on track at the top of the table, they have earned a club-record 50 points in a first half of the season Arteta described as "extraordinary".

But the Arsenal manager is not yet content with their progress, believing they remain some way behind defending champions Manchester City, who are five points off the pace.

"I know my team so well," Arteta said. "I know where we are, I know why we are here, I know where we want to be. We are still far from that.

"And I know the level of the other teams – especially one that has won everything in the last five or six years. We are not there yet."

Mikel Arteta revelled in Arsenal's 90th-minute winner against Manchester United on Sunday, explaining the dramatic nature of the victory made it all the more special.

Arsenal restored a five-point gap to second-placed Manchester City in the Premier League by beating United 3-2 at Emirates Stadium.

It looked as though Arteta's men would drop points for only the fourth time this season before Eddie Nketiah scored in the final minute of normal time.

Arsenal had earlier trailed to United, who remain the only team to have beaten the leaders in the league this season.

Nketiah cancelled out Marcus Rashford's opener, but Bukayo Saka's subsequent strike was similarly met with a response from Lisandro Martinez, setting the stage for a memorable decisive goal.

"It was emotional, a lot of passion, a lot of quality," Arteta told Sky Sports.

"It doesn't get much better than that – after the derby away, to come here against this team and play the way we played, with the performance all over the game and especially in the second half, it was incredible.

"To win it in that way makes it even better."

Arsenal had 25 shots to United's six, but they had to stay patient as Nketiah's second goal came with the last attempt of the match.

"I think mentally and emotionally, we were really composed but really determined at the same time," Arteta added. "We managed those moments in the game really well.

"We never panicked, kept believing, kept doing the same things even better than before, and we believed that at the end we could win it."

Arsenal moved on to 50 points, their best return through 19 matches in a Premier League season. They are only the fifth side to reach that mark at this stage.

Still, Arteta is guarded against complacency.

"It's great," he said. "I think we deserve to be where we are because of the way we are playing, but don't get confused – it's about what we do tonight and tomorrow.

"There are still a lot of things we can do much better. There are still big matches."

Mikel Arteta has called on Arsenal to relish the physical side of Sunday's meeting with old rivals Manchester United, as the Gunners look to maintain their lead at the Premier League summit.

Arsenal hold a five-point advantage over Manchester City – who host Wolves on Sunday – at the top of the table, while they also have a game in hand over the defending champions.

A win over United would represent a huge step towards Arsenal's fourth Premier League title triumph – and their first since an era in which they routinely battled the Red Devils for major honours. 

Several meetings between Arsene Wenger's Arsenal and Alex Ferguson's United boiled over as the teams competed for Premier League dominance at the turn of the century, and Arteta says his men must also relish the dirty work in their quest for the title.

"Having that balance and having those qualities in the squad is necessary," Arteta said. "To have the mentality and capacity to control emotions when you play on big stages is very necessary.

"The physical aspect is necessary. Without that, you cannot compete over 11 months in the conditions in which we work. We have tried to build a team that has everything."

Asked whether Arsenal have the resilience to avoid ceding ground to a City side with experience of chasing down their competitors, Arteta added: "We haven't done it in many years.

"To be in the title race, it's something that we have to show we can do. Words mean nothing. We have to do it on the pitch."

While Arsenal have won five of their last seven home league games against United (D1, L1), Erik ten Hag's men are the only team to beat the Gunners in the Premier League this season.

With Arsenal looking to avenge September's 3-1 defeat at Old Trafford, Arteta is braced for a unique atmosphere, saying: "I'm talking to the boys to understand what we're going to experience on Sunday. 

"For us it's very meaningful, for our fans it's very meaningful and we are creating special atmospheres in the stadium. We have to take advantage of that, for sure."

Despite Arsenal's long-running rivalry with United, Sunday's fixture will represent just the third time they have hosted the Red Devils in the Premier League while top of the table.

Both of the two previous such meetings finished level – 1-1 in March 2004 and 2-2 in November 2007.

Mikel Arteta credited Erik ten Hag for overseeing a rapid transformation in Manchester United's fortunes ahead of Arsenal's huge Premier League clash with the Red Devils on Sunday.

Arsenal hold a five-point lead at the Premier League summit ahead of facing United, who remain the only team to beat the Gunners in the competition this season, winning 3-1 at Old Trafford in September.

While United's hopes of entering the title race appear slim following Wednesday's 1-1 draw at Crystal Palace, the Red Devils are fancied to finish in the top four after going unbeaten in their past six Premier League games (W5 D1).

Having instigated a dramatic turnaround of his own at Emirates Stadium, Arteta has been impressed by Ten Hag's work at Old Trafford.

"It's very impressive. He's turned things around pretty quickly," Arteta said at Friday's pre-match press conference. 

"I think he has implemented a very clear way of playing. The players have bought into it and there's a really good energy around the place. 

"A lot of things have changed in a short period of time, so credit to him and the coaching staff for what they have done."

While United's in-form attacker Marcus Rashford has been involved in eight goals in his 10 Premier League starts against Arsenal, Arteta knows he will not be the only threat to his team on Sunday.

"It's not only him, unfortunately," Arteta said when asked how he would look to contain Rashford. "It's a lot of individuals and the collective organisation that they have. 

"We have to be very aware of that. I will try to do that. We prepare for games to try to hide the ways they have to create problems for us."

United were dealt a huge blow ahead of their trip to north London as midfield enforcer Casemiro received his fifth yellow card of the Premier League season at Palace, earning him a one-match ban.

However, Arteta noted the Brazil international did not start when United overcame Arsenal earlier in the season, adding: "It's something that we can't control. 

"He didn't play in our first game either and we still didn't do enough to win that match. When you look at the squad they have, it's incredible. 

"They have the individuals and collective organisation to beat any opponent in this league, but we'll plan the game knowing he's not available."

Meanwhile, Arsenal's bid for a first league title since the 2003-2004 season has seen skipper Martin Odegaard assume a central role, scoring a team-high eight Premier League goals.

Asked about Odegaard's development since he became captain last July, Arteta said: "He's done it in a very natural way. He's still a really young player with huge talent, but still with more desire than talent.

"He knows he can get much better and he's on that pathway, enjoying playing for us and contributing to the team in a really impactful way. He needs to continue to do that."

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is confident Leandro Trossard can make an "immediate impact" as he prepares to give the Belgian his debut against Manchester United on Sunday.

Trossard signed a long-term deal, which is thought to run until 2027, at Emirates Stadium on Friday after completing a reported £27million move from Brighton and Hove Albion.

The 28-year-old Belgium international had been keen to leave Brighton following a falling-out with coach Roberto De Zerbi, who criticised the winger's attitude earlier this month after taking him out of the team.

Arsenal acted swiftly to bring Trossard to the club after missing out on primary target Mykhaylo Mudryk last week, with the Ukraine winger joining Chelsea instead.

While Gunners fans had been eager for Mudryk to join, there is a perception Trossard represents less risky business given his Premier League experience and that he cost roughly a third of what Chelsea paid to Shakhtar Donetsk.

Arteta expects Trossard to adapt quickly, and confirmed he is in line to face Manchester United on Sunday, with the north Londoners hoping to open an 11-point gap between themselves and Erik ten Hag's men in third.

"Well, he trained today [Friday], so hopefully he will be [available on Sunday]. Yes. I think [all the paperwork is done], I think he's good to go," Arteta told reporters.

"He's a player we followed for a while now. The opportunity came, we have the necessity, obviously, to have a player in the frontline that is versatile enough to play in different positions.

"He knows the league, has enough experience here, and I think he can have an immediate impact in the team.

"In the summer we were looking for a player in that position and we were unable to do it. It's something this squad needed, obviously with the injuries of Gabby [Gabriel Jesus] and Reiss [Nelson].

"We are really short in the front line and we needed reinforcements, and we found in Leandro a player who fits everything we want."

The signing of Trossard, given his age, marks a departure from Arsenal's recent transfer policy of focusing on young players.

However, with Arsenal leading the Premier League and hoping to win their first title since 2004, Arteta emphasised how crucial he felt it was to bring in a player who would be able to give them what they need straight away.

"Very important, we have to think short term but also medium and long term, and I think he gives all that," Arteta said.

"He's a very intelligent player. When you look at his career, what he's done in the last few years, he's a player who fits our way of playing, for sure, and we are happy to have him."

Trossard will have found a familiar face in the Arsenal changing room, with Arteta's assistant Albert Stuivenberg formerly the player's coach at Genk.

The Dutchman was able to provide a glowing reference of Trossard's character, even if De Zerbi's recent criticism of his attitude might have caused concern among fans.

"Albert gave me a really, really good reference, but not for now, for a few years [ago]," Arteta said.

"We talk about everything that is connected, about players we know we want to recruit because character is something crucial, but as well to understand how they are, how they behave, whether they can accept the role they're going to have at the club with us, and then personal conversations. Obviously they are very important as well."

Mikel Arteta felt Arsenal "went another step" after a crucial derby victory over Tottenham moved the Gunners eight points clear of Manchester City.

Hugo Lloris inexplicably turned into his own net before Martin Odegaard powered into the bottom-right corner as Arsenal's first-half dominance propelled them to a 2-0 victory at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

That left Arsenal with an eight-point lead at the top of the Premier League, their biggest advantage in the top-flight table when playing the same number of games as the side below since the final day of the 2003-04 season, when they won the title by 11 points.

Having completed their first league double over Tottenham and first victory at their fierce rivals since the 2013-14 season, Arteta believes his side displayed their title credentials with a pivotal performance.

The Arsenal manager told Sky Sports: "I loved the way we played and the courage we showed to come here and play.

"Doing our job we can make a lot of people happy, and I'm sure we've made Arsenal fans very happy. Everything we ask, they are so willing to try and do.

"They are a terrific group of players. I think today we went another step. We won last season in big stadiums, but the way we won today was really pleasing to watch.

"It shows not only determination and courage but you have to have the belief and quality to do it against this team. That is absolutely down to the players.

"We were really aggressive. We were really intense against the high press. We won so many balls and duels. They created some openings, they are a dangerous team, but we did a lot of good work."

Erik ten Hag's in-form Manchester United, who are nine points behind the leaders, follow on January 22 at Emirates Stadium in what could prove to be a decisive clash in the title race.

Arsenal may have hoped to have Mykhaylo Mudryk to call upon for that game but the Ukraine international instead opted to join Chelsea, who reportedly paid £89million (€100m) to sign the 22-year-old from Shakhtar Donetsk.

Arteta, though, preferred to focus on the quality at his disposal.

"I am very proud to have the players we have. We always want to try to improve the squad," he said. "The club are the first to try and improve the players we have.

"We have to have some discipline and be consistent in the targets we have. We can make the players better – let's focus on that.

"We had some injuries, long-term injuries and it's not helpful but we can focus on tomorrow. Train better, train better and review the game. We will try to improve the team.

"There are always a few parties involved. The club are willing and they have my support and I have their support."

Hungry and humble. That was how Mikel Arteta described Arsenal after October's north London derby victory at Emirates Stadium.

Tottenham have been less humble, more humbled, by their meetings with the Gunners this season, and Sunday's 2-0 home defeat made Spurs the victims of a first Gunners double in the north London derby since 2013-14.

With Arteta, Arsenal have a manager who understands his players, who draws the very best from them, and who might be just about halfway to a remarkable Premier League title.

In return, Arsenal's players get all the praise under the sun, but they are asked to stay focused, and duly they obey their Spanish leader.

When Arteta and captain Martin Odegaard demanded the players walk away from a post-match disturbance, away they went, to celebrate in front of their own supporters at the other end of the pitch.

This was Arsenal's first victory at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, they lead the Premier League by eight points after 18 games, and they have an awful lot to celebrate before putting on their next game face.

A fan in a Tottenham section appeared to aim a kick at Arsenal goalkeeper Ramsdale seconds after the full-time whistle, climbing on pitchside railings to do so before scampering away pathetically, oblivious to the existence of television cameras.

That buffoon will doubtless get his comeuppance and Spurs themselves may face FA sanctions. It was a sorry and needless way for the game to end from a Tottenham perspective, and it had already been plenty grim enough.

Ramsdale played his own brilliant role in a fine Arsenal victory, while opposite number Hugo Lloris had a nightmare, with his own goal setting the visitors on their way.

Arsenal won 3-1 at home in October to consolidate their early hold on top spot, when a fumble from Lloris in the first game allowed Gabriel Jesus to put the hosts 2-1 ahead.

Arteta said after that game: "It is a really hungry and humble team, believe me. We know where we are. There is nothing that we have done yet, and there are still a lot of things to improve, and that's the direction that we are taking."

His message still stands. The title is a long way off, but Arsenal do not look like a team about to implode.

Here, Arsenal nudged their way ahead in the 14th minute, with Bukayo Saka's cross from the right taking an inconvenient nick off Ryan Sessegnon before former France captain Lloris juggled it over the line in shambolic fashion.

Son Heung-min probably should have put Spurs level three minutes later, but Ramsdale made himself big to block the South Korean's shot after Sessegnon's clever pass.

A stunning volley from Thomas Partey left the right post shaking in the 25th minute as Arsenal moved in for the kill, and Odegaard was lethal from 25 yards in the 36th minute, sending a scorching low shot inside the right post as Lloris – him again – failed to get across to the skidding ball.

Arsenal looked light years ahead of their hosts in terms of their use of the ball, slowly strangling all life out of Tottenham.

Grant Xhaka completed all 32 passes he played in the first half. Often simple, each time those passes kept Tottenham off the ball.

Curiously, Tottenham's 43.82 per cent share of the ball in the first half was their highest in a Premier League home game this season, but they were rarely hurting Arsenal.

Odegaard's goal took him to eight for the season, making the Norwegian midfielder the team's leading scorer. He is fulfilling the captain's brief to lead by example quite marvellously.

Ramsdale saved well from Harry Kane's header just before the break, with Kane one away from matching Jimmy Greaves' Tottenham goals record.

Kane will have to wait for that moment. He would have recognised Arsenal's superiority here, and it would have hurt him as much as anyone. Will Kane ever win a trophy at Spurs? It feels increasingly doubtful.

If there was any consolation in their bleak position at half-time, Tottenham may have been aware 16 of their last 17 Premier League goals had been scored in the second half of games, including their last night.

So what did they have left?

The early signs were bright. Dejan Kulusevski, coming in off the left, whipped a shot just over the bar, before Ramsdale saved brilliantly from Sessegnon as the former Fulham player looked sure to score.

But this was a tale of two keepers, and Ramsdale was rock solid.

For Arsenal, Xhaka thrashed a free-kick over, while Nketiah was twice denied by Lloris.

Then at the other end, Spurs substitute Richarlison fluffed a late chance as he allowed Ramsdale to make a comfortable claim.

Tottenham's eight-game home unbeaten streak against Arsenal in the league is over. Though they sit fifth in the table, they are five points behind fourth spot, and 14 points now adrift of Arsenal, having played one more game than Arteta's team.

London life is proving sweet for the men in red, with this a seventh win in seven capital city derbies this season, and a fourth away clean sheet out of four.

Arsenal had not won seven consecutive London derbies since the 2007-08 season. They have not been champions of England since 2003-04.

This is a season of change. A championship beckons. Such is their position of strength, we are getting close to the point where they would have to blow it. But this team are hungry and humble, guided by great leaders. Tottenham, and Antonio Conte, must feel pig sick.

Mikel Arteta is making memories at Arsenal he says he will never forget as he saluted the Gunners' "incredible dressing room" ahead of the North London derby against Tottenham.

Following a blistering start to the season, in which they have won 14 of their first 17 games, Arteta's side can move eight points clear at the Premier League summit with victory over their bitter rivals on Sunday.

Arteta endured a testing start to life at Emirates Stadium, but the pendulum has certainly swung in his favour this term, and he is enjoying himself now.

"It's just an incredible dressing room. It's just a joy to work with [the players] every single day," said Arteta, who won the Premier League's Manager of the Month award for December.

"Some of the things that we've done together, I'll probably never be able to do them with any other team or with any other group.

"Especially on match days and the things that we do together, that will stay in my brain for the rest of my life."

The maturity of this young Arsenal team has particularly impressed Arteta, who has noted the way his relationship with the players has changed this season.

"[The players] are certainly more mature," he said. "I think the demands have changed as well and my role and what they, in my opinion, need from me is different as well.

"And that's why we always have to be evolving and trying to be ahead of what is coming, to give to the players and the rest of the staff what is going to make everything click to be more efficient and to win more games."

On the pitch, that has translated not only to better results but also better performances.

Arteta said of the changes at Arsenal: "We win more games, which is the most important thing and the thing that changes everything, and I think we play better.

"We deserve to win in the games that we have won, and probably that's the most relevant thing."

Arsenal must show they can handle the pressure of being Premier League title "favourites", according to Tottenham head coach Antonio Conte.

Mikel Arteta's side head into Sunday's North London derby top of the table having won 14 of their 17 games.

But the Gunners dropped points in a goalless draw with Newcastle United last week, and with closest challengers Manchester City playing Manchester United on Saturday, Arsenal's lead could be cut to just two points by the time they step out onto the pitch at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday.

Conte is no stranger to title races, having lifted five top-flight crowns during his managerial career, including the 2016-17 Premier League while in charge of Chelsea.

He warned Arsenal that, despite their fantastic start, the real challenge starts now as they look to fend off City and claim their first league title since the 2003-04 'Invincibles' season.

"When you are at the top of the league the perception of your opponents change totally," Conte told reporters. "You are in that moment the best team in the league. For this reason, everybody wants to try to beat you.

"For sure, Arsenal has to face this situation of being favourites to win the league at this moment because they are top of the table. They have to show they are good to face this type of situation.

"In the last 10 years it was always the same, between City, Chelsea and Liverpool. Maybe Leicester [City]. Now Arsenal have a great opportunity.

"I think they are doing very well. Now they have to show they can stay there until the end of the season because I'm sure Manchester City doesn't agree and will feel the real possibility to win [the title] again.

"I think it is a battle between Arsenal and Manchester City."

Despite the huge animosity between the capital-city rivals, Spurs boss Conte still has respect for how Arsenal have turned things around after a tumultuous period in the late stages of and following Arsene Wenger's tenure.

Conte pointed out Arteta's focus on youth, as well as their recruitment in the transfer market, as reasons for the Gunners' success, saying: "They are working for many years in a project.

"They are doing very well. They sent away a lot of players, and bring in many players and they spend money to do it.

"It's normal when you work with the same young players and after four years they develop and become stronger.

"You have two paths you can follow.

"If you want to accelerate the process it is important to bring experienced players, winners, who know how to win, but you have another way, which is you need to have time and patience to develop young players."

Mikel Arteta has admitted that Arsenal need to have better control over their emotions after being hit with consecutive FA charges.

The Gunners were issued with a £40,000 fine on Friday for failing to control their players in the goalless draw against Newcastle United, following appeals for a last-minute penalty at Emirates Stadium.

Another charge then came the way of Arteta's side for similar appeals in the FA Cup third-round victory over Oxford United, with Arsenal's behaviour in both matches attracting criticism.

Sunday's north London derby against Tottenham will provide another test of Arsenal's ability to control their temper, as they seek to maintain their position at the top of the Premier League standings.

Arteta faced questions about the charges in his pre-match press conference and, while he admitted the team needs to do better in that aspect, feels he cannot control his own emotions.

"I care a lot about the reputation of the club, especially. Mine, I cannot control. I am who I am," he said.

"I try to do my best to defend the players, to defend the club and that comes down to certain people who won't like it. For sure, if everybody would like it, it wouldn't be very good.

"It's not that I don't care. But I care a lot more, especially when I'm doing my job. When I'm sitting at home, I care about what my wife thinks and what people think but you don't see it.

"But when I'm in the public eye, I care a lot [about] what can we do the best for the club and the best to defend the players. And this is my role as well.

"I agree that we have to control what we can control and there are certain things that we can do better.

"That's what big teams do, and the next one it's over, and you can draw or lose and it can mean very different circumstances.

"You haven't played when, the opponent was better than you, get a wrong decision, you didn't finalise the action the way you should, and someone make an error. But the next game has to be over.

"And hopefully, we have learned and we will try to do that. But in this league, there is no guarantee because the next game is going to be competitive and the next one. So, you have to earn it."

Dejan Kulusevski will be available to return for Tottenham against North London rivals Arsenal on Sunday.

Kulusevski was a key man for Spurs at the start of this season, but spent a spell on the sidelines with a hamstring injury prior to the World Cup.

The winger featured in Spurs' final three games before the tournament in Qatar, and with Sweden failing to qualify, the 22-year-old used the break to try and return to fitness.

But while he played the entirety of Spurs' first game back, a 2-2 draw at Brentford, Kulusevski was absent for the home defeat to Aston Villa with a muscle injury before also missing the victories over Crystal Palace and Portsmouth.

However, the former Juventus man is in contention for a clash with bitter rivals Arsenal, who hold a five-point lead at the top of the Premier League.

"The news for sure is the situation is going to improve, especially for Kulusevski," Tottenham head coach Antonio Conte told reporters on Friday. "He had training sessions in the last few days with us. He's going to be ready to play."

Conte will not be able to call upon Richarlison and Rodrigo Bentancur, both of whom picked up injuries while at the World Cup and have not featured for Spurs since.

"About Richy and Rodrigo, both situations are improving," Conte added. "I think in this moment Deki [Kulusevski] is much more ready to play. 

"For us, it is important to have patience ahead of this period and not to risk accelerating and lose them for a long period. We will see."

Lucas Moura has also endured a frustrating time due to injury and the club have decided not to renew his contract, which expires at the end of this season.

Conte said: "This is the decision of the club [not to renew]. 

"Honestly in my mind, when we planned this season Lucas was an important player for us. If you see the season, he's played one or two games."

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has recently come under fire for his touchline antics after an angry confrontation with Newcastle United head coach Eddie Howe during a goalless draw at the Emirates Stadium, with the Gunners feeling they should have had a late penalty.

But Conte, who clashed with former Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel earlier in the season, feels Arteta is within his rights to be animated, explaining: "Arteta is another coach that shows his passion and transfers this into the pitch and his players.

"Our job now has become really difficult, so to see a coach sat on the bench is very difficult. For sure Arteta is a coach like me, we show our passion. Nothing is prepared in your mind.

"Sometimes you can celebrate in a strange way, but this passion is a pure passion. Arteta is another coach who likes to live the game."

Conte was more critical of Arsenal's conduct as a team, after receiving two FA charges in the space of six days for their behaviour against Newcastle and then Oxford United in the FA Cup, stating: "To intimidate and create a bad atmosphere is not fair. I hate the people who try to do it."