Why Arsenal are the favourites to finish in the top four

As far as weeks go, the one just passed went about as swimmingly for Arsenal as it possibly could have. The task ahead of them was simply to beat Wolves, which they did, and anything else would be a bonus.

This was more like a Jose Mourinho severance package than a bonus.

Having won at Molineux off the back of Tottenham losing on home soil to Southampton and Manchester United dropping points at Burnley, to finally see Arsenal capitalise on their rivals’ slip-ups, especially under the circumstances, made the three points additionally sweet.

But like not realising you have a sixth guess at the daily Worldle and then finding that elusive word with that go, Spurs and United had one more surprise up their sleeve by coughing up another delightful serving of schadenfreude with Antonio Conte’s side losing at home again and Rangnick’s outfit dropping more points at home.

Arsenal are now the favourites to finish in the Premier League top four over Tottenham and Manchester United – but that will change

Even if Leicester bottled another three points at home after the 90th minute, West Ham drawing at the King Power was the icing on a delicious cake.

So where does that leave Arsenal, then? Well, it leaves them as favourites to finish in the Premier League top four behind runaway trio Manchester City, Liverpool and, to a lesser degree, Chelsea.

Favourites, that is, until they too drop points. Which is inevitable. They are, quite simply, favourites until they are not.

There is no denying that the constant failings of those around them is opening up the best opportunity Arsenal have had to return to the Champions League in some time, but in this glorious league of ours the tag of favourite will swap hands countless times across the remaining 16 games.

That is how it will go.

Arsenal have wrestled their way into the top of the pack because they have the upper hand on points and matches played. They will drop points at some stage and then the mantle will be passed over. It will work like that all season long. Unless, of course, Arsenal go on a storming run and/or Spurs, United and West Ham keep failing to win.

But anyone with their feet on the ground will know that the Premier League doesn’t work like that. Every victory is a triumph and every defeat is a crisis, and surprise points dropped as in as frequent measure as surprise points gained.

Everyone’s favourite adage, the one rinsed and repeated in every pre and post-match interview, is taking it one game at a time. Brentford and only Brentford is the focus, a side with one league win in their last nine and just six all season.

All Arsenal can do is trying and keep hold of the ‘favourites’ tag as long as they can. Bridge a gap between themselves and those around. They are not the favourites, they are just the favourites now. How long can now last?

How long is a piece of string?