EPL: Arsenal legend Henry tips Arteta’s team as title contenders

Arsenal legend Thierry Henry is convinced by their Premier League title prospects.

The Gunners are top of the table after winning seven of their eight games, including a 3-1 victory over arch-rivals Tottenham Hotspur in the north London derby on Saturday.

“What is it – eight games in the league? Back to competing, I would say,” Henry said when asked by fellow CBS Sports pundit Jamie Carragher if Arsenal were “back”.

“What is nice to see is a team that can compete.

“Competing and for me, I always say it’s not because it’s Arsenal or any different team, when you pass Boxing Day and Christmas, it’s going to be different because you have the World Cup, but when you pass January and you’re still up there, competing for the title, then you’re a title contender.”

Henry reserved special praise for Gabriel Jesus, Granit Xhaka and William Saliba after they swept aside Spurs at the Emirates.

“I’m not surprised with the result because whenever they come to us, I don’t know what happens with them, but they don’t usually perform – one win in 29 visits, so it usually happens,” the 45-year-old said.

“But what I like with the Arsenal team right now is that it’s a different team. If you talk about something that’s important, it’s a different team.

“Gabriel Jesus is really changing, not only him, Saliba at the back allows them to play in a back four, so Mikel goes into what Pep does also with City with Zinchenko.

“Xhaka is playing way better. That’s what I was more impressed with than the result because that happens all the time.