Arsenal six points clear despite poor form as Murphy warns rivals: 'There's more to come'

Arsenal extended their lead at the top of the Premier League to six points with an unspectacular 1-0 victory over Hull City on Saturday, and pundits Danny Murphy and Jamie Redknapp believe the champions’ rivals should be deeply concerned — precisely because Mikel Arteta’s side have achieved it without hitting top gear.

The Gunners ended a 22-year wait for the title last season after three consecutive runner-up finishes, and have quickly re-established themselves at the summit this term, winning nine of their opening ten league games. Manchester City, who trail in second, also face the prospect of a significant points deduction after being found guilty of breaching financial rules.

“I think what’s worrying for everyone else is they’ve got this amount of wins, this amount of points, and they haven’t really played that well,” Murphy said on Match of the Day. “Maybe in the Chelsea game they were outstanding but they’ve just got over the line other than that.”

The former Liverpool and England midfielder was unequivocal about Arsenal’s ceiling. “There’s more to come from this team, make no qualms about that. I think they’re in a wonderful position and a really great place.”

Redknapp, speaking after City slumped to a third consecutive defeat — this time at the hands of Nottingham Forest — identified Brighton as the most credible challenger to Arsenal’s dominance, while still backing the champions to pull clear as the season progresses.

“If you look at the league table, I think right now, probably the one you’d point to, and I never thought I’d say this at the start of the year, but it’s Brighton,” Redknapp said. “Arsenal have got Saliba coming back, the players they’ve got defensively, you’d never see Arsenal look as open as we saw Manchester City look against Forest.”

He added: “I don’t really see anything else other than Arsenal running away with this title at the moment. I know it’s really early but I just think they’re so much better than everyone else in every single area. Today they grind out a result; I just don’t see anybody else.”