COMMENT: But it's Arsenal... Right now. Today. They're the best chance anyone has of hauling in Chelsea. But it's Arsenal. Bloody Arsenal.
They're winning - and saving - games consistently in injury time. For anyother team, that's title winning form. The character of champions. But it's Arsenal. Bloody Arsenal.
Their signings have made the right impact. They've actually improved on what they had. But it's Arsenal. Bloody Arsenal. And they have a matchwinner, who on his day is as good as anything in the game. But - again - it's Arsenal. Bloody Arsenal.
Forget the push-and-shove from Arsene Wenger. Though, admittedly that's going to be difficult given the consequences. Focus on the Burnley game. The result. Because over that 90... erm, 98 minutes we saw why this Arsenal team, for all it's bleedin' frustrations, is still - at this moment - the nearest thing to leaders Chelsea.
They did it again on Sunday. Finding a way to goal in the final moments. They kept going. Dug deep. And were rewarded. Character. Desire. Courage. It was all there on the Emirates pitch. A man down. A lead surrendered. But heads didn't drop. This is a different Arsenal. The accusations of being soft. Of falling away at the crunch. It'll still be there, but the volume will no longer be so loud. How could it be? There's a lot to be said for the way this Wenger team refuses to be beaten. They may appear flat in games. Lethargic. But you can never count this lot out - especially with Shkodran Mustafi on the pitch.
A first goal for the club was the headline, but it was what he did in the final minute which was the most decisive. It was the German, with the score at 1-1 and his team a man down, who hared down to the other end of the pitch, collected possession deep in Burnley's half and helped tee up the cross which led to his centre-half partner Laurent Koscielny win the matchwinning penalty. That's Mustafi all over. If you need to pinpoint where this sudden mental steel has come from, you need look no further than the lad from Hesse.
The other German-speaker to arrive in the summer, Granit Xhaka, is getting it in the neck today. And, yes, the Swiss midfielder can be rash in the challenge. But that's just it - he is challenging. Tackling. Getting his foot in. Finally, the Gunners midfield has someone buzzing around the pitch throwing himself into 40-60 contests. The discipline, the know-how of when and where to jump in can be taught. It's about the attitude Xhaka brings to the team. And he'll get better. In Germany, they tell us he's barely moved out of second gear since pulling on an Arsenal shirt. But, yet, he has made a difference.
And making up the triumvirate of new faces on Sunday was Alex Iwobi. Homegrown. Not yet 21. But fast becoming a first-choice for Wenger. Why even consider Dimitri Payet, pondered Thierry Henry out loud, when we have young Alex?
This is Wenger and Arsenal working together as it should. Cash available - and utilised - to bring in experienced, matchwinning players. And aided by the support of a manager willing to introduce a homespun academy graduate. An approach to team building which has the Gunners sitting outright in second place on the table and alive in the Champions League.
Then there's Alexis Sanchez. Where do you get the bottle to attempt a Panenka at that moment in a game? Indeed, in a season? But he did it - and pulled it off. The fans are doing all they can to convince Alexis. The banner for Atom and Humber a great touch - no matter what the cynics say. The support is desperate for Alexis to settle on new terms. And you just wonder, say a month away from the season climax, what an announcement that the Chilean has put pen to paper would do in the final stretch of a neck-and-neck title race.
At Arsenal, when you dig a little deeper, there is much to be concerned. Wenger's hesitation over his new deal. Mesut Ozil waiting on his manager before he, himself, commits. The dismantling of the local core, as England trio Jack Wilshere, Kieran Gibbs and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain are blanked over their agreements. While another local lad, Carl Jenkinson is pushed towards Crystal Palace.
But for all that, there is a lot to admire in this season's version of Arsenal. The transfer policy has worked. The character is improving. And for all their stutters, they're still the second best team in the country.
Yeah, it's bloody Arsenal. But not the one of recent seasons.