Arsenal embrace title race noise as Chelsea squad depth hits again and Leeds face biggest week of season - Premier League hits and misses

After last weekend's defeat to Manchester United, Mikel Arteta held a meeting with his Arsenal players this week. The meeting was "beautiful", according to the Arsenal manager, and the topic was how his squad would handle the noise.

Arsenal's form was dipping. The league's best defence was leaking goals and the attack was dwindling, with debates about who should be centre-forward, and who should play behind him in attacking midfield.

They then lost Bukayo Saka in the warm-up at Leeds and with Mikel Merino also out, the injury topic was emerging again. They even had to change travel plans to Leeds at the last minute on Friday.

Lots of problems have tried to derail Arsenal recently. But instead Arsenal have come through their sticky patch. After that meeting, seven goals have gone in - including goals for centre-forward options Viktor Gyokeres, Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus.

Their defence is firming up again, with Leeds limited to just one shot on target. Martin Odegaard came off the bench and played big roles in goals three and four at Elland Road. Noni Madueke's stand-in display showed Arsenal cannot be badly affected by a Saka blow, and they are not as reliant on him like in previous seasons.

Yes, it's only Kairat Almaty and Leeds - but the opposition is almost irrelevant when it comes to Arteta's side. Their biggest threat to the title is themselves - it's often quipped that only Arsenal can stop Arsenal winning the title.