Adam Peacock: 'Ridiculous' luxury that has Arsenal fans daring to dream after 21 years of heartache

What was that about a duck? Walks like one, swims like one, quacks like one, in all probability is one?

To twist it football's way, Arsenal are walking, running, passing, defending and pushing at set pieces like title winners.

Gunners fans, wary for 21 years now, dare not quack.

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But 10 games in, fair enough if they think it.

Two games clear of biggest title rivals Manchester City.

Liverpool still in a state of semi-flux, despite breaking the run of losses against Aston Villa.

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It's understandable to have these feelings, yet for the first time since the Wenger days, the cause of fearful optimism is what the bench looked like in the 2-0 weekend success at Burnley.

Always look at the bench.

Arsenal's subs against Burnley are either Premier League proven, or, in the case of 21-year old Cristhian Mosquera and 15-year-old Max Dowman, showing all the signs of being just that.

Mosquera and Dowman weren't needed at Burnley. Three of those who were - Myles Lewis-Skelly, Mikel Merino and Piero Hincapie - started 24 Champions League games between them last season.

This is without five others currently injured - Martin Odegaard, Gabriel Jesus, Gabriel Martinelli, Kai Havertz, Noni Madueke - who either walk into the starting line up, or play a big part.

Mikel Arteta can't expect to have everyone available at any point - too many games to suggest someone won't get injured - but it's ridiculous depth.

Title-winning depth.

The issue coaches should really start worrying about

Nottingham Forest manager Sean Dyche is calling for VAR intervention on marginal calls on whether the ball has gone out for a corner.

Fair enough. He feels he's been ripped off about two calls in two straight games that led to goals, which have severely hurt hopes of an immediate renaissance in the post-Postecoglou era.

You'd expect Dyche to want answers. Alas, they are not there.

Stop the game for those, and the game stops more. Promises of when VAR was introduced of a world with no re-refereeing of games, or tedious stoppages to check matters, have been proven about as correct as a world full of peace and understanding.

The game doesn't need more opportunities for remote control refereeing. This will not solve what Dyche hopes it will.

In fact, the game desperately needs more continuity, not less.

Perhaps one thing football authorities can do is time-cap how long it takes to set up for throws and corners. Minutes are ticking by for the latter while everyone gets in position as the most important people in football - set piece coaches - race to the edge of the technical area to ensure all is in readiness.

How about this? Ten seconds for a throw, or the opposition gets it.

Thirty seconds for a corner, or goal kick.

Keep the game going, and don't lose sight of the fatigue factor. The game becomes chaotic and entertaining with fatigue. Do everything to keep it.

Madness of the Premier League perpetuates

Another manager is gone.

And with it, another moment of Premier League insanity exposed.

On September 18 Wolves' owners, the increasingly maligned Fosun International group, thought it best to reward Vitor Pereira with a new three-year contract.

It was off the back of a winless-in-six pre-season, followed by four straight losses to start the Premier League campaign.

Some deal!

But that's not the insane part.

Forty-five days later is where the madness comes in. Pereira is gone. Wolves fans believe their owners have no idea. Impossible to argue at present.

Wolves find themselves in the same spot as exactly 12 months ago. Without a win in 10. Languishing and playing discombobulated football.

Gary O'Neil eventually paid the price.

Reports from The Athletic suggest Pereira won't get a full payout of that shiny three-year contract, per the terms agreed to in September.

Perhaps the only sane thing management of the club have done since June.