Mikel Arteta believes Arsenal are better prepared for the Premier League title run-in after the heartbreak of missing out last season after his side went top of the table with a 3-0 win at Brighton on Saturday.

The roles were reversed from just under a year ago when the Seagulls won 3-0 at the Emirates to realistically end the Gunners’ hopes of a first Premier League title since 2004. Twelve months on, Arteta’s men have mature and appear ready to meet the challenge of beating Liverpool and Manchester City to end their two-decade wait to win the league.