Arsenal are on the up but the acid test is still to come, says Alan Smith

Ah yes, the Alan Smith derby. That’s what my old mate Martin Tyler jokingly calls it anyway, seeing as I played for both clubs. Commentating at the Emirates for Sky tonight, I won’t be too upset with any result.

That said, I would like to see Arsenal continue a winning run presently standing on nine in all competitions.

The Foxes, let’s face it, are heading for a mid-table finish and a defeat here won’t make much difference in the end.

The Gunners, however, are aiming higher up, some say right at the top, which is going a bit far. After that 5-1 thrashing of Fulham, title talk could be heard in various parts. Not from Unai Emery, though. I’m sure the Arsenal manager knows his team are nowhere near the levels of Manchester City, Liverpool or even Chelsea.

As for Tottenham and Manchester United, well, that’s a different story. If Arsenal can manage to tighten up at the back, which could very well happen with the dogged Lucas Torreira anchoring midfield, the obvious goal power at the other end gives the side a fighting chance of finishing up back in the top four.

With this as a possibility, you can’t blame the fans for getting excited, singing “We’ve got our Arsenal back!!” at Craven Cottage.

That’s not true though. Not yet at least. ‘Their Arsenal’ will be the free-flowing outfit capable of scoring against anyone but also savvy and ruthless, capable of grinding out clean sheets. Conceding eight goals in nine games is far from ruthless.

Still, I can see the winning run continue against Claude Puel’s lot. The acid test comes at the start of November. It might be time to get excited if Arsenal beat Liverpool.