Forget yesterday, Arsenal are genuine title contenders

SADLY, progress in the FA Cup is becoming an increasing irrelevance.

The most accurate barometer of how likely a club is to win trophies is a glance at the Premier League table: it rarely lies in regard to a side’s overall strength. And, after successive, emphatic victories over Bolton – a team emboldened by the arrival of a new manager – Arsene Wenger’s side is right in the mix, a clear threat to Manchester United and Chelsea, despite yesterday’s FA Cup exit at Stoke.

Detractors, and I was certainly amongst them at the start of the season, are being won over. By the day, it’s become less relevant to point out that Arsenal have won nothing since 2005.