Arsenal lead but are these the best of times or the worst?

Arsenal 1 Newcastle 0: Arsenal may be two points clear at the top of the table and focusing on winning a first title in 12 years but even Arsene Wenger is struggling to answer the question on everyone’s lips: Is this the worst Premier League ever — or the best? 

Wenger’s side finally gained breathing space in what has been a remarkable season by beating Newcastle 1-0 at the weekend on a day when nearest title rivals Leicester City were held at home by Bournemouth.

Just that last sentence — imagine reading it five years ago — sums up the way the Premier League has been transformed in recent times, with increased television revenues seemingly closing the gap between smaller clubs and the traditional giants.