Arsenal have secret weapon outperforming Liverpool, Tottenham and Man City in title race

Forget everything you thought you knew about elite level football with your tiki-taka and your passing, because the top teams are starting to roll back the years. More specifically, Arsenal and Manchester City are paving the way for a change in how teams at the top are playing.

Going back a few years, picturing the average lineup at the Emirates Stadium or the Etihad Stadium would likely look like a team of small, but skilful players. A change in recruitment have seen both move towards stars that are still very gifted, but there's an emphasis on size and physicality.

Both teams look to control every controllable possible, but do so with their ability both on the ball and off of it too. A cursory glance towards the two predicted title challengers will see more long balls played, with often a host of centre-backs in the backline or players in the right areas for any knockdowns for the second ball — something not too dissimilar to Sam Allardyce's Bolton many years ago.

It's an amusing sight but one that brings with it some changes in how the teams play and some new crucial priorities towards winning a game. This version of Mikel Arteta's Arsenal may not be as fun or exciting as last season, but they are looking more solid at the back as a result, such is the trade off when deciding how to approach a title challenge.

An undefeated start to the Premier League season reflects that and with a host of different players with differing skillsets, there's solutions. However, with the approach towards some percentage football creeping in at the top is the re-emergence of a return for the importance of set-pieces.

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