Arsenal return to the Premier League summit after Chelsea's win over Liverpool in the final Premier League kickoff on Saturday, reviving the Elephant in the tree narrative surrounding their status as league leaders.

Goals from Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka gifted the Gunners their first home win over The Hammers since December 2022, as they marked Mikel Arteta's 300th game in management with a win that takes them top of the pile.

Despite trailing Arne Slot's defending champions by five points two weekends back, Arsenal now lead the way with one point, and, notably, a goal difference ahead of their main rival for the Premier League title this season.

But as they take the top spot, critics are convinced that they will yet fall short in their attempt to win the silverware since 2004, having finished runner-up in each of the previous three seasons.

What is the Arsenal Elephant Agenda?

The Arsenal Elephant agenda is a narrative that comes up whenever Arsenal assume the Premier League summit, which suggests that it's a position they can not keep, but only there for a period of time.

Elephant on the tree; this has proven true over recent years with Mikel Arteta's charge coming close to the main prize, but falling short in decisive moments.

Becoming the Elephant in the Room

Arsenal have, in recent years, leveled up, and even though last season's league campaign looked like a one-club show with Arne Slot's Liverpool aggressively dominant, it was not foreseen, and the Gunners were always second favourite after Manchester City.

Pep Guardiola's charge failure made it look like it was going to be Arsenal's turn, but things took a different turn during the season, and a club that finished runner-up in the previous two seasons ended up in second place again, this time, to a side that finished in second place prior.

However, ahead of the ongoing season, Arsenal spent a fortune in the summer to finally show the level of ambition demanded by the fans, and this has borne fruit in the early stages of the season, where they've already suffered several injury blows.

The impact of contributors off the bench has been worth their current stay, across all three competitions played in, as just before their win over West Ham United, they had gone five consecutive games, where substitutes have scored for them, for the first time since August to September 2004.

As a host of pundits would have it, they are one of the few teams to beat this season, and after Liverpool's poor start to the season, which was initially concealed by late goals, has been exposed at Palace and Chelsea, Arsenal may as well be the real deal.

But this isn't the only time they have been the real deal, the difference is that this time, the chances of them sustaining an impressive run are higher, although it remains to be seen whether or not it can be achieved.

Can Arsenal put to bed the Elephant Agenda?

Taking the top spot earlier in the season is pressure, especially when the league is so competitive and contenders are giving little to nothing away, not forgetting that no fixture is cheap, and momentum is always key.

But with one point ahead of second place, where a just a slip could see them drop out of the top four, at this stage of the season, position matters a little, but winning points is the real focus.

Arsenal, who trailed Liverpool by five points two weeks ago and now find themselves at the focus of attention, will be no stranger to how quickly the tables turn, while very aware of the expectations of their own, which is that they are where they want to be.

The season is still in a premature stage, but Arsenal have battled a lot of setbacks, especially in the injury front, while the stalemate against Manchester City in the Emirates represents one they'll look back and rue missed points.

But after seven games, they are ahead of everyone in the standings, exactly what they have to do, the position they have to be, if they are to turn the Elephant on the table narrative into the Elephant in the room.

Liverpool and Manchester City have gone on to win the league in the last two seasons having been at the top of the table at the end of the seventh week, and Arsenal, who have proven the best against the best in the league will have to be more consistent with positive results against the average teams to keep their status.

What Could Stop Arsenal from keeping form?

Injuries are the main threat to Arsenal's title charge as it had been in past seasons. Who knows if they could have done better in the two matches where they have dropped points this season if they had their best legs available?

Bukayo Saka and Kai Havertz missed the defeat to Liverpool, while William Saliba had to be taken off due to injury less than five minutes into the game. Injury meant Martin Ødegaard could only play the final 20 minutes, while it was a fixture that came too soon for Eze, who only got 20 minutes on his debut.

Bukayo Saka and Eberechi Eze were named substitutes in the draw against Man City while Martin Ødegaard didn't make the squad. Although Arsenal do have a competitive squad, it helps better when you have your primary starters for the biggest games.

What are the Early Expectations from Arsenal?

It is a long season that is far from decided, and even though they have lost one and drawn one so far, it is still a decent start to the season.

Complacency shouldn't be entertained because no Premier League fixture is cheap. Chelsea, for instance, has taken maximum points against Liverpool but has been beaten at home by Brighton.

Even at their best, Arsenal have been stopped by teams like Bournemouth, Brighton, Fulham, West Ham United, Newcastle United, and Crystal Palace. These are the upsets Mikel Arteta and his minions have to avoid to give themselves the chance of a new narrative.

The next run of games in the Premier League will come against Fulham, Crystal Palace, Burnley, and Sunderland, and anything other than maximum points in these games will only fuel the narrative that Arsenal is never ready to take the bull by the horns.