If you listen to some people then the Premier League has been a turn-off this season. Set-piece goals, winning ugly and a lack of entertainment, brilliance and drama.

There was actually a similar narrative around Liverpool winning the title last season. It was painted as being a poor top-flight, Manchester City were off it and Arne Slot's men almost won by default.

The reality was so different. They won by ten points, were so obviously better than the rest and it is no their fault that no-one else could keep up.

This time, Arsenal are being painted as the villains for employing dark arts to win at Brighton and go seven points clear of Pep Guardiola's City at the top.

That is so disingenuous and so unfair because, actually, if Arsenal win it then it will be their first title in 22 years and the third different winner in as many seasons.

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City, Liverpool and then Arsenal. That would go a long way to proving that the Premier League is exciting and unpredictable because different teams can win it.

There have been late goals, drama and, yes, set-pieces. But football has always been cyclical - and corners, grappling and long-throws is just the latest trend.

Arsenal are better than everyone else at it - they have scored 31 goals from set-pieces this season - and that should not be a cause for criticism.

Yes, they should stop grappling but you probably do that by a change in the law by doing something radical like bringing in a five second rule before the corner is struck which would remove the WWE action.

But you cannot criticise them when everyone else is trying it - and simply not being as good. It is a very fluid division because Fulham, Everton and Manchester United are in the top half but finished in the bottom ten last season.

Brentford have been one of the best stories of the season and are seventh under new boss Keith Andrews when everyone predicted they would go down after selling half the team. They have actually got better.

There have been 87 goals scored in the 90th minute or later which is 11 per cent of all goals and is a Premier League record.

Harvey Barnes’ winner against Leeds United in January came in the 102nd minute and became the latest Premier League winning goal since Opta records began in 2006/07.

Wolves staged an incredible late fight against Liverpool and became the first team in the relegation zone to score a 90th minute winner against the reigning champions. That talks to a competitive league and no easy games. The days of just turning up are gone.

Newly-promoted clubs Sunderland and Leeds have flourished while Burnley struggled but it seems highly likely we will not have another of those dreaded seasons when all three promoted clubs go up.

The title race itself is still a long way from being done and over - even though Arsenal are seven clear. All in all, the Premier League looks in rude health - and very competitive even if it is not always easy on the eye.

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