There are some seasons when a team runs away with the League, stands head and shoulders above the rest and are fairly obvious champions from about January onwards. Sky Sports may always bang on about the exciting race for the title but in such seasons everyone who follows football has no doubts whatsoever about the almost inevitable and eventual champions. Usually that team also contains at least one stand out player who has the season of his life and is surrounded by a group of individuals who get their act together to become a decisive force that all other teams fear. Our classic 'Invincibles' side were such a team. But 2009-10 is not such a season.

Other times a clear two-horse race will emerge from the pack, shoot well ahead of the lumbering herd behind them and disappear over the horizon. These two will then battle to the line in what amounts to a private race. Such has been the case with Arsenal in the past whether that two-horse race has been against Leeds, Liverpool or United. But 2009-10 is not such a season.

There have been times in the past when a number of sides have had the opportunity to take the league by the scruff of the neck and make it their own. However in such seasons each in turn have blown their chances just as they had emerged as the very latest punter and pundit favourite. 2009-10 is such a season. Such seasons are more akin to the Grand National than the Derby and as most punters will know the favourite of the Derby is far more likely to win at Epsom than the favourite of the National is at Aintree.

Both United and Chelsea could quite easily have either made this season's title their very own already or turned the whole affair into a fairly standard two-horse race. The Chavs may have faltered slightly less often thus far this season, but they don't strike me as being obvious champions. They are not even close to being invincible and without Drogba or Essien they flatter to deceive. Their ageing squad look at times to be playing from memory and their stand-ins just haven't cut the mustard. At Old Trollop Fergusmoan is juggling his old guard against some less than adequate pretenders. Giggs, Scholes, Neville and Owen don't have the legs to win it but those striving to replace them don't look to have the required class or conviction to do the job. Unless of course the rampant Rooney can do it all by himself. But if the likes of Fletcher is considered to be a key player then you have to wonder about their true credentials.

So can Arsenal do it? Well as I've indicated I see this season as far more of a Grand National type race than a Derby. Arsenal have fallen well off the pace of the leaders more than once and yet have plugged away at a steady if erratic gallop. We were very nearly unseated against United, Chelsea and Stoke but are still in the saddle. Arsenal have stumbled but stayed upright, continued to plod away on a difficult course and now find themselves tucked in behind the front two and looking fairly good for a top three finish. There could well be a faller on the run-in with some big fences yet to jump, but Arsenal have fewer tough fences to encounter. The front two might just get distracted from their one-on-one battle and start looking over their shoulders in a somewhat nervous manner. The course is littered with riderless horses capable of throwing a loose shoe at the leaders and disrupting the race. The horse carrying the red and white silks is also carrying a vast handicap in the guise of excessive injuries. Some say it lacks the required experience but it is clearly beginning to gain self-belief as the experienced jockey coaxes it along.

Taking the lead very late on in such a long race wouldn't be a new thing would it? Not knowing when they're beaten wouldn't be a new concept for The Arsenal either would it? But can the Gunners maintain a sustained run to the line and can they clear ten more fences? If they do manage to nose in front do they have the required grit and energy to make it first over the line. Should we back the horse coming steadily up on the rails or has it already run a far better race than many thought possible? Can Arsenal go the distance and can we roar this plodding outsider over the line?

I'm up for it - are you?