FOR Mikel Arteta, this HAS to be the time.The Spaniard may have been mocked for his “trust the process” mantra in recent years.ReutersMikel Arteta has to win the Premier League with Arsenal this season[/caption]GettyThe Gunners currently sit top of the Premier League table[/caption]But Arteta has, piece by piece, compiled the strongest Arsenal squad since the heyday of Arsene Wenger’s Invincibles.A team without a weakness, and back-ups who can seamlessly slot in and ensure the missing men are hardly noticed.And if Arteta and his men do not fulfil what looks like their title destiny, the rest of the Premier League is going to start crowing about “North London For Never”.That 21-year wait for a fourth Prem crown, after three in a seven-season spell under Wenger, is a running sore.A generation of Gooners have seen their status as London’s trophy-collecting machine stolen by Chelsea.Indeed, since Arteta’s sole silverware lift — at an empty Wembley during the pandemic aftermath — not just Chelsea but West Ham, Crystal Palace and even Spurs have paraded in glory more recently.It has put pressure on Arteta and his side to deliver.Sympathy for near misses only lasts for so long before the doubts become an infection that leads to a debilitating disease.CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITSYet it is not just the Prem table that suggests Arsenal are the team the rest have to beat between now and May.While Gunners fans seem desperate to pretend a squad costing north of £800million and worth an estimated £1.1billion should not be expected to succeed, it is the quality they have assembled. Even a year ago, if Arteta lost Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard or William Saliba for a protracted period, it showed.But this time round, Arsenal can field Eberechi Eze, Noni Madueke, Mikel Merino, Cristhian Mosquera or Piero Hincapie.Given that nobody seems to have worked out, yet, how to deal with Gabriel and Co when Declan Rice or Saka swings a corner into the box, the belief should be growing ever stronger.Of course, Arsenal have been here before.Three times, in fact, when they have been in the box seat only to throw it all away.The first was in 2008. With 12 games to go, Arsenal were five points clear.What followed: implosion.A win at Birmingham was thrown away after a stupid stoppage-time penalty, with skipper William Gallas reacting by sprinting off to kick a pitch-side hoarding and then holding a tearful sit-down one-man protest in the centre-circle.Gallas then had a fist-fight with Gilberto in the dressing room — and a run of three more draws and a loss at Chelsea was terminal as the squad fell apart mentally.GettyThe Gunners have fallen short of silverware for the last three years[/caption]Fast forward eight seasons. Arsenal fans — and others — still mock Tottenham with chants about them “coming third in a two horse race”.But unlike Mauricio Pochettino’s side, who were NEVER top of the table, Wenger’s men were two points clear of Leicester in January only to embark on a run of just two wins in nine matches.And the unwanted hat-trick was completed under Arteta’s watch three seasons ago.At the start of April 2023, 29 matches in, they were eight points clear, even if Manchester City had a game in hand.Only to drop nine points out of 12, culminating in a 4-1 crushing at the Etihad to irretrievably cede the initiative.Yet this time, the weaknesses of their rivals make Arsenal’s case even stronger.Liverpool’s defensive deficiencies come as Arne Slot is trying to build his own team, rather than tweak the one he inherited from Jurgen Klopp.City, even with Norwegian goal-machine Erling Haaland a renewed force, trying to reinvent themselves without the certainty that a fit Rodri would guarantee.Chelsea inconsistent, Spurs still a work in progress, while you cannot really see the likes of Crystal Palace or Bournemouth lasting the pace.Arteta had his famous lightbulb moment a few years ago.But he has never had a brighter chance of ending that Prem title drought.ARSENAL PLAYER RATINGS: Rice and super-sub Zubimendi shine vs West HamBUKAYO SAKA was back to his usual self as Arsenal brushed aside West Ham.The Gunners have looked unbeatable at home in recent months and were in control throughout.Goals either side of half-time from Declan Rice and Saka earned the win.Rice tapped home a rebound after Saka had a shot saved, before the England star scored from the penalty spot after Jurrien Timber was brought down.However it was another match where Viktor Gyokeres failed to get on the scoresheet, with few opportunities carved out for the Swede.Find out how Sun Sport’s Jordan Davies rated the Gunners display here.