Arsenal 4-1 Liverpool: Is there a better team in England?

This might seem like the hyperbolic tubthumping of the deluded fan, but Iâ€m not sure thereâ€s a better team in England at the moment than Arsenal.

Before you say it, itâ€s not Chelsea. They might lead the league table, but friends behind enemy lines assure me theyâ€ve played well just once since Christmas. The January signing intended to reinvigorate their tiring team, Juan Cuadrado, is currently looking like the worldâ€s most expensive Gervinho impersonator. They should just have bought this lovely curtain set:

The game against Jose Mourinhoâ€s men is beginning to feel like our cup final (apart from the actual cup final, of course, which remains very much a possibility). Itâ€s a one-off opportunity to lay down a marker for next season, but more than that itâ€s an opportunity to make this season infinitely more memorable. You canâ€t win a trophy every year, but you can ensure you leave behind several glorious results enabling you to lord it over your rivals.

Arsenal finally seem to have got the hang of that, with victories over both Manchester clubs and now Liverpool in 2015. Beating the Anfield side isnâ€t particularly new, but the emphatic nature of this victory is. Arsenal approached this game with confidence rather than trepidation. Thatâ€s a delicious novelty.

I really hope they can do the same against Chelsea. The fact that Arsene Wenger has never beaten Mourinho is both bizarre and embarrassing, and this seems like an ideal opportunity to put it right.

Weâ€re undeniably on a roll. The numbers prove it: weâ€ve won seven on the spin, Olivier Giroud has 10 in 10, and weâ€ve just put four past Liverpool.

It canâ€t be coincidence that the upturn in form has coincided with having a full contingent of outfield players for the first time in years. Shad Forsythe has taken some amusing stick this season, but perhaps weâ€re finally be seeing the benefit of his inaugural year at the club.

This is now the strongest Arsenal squad in years. Itâ€s not perfect, but there is depth in every department. The fact that Mikel Arteta, Mathieu Debuchy, Jack Wilshere and Abou Diaby all made a successful return to training during the international break yet were not needed for the bench tells you something about the variety of options at the managerâ€s disposal. Calum Chambers, who was entirely fit, was not even named in the matchday squad.

Of course, all this positivity comes laced with regret. After leading the league for so long last season and ending the wait for silverware, this should have been the year to mount a serious title-challenge. Unfortunately, our quest for the trophy was over before Autumn was out. Sadly, the emergence of Francis Coquelin and acquisition of Gabriel – both obviously required back in August – came too late to challenge Chelsea.

Iâ€m proud that Arsenal are 2015â€s best team, but enormously frustrated that they wonâ€t be 2015â€s champions. It was there for the taking.