THE wait for the return of the Premier League is almost over, and Mikel Arteta says his table-topping Arsenal side are more than ready to continue where they left off.

The Gunners will be looking to maintain the kind of form that saw them earn a five-point lead over their title rivals in the first half of the season when they entertain West Ham United at the Emirates Stadium on Boxing Day.

Despite losing 2-0 against Juventus on Saturday in their final friendly, Arteta described Arsenal’s preparations ahead of the restart as “really positive”, adding that his players are “in a really good place” going into a testing run of fixtures.

Quizzed on whether it will be hard for his squad to hit the same levels they played at before the World Cup break, the Gunners boss said: “No, I think it’s been really positive. The players we have, have trained exceptionally well, better than I’ve probably ever seen them train. They’ve competed really well, played well and we just have to continue. It’s a long marathon and we have to go game by game.”

Offering up an insight into the mood in the dressing room, Arteta continued: “I think we are in a really good place. Everybody is in a high emotional state because we are where we want to be – at the top of the league.

“I think we have deserved to be in the position we’re in with the way we’ve played and the way we’ve approached games. This window has been to reinforce where we are, but there are still things to improve.”

Arteta will have puzzles to solve: the biggest being learning to cope without Gabriel Jesus, who is facing a lengthy spell on the sidelines following knee surgery. Arsenal’s squad was hit again at the weekend when Reiss Nelson limped out of the game against Juventus at the Emirates Stadium with a hamstring injury.

On the plus side both Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli are in line to start against West Ham following their World Cup exploits, while Arteta didn’t seem as nervous as some Gooners at the prospect of relying on Eddie Nketiah to lead the attack in the absence of Jesus.

“Eddie is always ready,” insisted the Spaniard. “He knows that it [the injury to Jesus] opens an opportunity for him. He needs to grab it but the way he trains every day and the mentality he has, he gives us no reason not to think he’s going to be super-ready to perform.”

Offering an update on Saka and Martinelli, Arteta added: “They’ll come back straight away into the rhythm, shape and mould of the team. We’re waiting for them and they are desperate to be back as well. It’s going to be a big boost.”