Arsenal may not win the Premier League but they are rescuing it. Unless Arsène Wenger's side are in action, a match between members of the elite now leads to a sense of foreboding. When Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United inflicted their 0-0 draw on the public, Luka Modric was prized not so much for creating chances as for looking as if he might do so. By comparison with the others on the pitch the Croat's performance for Spurs gleamed at White Hart Lane.

For the time being Arsenal have to be in action if the great set-piece matches are to warrant the attention paid to them. That has much to do with the fallibility that co-exists with the excellence. The game with Tottenham at the Emirates Stadium in November exposed the unstable if fascinating nature of the line-up. Arsenal led 2-0 at the interval before being beaten 3-2.

Wenger's side cause excitement to break out when they meet the other teams in the leading pack. Members of the top five in the table have so far played one another on a dozen occasions this season. Of the 20 goals in those games, 15 have occurred in the matches involving Arsenal. The statistic is slightly influenced by the fact that they have already taken part in six of such encounters but it also reflects their blend of flair and fragility.

This cannot be wholly as Wenger intended since he enjoyed the benefits of intransigence when Tony Adams and Martin Keown were already established with Arsenal at the time of his appointment in 1996. The manager is not opposed to defending on principle, even if he seems resistant to spending heavily on the back four.

Efforts to recreate gritty aspects of the past do continue, although no one yet sees Alex Song as the contemporary equivalent of Patrick Vieira. For that matter, investment in the core of the defence has been restricted and the one thoroughly convincing recruit, Thomas Vermaelen, is subject to ever-receding dates for the estimated return from an achilles problem. The centre-back will now have an operation in the hope of being restored to the side by March.

Buying a stop-gap alternative this month cannot appeal strongly to Wenger, even if it has to be considered. In the meantime the idea is to halt the opposition by pinning them down and the approach suits Robin van Persie, who is now regaining his fitness and sharpness after injury. Samir Nasri has reached a higher level and terrifying the opposition is Arsenal's preferred method of achieving solidity.

The situation for others is different. It was bad enough for Sir Alex Ferguson to see Cristiano Ronaldo sold but he could not have been prepared for the collapse in form of Wayne Rooney, who has one goal from open play this season. So far as the makers of chances are concerned, nobody would have called the 37-year-old Ryan Giggs timeless at White Hart Lane, diligent though he was. Paul Scholes, a year younger, cannot be treated indefinitely as the focal point.

The tried and tested must ultimately fail and the dependence on veterans has already harmed Chelsea. Others falter because they cannot lure or afford the few great attackers. There was some muttering on Sunday when Peter Crouch was announced in the Tottenham line-up but Jermain Defoe could count himself lucky that, as a substitute, he had to contend with visiting defenders such as Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic for only a little while.

In some senses Sir Alex Ferguson must be at the peak of his powers since United are well placed to regain the title when they have far less of the old artistry. He must have real hopes that Javier Hernández will turn into an even more regular starter since the Mexico forward brings menace with him whenever he sets foot on the pitch. Rooney, for that matter, could eventually regain the instinctiveness that used to make defenders reel.

Manchester City seek zest through the newly arrived Edin Dzeko even if their experience with the £25m Emmanuel Adebayor has shown that star forwards can add an element of surprise by falling well below expectations.

United, unbeaten in the Premier League, still score freely enough to lead it but the limitations are underlined in eight draws from 10 away games. Arsenal alone dazzle even if the brittleness is recorded in three defeats at the Emirates. Wenger has a team with the capacity to improve soon. Despite Sunday's drabness this could yet be an engrossing season.