The Premier League The title race is about to become a reality weapon. For the first time since Arsene Wenger’s “Invincibles” won the club’s final title in 2003-2004, Arsenal feels like a team that can go all the way and take the trophy home to the Emirates. But the students of coach Mikel Arteta so far have only done the easy part.
Make no mistake: leading the group by 5 points, losing just one game in 14 games, is a real achievement for Arteta and his youth team. Arsenal deserve to lead the race when the Premier League returns from a six-week hiatus in preparation for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, but their impressive start to the season is now just a bank deposit. We’re about to see how far they’ll go.
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Since the Premier League started in 1992-93, there have been 30 seasons completed and the team that comes out on top on Christmas Day has only the advantage. Sixteen teams came out on top at Christmas and finished as champions, with 14 clubs unable to break the gap. Arsenal finished second Manchester United on Christmas Day 2003 and went on to become the champion.
It’s a somewhat misleading historical statistic this time around, with Arsenal playing just 14 games due to the World Cup shutdown. To date, teams have typically played 17 games, so it’s perhaps unfair to burden Arteta’s team with the pressure to live up to the title of “Christmas leader”. But with a good start and maintaining such form, Arsenal certainly have the advantage in the title race.
Champion City of Manchester are still favorite candidates for all bookies, despite being 5 points behind the top team, but Pep Guardiola’s team will have few flaws if Arsenal continue as they left unfinished. However, this is the challenge for Arsenal and the picture is not as clear as when they ended the World Cup with a 2-0 win over Wolves in mid-November.
Arteta’s biggest worry is losing his striker Gabriel Jesuswho could be sidelined for up to 4 months because of a medial ligament injury he has Brazil at the World Cup. The 25-year-old has scored five goals for the Gunners since his £45m move from Man City in the summer and while his scoring rate may not be too impressive, it is his contribution. his as a team player and the winning spirit he has. brought in from his time at the Etihad makes him very important to Arteta’s team.
Without Jesus, Arsenal must find a way to make their forward line work – and that won’t be easy.
How defender White Wharf perform after leaving EnglandAn early World Cup squad for personal reasons will be another key question for Arteta. White’s versatility and consistency, both at full-back and at centre-back, have been crucial this season, so Arsenal will need him back to the form that earned him a call-up to Qatar.
On the other hand, the winger Bukayo Saka had an excellent World Cup with England and wide attackers Gabriel Martinelli is said to be close to signing a contract extension at the Emirates after returning from the World Cup with Brazil. So, amid concerns, there are positives for Arteta to thrive on.
However, the Arsenal manager knows that a difficult period is ahead. With more players than any other club – nine – signed up for more than 1,000 minutes in the Premier League this season, fatigue could become a factor as Arsenal (and every other team) start. play catch up in tournaments and cups after Qatar 2022 .
“We will play every three days,” said Arteta. “The congestion and the number of games that we have to play will be huge. We will have to have more resources and more players to be able to do that.
“We’re confident we’re on the right track, but we also have red lights and red lights, because what’s coming in the second half of the season is unprecedented. And we need to. ready for that.”
Arsenal’s fixture between now and European football’s return in mid-February should give us a clear indication of whether they can sustain their title bid, with champions successively Man City benefit from their depth and experience. Gunners counter squad.
The home game against West Ham on Monday is the start of a tough road, followed by a tough away trip to Brighton and a trip to Newcastle in good form on January 3. And around a month, after winning the FA Cup- First leg to Oxford United, Arsenal have to take on Tottenham (away), Manchester United (home) and Manchester City (home), so this is definitely a challenging period. front for Arteta and his students.
Some of the champions — Leicester (2016), Blackburn (1995) — started well and capitalized on the momentum wave towards the end of the season, but many others were exhausted. We’re about to see where Arsenal will fall this season.
