%20rotate(-8.06)%22%2F%3E%0A%20%20%3Cpolygon%20class%3D%22cls-1%22%20points%3D%22336.19%20136.81%20330.16%2094.25%20326.06%2071.19%20326.44%2071.13%20335.22%2093.54%20352.29%20134.52%20373.95%20131.46%20362.7%2052.01%20350.02%2053.8%20356.05%2096.36%20360.15%20119.42%20359.77%20119.48%20350.99%2097.08%20333.91%2056.09%20312.25%2059.15%20323.51%20138.6%20336.19%20136.81%22%2F%3E%0A%20%20%3Cpolygon%20class%3D%22cls-1%22%20points%3D%22402.91%2059.3%20412.36%20126.02%20427.17%20123.92%20417.72%2057.21%20431.59%2055.24%20429.79%2042.51%20387.23%2048.53%20389.04%2061.27%20402.91%2059.3%22%2F%3E%0A%20%20%3Cpolygon%20class%3D%22cls-1%22%20points%3D%22463.51%20118.77%20458.69%2084.71%20474.68%2082.44%20479.51%20116.5%20494.36%20114.4%20483.11%2034.95%20468.26%2037.06%20472.96%2070.25%20456.96%2072.52%20452.26%2039.32%20437.4%2041.43%20448.65%20120.88%20463.51%20118.77%22%2F%3E%0A%20%20%3Cpolygon%20class%3D%22cls-1%22%20points%3D%22540.5%20107.87%20538.77%2095.68%20518.91%2098.49%20515.77%2076.29%20535.63%2073.47%20533.93%2061.5%20514.07%2064.32%20511.11%2043.42%20530.98%2040.61%20529.25%2028.42%20494.53%2033.34%20505.78%20112.78%20540.5%20107.87%22%2F%3E%0A%20%20%3Cpolygon%20class%3D%22cls-1%22%20points%3D%22299.03%20155.17%20301.29%20171.58%20542.78%20138.39%20540.5%20121.97%20299.03%20155.17%22%2F%3E%0A%3C%2Fsvg%3E)
Arsenal: Analyzing The Fixture List
The fixture list for the Premier League has been released and the football gods have been kind to Arsenal, handing them a favorable run and a chance to finally end their title drought.
It could finally be Arsenal’s year. Arsene Wenger has been vilified for being unable to construct a squad capable of challenging for the Premier League over the past decade. However, now the move to the Emirates is well and truly in the rear view mirror, the Gunners are beginning to feel the financial benefit, and Wenger is taking advantage.
Related Story: Is Giroud Finally Getting The Credit He Deserves?
In the last three years, Arsenal have brought in Mesut Ozil, Alexis Sanchez, Petr Cech and now Granit Xhaka for big money. All four will be expected to start next season and all improve the quality of both the squad and starting eleven.
More from Pain in the Arsenal
- 3 observations from Arsenal’s victory at Goodison Park
- 3 standout players from 1-0 victory over Everton
- 3 positives & negatives from Goodison Park victory
- Arsenal vs PSV preview: Prediction, team news & lineups
- 3 talking points from Arsenal’s victory at Goodison Park
This is an excellent squad, that with a couple of key additions, has the makings of a Premier League winning side. However, quality is not the only thing that is needed to sit atop the tree come May. A bit of luck never goes a wry, and Arsenal have received such good fortune with the fixture list.
The whole fixure list can be seen here, but I will pick out some key points and detail why this is a prime opportunity for Arsenal to take the title.
Firstly, unlike years gone by, the Gunners do not have a stretch of consecutive games that are particularly hard. Perhaps the toughest run comes in the last four games when they face Spurs and Stoke away intermingled with Man. Utd and Everton at the Emirates. While that is a nasty stretch of games, it is far from impossible for Arsenal to get nine points.
The main positive, however, is the kind runs of fixtures that Arsenal have received this year. The Christmas period through January is a lovely run of games, with the Gunners facing West Brom, Crystal Palace, Bournemouth, Swansea, Burnley and Watford, all of which are either promoted sides or clubs who finished in the lower half of the Premier League.
This was the time of the year that killed off Arsenal’s title challenge this past year, and Arsene Wenger’s side notoriously struggle from January through to March, often drastically loosing form in both the league and cup competitions. These fixtures, thereby, are an opportunity to buck the trend and build momentum entering the final few months of the season.
The start is pretty tough for the Gunners. Facing Liverpool and Leicester on the opening two weeks of the season is not easy, and then in September they face Hull, Southampton and Chelsea, with perhaps only Hull seen as an comfortable win.
Next: What Is John Stones Smoking?
The Gunners will need to make a fast start to the year if they have any aspirations of lifting that ever elusive trophy. They do though, have a wonderful opportunity to end the 12 year drought. With a quality squad and a good run of fixtures, could this finally be the year for the Gunners?