Arsenal: Don’t hold any horses with Premier League title talk

Arsenal fans are starting to talk up title prospects, and while some are shooting it down, I’m here to say “why the hell not?”

You’d have been hard-pressed to find an Arsenal fan optimistic about winning the Premier League title back when we took that second loss to Chelsea. Although it does beg to be mentioned that Matteo Guendouzi said it could be done.

Now, fans are starting to clamor – is it possible… check that, is it realistic to think that the Gunners have a chance at winning the actual Premier League title this year? That is the question that has some people up in arms this international break.

My co-expert Andy has told everyone to hold their horses with the talk of winning titles, but in an effort to counteract any horses being held on his account, I’m here to tell you to let those horses run free. Let them go!

Because winning the title can be done, and it is realistic.

Am I crazy? Maybe. There is certainly some credibility in the camp saying that it can’t be done, that the Gunners haven’t proven anything, despite the win streak. They’ve been playing scrubs, etc etc. It’s a broken record.

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But consider what was at stake here. A brand new regime coming in right after a World Cup and being asked to take over for Arsene Wenger, the greatest manager in club history. Sure, we looked stale as all hell against Manchester City, but we were damned unlucky not to take any points from Chelsea.

From there, we had to knock Watford off their post. We had to slash Everton’s hopes, in a similar rebuilding faze, and we had midweek match-ups to navigate to ensure that the team continued to improve. Injuries were rearing their ugly head and through it all, the team was getting better. The growing pains were ugly, but they were wins nonetheless.

Now, we sit two points off the top. It’s so early in the process, but don’t intentionally stop your title hopes just because you hear it’s impossible. Was it impossible for Antonio Conte to win the title with Chelsea his first year in charge? Clearly not. He took what was already there at a club that had finished 10th the previous year and he ran the gauntlet.

Why can’t the Gunners do the same? Because they’ve had a few ugly wins? Get real. Ugly wins win championships. Not every match is going to be a flowing 5-1 thumping over Fulham.