Arsenal: 11-win run will be thrust into fire

Arsenal have won 11 games in succession in all competitions. But, in all honesty, they haven’t really beaten any great sides to comprise such promising form. That, however, will quickly change.

It’s been a wonderful run of form for Arsenal over the past two months. Ever since they trudged off the Stamford Bridge pitch in August, they have not failed to win a match. Although their performances may leave a little to be desired, the results have been perfect. Quite literally.

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This week, Unai Emery led his team to two more victories — a 3-1 win over Leicester City on Monday night, followed up by an away win over Sporting CP on Thursday night to all but secure qualification into the Europa League knockout stages. It has been a very impressive period indeed.

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But we haven’t actually learned that much about this team during it. Alright, yes, this has been a lovely time as a fan. And yes, the mental fortitude and winning mentality that the squad has shown have been exemplary and extremely encouraging for the future. But the quality of the opposition makes it difficult to claim that Arsenal are anything more than a team capable of beating the teams that they should beat.

However, the 11-run win that the Gunners are currently enjoying will soon be thrust into the fire. Over the next six league matches, extending from Sunday’s trip to Crystal Palace through a December 5th clash against Manchester United, every opponent bar one currently resides in the top half of the Premier League.

The one that doesn’t is Palace, who are certainly one of the more dangerous teams of the lower reaches of the division. Moreover, that match is played at Selhurst Park, an extremely difficult stadium to play in with a raucous atmosphere. There are no easy games between now and early December.

After a trip to Palace, Arsenal host Liverpool in a crucial top-of-the-table clash and then Wolves. Then comes a trip to Bournemouth, who dispatched Fulham 3-0 on Saturday and are currently in sixth, just a point behind the Spurs-Arsenal-Chelsea triumvirate, before a north London derby at the Emirates and a trip to Old Trafford to close out perhaps the toughest run of fixtures throughout the whole season.

For all of the lack of clarity that currently resides around this team, in just a matter of weeks we will have a far more defined picture of where this team stands relative to the best in the Premier League. If they can compete with the likes of Spurs and Liverpool, while also getting results out of difficult games against Bournemouth and Wolves, then, suddenly, the perspective will shift.

For now, the jury is still very much out on Emery and his team. But that won’t be the case for much longer.