Arsenal: Certainly not dead yet, but it’s not just a flesh wound either

Arsenal have seen themselves out of the top four, but while they certainly aren’t dead yet, this is worse than just a flesh wound.

Honestly, I just wanted to get two Monty Python references into the same article title. You can all leave now. That is, unless you want to hear me blabber about how Arsenal still have a realistic shot at the top four despite the shocking loss to Wolverhampton.

And yes, it was shocking. The Gunners may be completely unpredictable, but two disappointing losses in a row? That isn’t like them. Even to start the season against Manchester City and Chelsea, the latter match showed fight and encouragement.

But not Wolverhampton. There was no fight or encouragement there. It was complete capitulation, as my Andy put it in his player ratings.

That said, and Monty Python references aside, fifth place is not the inevitable muckhole that it might seem this late into the season.

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As it stands, we sit a point behind Chelsea. The hardest matches are done away behind us, with only Leicester City standing in our way as something of a nuisance. I know i said this exact same thing before Wolverhampton, but this is the kind of situation where the Gunners historically buck up and get the job done, dragging themselves across the finish line just in time.

Leicester, Brighton, Burnley. Nine points from those three matches and we are in the top four. Because as of right now, all we have to do is overtake Chelsea, and Chelsea still have to go to the Theatre of Dreams, as well as face Leicester and host Watford. Now, honestly, I wouldn’t be that surprised if Chelsea come out of that trio of fixtures with two points, but in the best case, they’ll come out of it with seven, because I can’t see them beating both United and Leicester, as they’ve been even less consistent than we have.

Meaning that all we have to do is not soil our britches again. And sure, that’s no guarantee, I thought that Crystal Palace would be the last soiling. But for as much as we want to talk about how the spine in this club is made of a substance softer than sheep’s wool, there are still plenty of examples of them knowing how to get the job done.

Of course, there’s always the Europa League if the soiling continues, right?