Arsenal: Three games down, the season starts against Norwich

Not literally, that is. But sort of. After nothing short of a diabolical start to the 2021/22 Premier League season from Arsenal in which the club is both winless and goalless, the next set of fixtures have the potential to signal a fresh start.

The knives have been out for Mikel Arteta for the last few months, but there has been an underlying issue: the Spaniard has not had a full team to choose from. He does now.

Defenders Ben White and Gabriel, along with Thomas Partey and Martin Odegaard, are all set to feature against an equally struggling Norwich side.

The Gunners were mostly uncompetitive in the opening two matches and were torn apart by a rampant Manchester City in the third, even if part of that blame is attributed to Granit Xhaka’s first-half red card.

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After three consecutive Premier League defeats, Arsenal have to beat Norwich for a fresh start that saves Mikel Arteta’s job for another week at least

Although we knew it would be tough against Chelsea and City, it wasn’t expected to be on that scale. However, now, Arsenal has a chance to get its season back on track. Well, on the track at all.

Gaining winning momentum is crucial in climbing the table, but in Arteta’s case, victory has the subsequent reward of helping him cling on to his managerial post for another week at least.

Matches against Norwich, Burnley, AFC Wimbledon, Tottenham, Brighton, and Crystal Palace are where Arteta can gain some support for his job. Should the Gunners win these fixtures (which at this time is a non-negotiable) then he will certainly get some leniency when it comes to his position as manager.

The main issue has been Arsenal simply has not had the players available for the start of the season. Several key figures have been missing for all three games and when you look at the caliber of player absent, it makes it extremely tough to face the likes of Chelsea and City and get a positive result. More so than usual.

Now though, we can look ahead with a clean slate. Of sorts. With a favorable fixture awaiting and key players returning, there is a little sense of optimism around the Emirates, albeit with a hint of trepidation.

The international break perhaps came at the perfect time for Arsenal. A two-week break to reset and assess what went wrong and get it right on the training ground (although that is what pre-season is for), as well as offer time for absentees to return.

Had the international break not come when it did, then the Gunners would have had to play both Norwich and Burnley with the same players that got torn apart by Chelsea and City. There would have been no way to get things right and work on them and the potential to spiral would have been nearly unavoidable.

Here we sit now, after the international break and some fans – myself included – are looking forward to the match on Saturday: we want to see our club do well and put on a performance that the Arsenal of old wouldn’t look down on in disdain.

Arteta now has the players at his disposal and the time is now to start climbing the Premier League table. The first three weeks were like death by a thousand cuts and now it feels like there is a little clearing between the trees.

There have been some fans wanting the club to lose for the simple fact that it would spell the end for Arteta – and that is just wrong. It’s never acceptable. In a time where the club needs its fans the most, support must follow.

Saturday presents the perfect opportunity to begin the long journey ahead; to score some goals and play some of the football that Arsenal were supposed to perform under this manager. Arteta’s future depends on it.