Arsenal firmly gunning for a top six Premier League finish

After the first stretch of Premier League matches, everyone was laughing at Arsenal, questioning the Mikel Arteta era, and wondering out loud how much longer the Gunners would have to sit in mediocrity before they would be ready to rejoin the elite of the division. With one game until the third international break of the season, now firmly in November, it is difficult to hear anyone laughing or asking questions like they were.

Arsenal have gone unbeaten in their last nine matches across all competitions, and with seven wins, two draws, and six clean sheets, they are doing it with good defense, fluid ball movement, and fast, fun and positive offensive play. There is no question now that the Arteta revolution simply needed a bit more time, a few more players, and a spark.

The youth of Arsenal, derided as a possible weakness only months ago, appears to be the biggest strength that the team possesses: Bukayo Saka, Emile Smith Rowe, Martin Odegaard, Albert Sambi Lokonga, Takehiro Tomiyasu and Aaron Ramsdale have been improving and growing in leaps and bounds, and have pushed Arsenal from an inconsistent fringe club to one that should be concerning even the tougher teams that play in both England and Europe.

After the 5-0 thumping that Arsenal took at the hands of Pep Guardiola and Manchester City, they have bounced back and have looked a winning, determined side. With Watford coming up, it will be a good chance to push their unbeaten run to ten, before their third international break allows for them to rest and train up further for the upcoming hectic December.

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Tough fixtures await for Arsenal but they have the ability to pass each test and then carry on towards a top six Premier League finish

After that, however, the true mettle of Arsenal will be on display, as the competition becomes as hot as the weather becomes cold.

Coming out of the third international break, two great tests will greet The Arsenal, with an easier game sandwiched between. Matchups against Liverpool and Manchester United loom; one straight away, and the other to kick off December.

While the latter will be as much a test for United as it will for Arsenal, Liverpool will be a tough match for the Gunners to keep their undefeated streak alive (if all goes well against Watford. Should they find a point or three against Jurgen Klopp’s outfit, they will have, once again, demonstrated the merits of their progress and belief.

United, meanwhile, will be difficult but not nearly the same type of task as playing Liverpool. The Reds are sharp and bright, and will crush anyone at any given time, while United have been known under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to crumble and play down to opposition: without Cristiano Ronaldo, it is difficult to believe that Ole still has his job, and he might lose it even with him.

And so, the Gunners will have to come out sharp against them both. Should they take care of business against Watford as they have against others recently, they will go into the Liverpool game with ten matches without a loss, and three points there could mean that United should be more fearful than Arsenal at the start of December.

Newcastle meanwhile, the lone home game in this three-game run to kick off the late November, early December insanity, should be three points, and should Arsenal come into the game with 11 straight matches without a loss, it likely will be. These three games will set the tone for the rest of this run, which will include eight matches between the second of the month and the 28th.

It is a gambit which these Premier League teams have to maneuver each season, and each season there are complaints and pleas. Should Arsenal get to 12 straight undefeated matches across all competitions there is no saying that the Gunners are set in stone for a top-six finish – of course. Yet, there is more reason than ever before to believe that the form the team is in currently can be sustained and should breed success.

Arsenal can, with the help of others, find themselves in the top six come the season’s conclusion.

Continued on next page…

A Top Six Finish For Arsenal is Well Within Arteta’s Reach

There is a lot of season left, and the Gunners are focusing on not only the Premier League, but on domestic trophies as well. They want the Carabao Cup, and always want the FA Cup too; with a top-six finish in their sights after all seemed lost earlier in the year, can it be achieved?

Absolutely.

Arsenal are ahead of schedule, clearly, and can be that shock team of this season in the way that Leicester City and Wolves have recently been. They are a talented lot, and are growing at a rapid rate together, meaning that they could continue to do so for a number of years going forward. This current team is grasping its powers and understanding how to use them more efficiently.

Tottenham remains in distress, and Antonio Conte might be the only coach who can save them at this point. Even so, I don’t know if it will be enough to get Spurs back into Europe next season, unless they can win the Europa Conference League in this its inaugural edition.

Leicester is struggling, and seems to be catching as many bad breaks as they can this season. Aston Villa is closer to the bottom the table than the top, even as they were picked by me as a darkhorse with all of the talent they’ve amassed on this roster since and before selling Jack Grealish to Manchester City. Everton have lost their last three and look like the side that Carlo Ancelotti abandoned at the end of last season, while Brighton look a tougher side than any of the previously mentioned clubs.

West Ham United too, are a better team than Spurs and a more consistent team than Manchester United. It will be between, after Chelsea, Man City and Liverpool, a race to get into the UCL and UEL, plus the UECL: three spots, and many suitors.

And so, to be sure, Arsenal does have a real shot at a top-six finish this season, should they be able to persevere and continue to develop. There is no doubt of the talent, only the volition of this unit under Arteta and his band of youthful footballers. These questions are being answered as we speak, and so now, we must sit back and watch as it unfolds.

It won’t always be the prettiest, win or lose, but it will be a story, and one that looks poised to yield positive results in the months and years to come: COYG!