Arsenal are improving & Manchester United match is proof

The loss to Manchester United was frustrating, there is no question of that, and Arsenal will have to keep their guard up as they go to Goodison Park to face an Everton team that is also smarting from a midweek loss. The Toffees have had a tough stretch since the end of September, but they can’t be taken lightly, as they can still hurt a Gunners side reeling.

Arsenal could get upset by the Toffees and were this to happen, I would not be shocked. But it would not deter me from stating that the Gunners are well on their way to being a really tough outfit, no matter the competition they find themselves in. This was on display against Manchester United, who, while chronically underperforming, have one of the most talented rosters across all of England.

They should be winning most games that they play; that they do not is a testament to a decaying club whose bosses, while often good and intelligent footballers, are unable to make the massive organization operate as Sir Alex mythically did. Arsenal do not have that problem, however, for even though the shadow of the Arsene Wenger era continues to loom over the managers who succeed him at the old north London outfit, Mikel Arteta has proven he is up to this challenge.

Losing to a talented Manchester United side by just a handful of mistakes is nothing to go mad over. This team is still really young, and still gaining traction in what it wishes to do week in and week out; that they are able to hang in games with some of the better squads is positive and this will only spark greater confidence, despite leaving without a point.

Arsenal and Mikel Arteta are improving even after suffering a Premier League setback against Manchester United

There are only a handful of teams that are better than the Red Devils, even as they sit in a frustrating scenario themselves. These include Chelsea, Manchester City and Liverpool, to be sure, and might include the likes of West Ham as well. That is probably it for right now. Which means that Arsenal, technically speaking and by default, are probably slotted about right at the number five position on the league table.

With more win and a slip up by West Ham (at some point), they might even jump ahead of David Moyes side and into fourth place before the new year, and so this current state should be considered positive for this team. Arteta simply pushes because he knows that is what he must continue to do to get the team that he wants out on that pitch for each and every match.

And we will see on Monday’s Premier League meeting if that message can withstand a couple of difficult matches and defeats in just a few weeks.

Everton are vulnerable as they are still without Yerry Mina and Dominic Calvert-Lewin, but Rafa Benitez is a wise manager despite his recent troubles with the Toffees and he will have this team ready to silence some of the criticism that has been lobbed at them.

That is why Arsenal will have to come out with as much purpose as they showed in that match against United. Were it not for a few calls that went against the Gunners, including a penalty that was given and one that was not, there is a good chance that we are discussing either a win or at the very least, a draw from that midweek match.

Yet alas, that was not to be. Arsenal will have to get ready for a real dog fight against a team in Everton that cannot afford to drop too many more points before the winter window opens. Their boss and players know that as well as ours do, and so Arsenal had better be ready for any and everything when they travel to Merseyside.