Spurs & Man Utd help Arsenal towards outstanding week

Arsenal may have only played one match this week, but it’s played its part in the best seven days of the club’s season – so far.

The Wolves match was always set out to be a tough encounter, with Bruno Lage’s side quietly sneaking their way up towards the top four positions as the rest of the Big Six endure their own struggles.

That 1-0 win, having played the final 25 minutes with ten men, feels additionally sweet after the Molineux outfit beat Tottenham 2-0 on Sunday.

What a result. What a week for Arsenal.

Tottenham & Manchester United help Arsenal towards outstanding week as Antonio Conte’s side suffer dreadful 2-0 loss at home to Wolves

Before a ball was even kicked on Thursday Arsenal had the pleasure of watching Antonio Conte’s side succumb to a 3-2 loss to Southampton at home. A game that felt like a home banker was turned on its head by Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side, while up in Lancashire, Burnley did the Gunners another favour by holding out for a 1-1 draw at home to Manchester United.

Finally taking advantage of their rivals’ slip-ups with that win over Wolves, the week got even better when Ralf Rangnick’s side once again let a one goal lead slip against none other than Southampton at home.

United dropping four points in a week against opposition they were previously expected to beat? Fantastic.

Tottenham dropping six points at home in a week against who cares who? Unbelievable.

Arsenal have been handed opening after opening to solidify their push for a Champions League berth. There is quality within Spurs and United’s ranks that will win them games they don’t deserve. Right now those superpowers aren’t doing anything for them, so it’s all on Arsenal to pounce on their failings.

The Premier League top four was an hugely improbable achievement prior to the season starting, before turning into an impossible one three matches in. Whatever state one may feel Arsenal are in now, their squad got them to this point and they will not be handed a better chance of ending a five season wait for elite European football than now.

Even with the odds in their favour, it is nowhere near over. There are severely tough games ahead, including two of the biggest matches in years away at Spurs and at home to United. West Ham and Wolves mustn’t be excluded from the conversation either, but the door is opening. The invitation extending.

Making it into the top four means everything for this project, as well as being able to attract a greater calibre of player in the summer.

Spurs and United are dropping points like it’s going out of fashion. Arsenal need to make this their season.