Arsenal: 4 things needed to secure Premier League top four

Arsenal are on the right track. It sure feels like it anyway. Recent results have gone their way and while initial targets for the season won’t have included finishing in the top four, the circumstances have changed.

Prior to the season kicking off expectations were quelled. Arsenal had just come off the back of two successive eighth place finishes and even the most ambitious supporter saw the top four as a unachievable objective.

Setting targets before the season begins is the fairest way to make a judgement. In doing so you look at what there is and what you’re up against. In Arsenal’s case it wasn’t known how well the new players would perform in their debut seasons, but by setting your stall out early you aren’t influenced by events as the campaign progresses.

Nonetheless, top four has to be the aim now. Even if a top six finished would have been accepted – in the context of where Arsenal were, that is – the situation is as such that there is now a genuine chance of being involved on Tuesday and Wednesday nights once again.

Arsenal need four aspects of the season to go their way if they are to finish in the Premier League top four and return to the Champions League

That music back on the carpet? It’s been too long.

Before that tune starts humming in everyone’s heads there are 16 colossal matches standing in the Gunners’ way. They are, to use an old adage, all cup finals.

Winning each one of them will easily clinch a place, while it has the possibility of even taking Arsenal higher than fourth. Sadly, for obvious reasons, that simply won’t be happening.

Numerous variables come into play in order to secure a top four place in the Premier League, some of which are beyond the Gunners’ control. Looking at all the aspects that must come together, four standout dominoes need to fall into place apart from Arsenal simply winning their matches to end a four season run out of Europe’s elite competition.

1. Little to No Serious Injuries

The risk Arsenal ran when they opted against signing anyone in the January transfer window while allowing six players to leave was plainly clear. Suffer any significant, or even short-term, injuries and their paper thin becomes worryingly stretched.

Some players in the squad are irreplaceable in any case, but when the backups for their positions are brought in the drop off is stark.

Only two positions were under serious consideration in midfield and striker, so while Bukayo Saka being injured would be devastating with or without a new arrival, Alexandre Lacazette being unavailable is a considerable blow.

He may not score, at all, but he helps Arsenal to score. His intervention at Wolves set up Gabriel, and the whole team ticks when he’s essentially playing as the tip of a midfield diamond.

Across the whole squad Arsenal have to be crossing their fingers that the team stays healthy, which based on how the season has transpired already, and with there being roughly one game per week for the rest of the campaign, should  be manageable.

Maintaining the core 14/15 players is going to be imperative. The starting lineup and handful of substitutes are what got the club into the mix in the first place. Keeping them unscathed is arguably most important of all.

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