Arsenal targets with Chelsea need tempering

Arsenal ‘enjoyed’ another weekend without football as Liverpool and Chelsea contested in the Carabao Cup final, all the while their top four rivals extended their number of matches played to keep the Gunners playing catch up.

Having games in hand can work both ways: it’s either viewed as reduced pressure, or the table offers a glimpse of what could happen should the points not be secured. Differing pressure dependent on the mindset.

Beating Wolves in the manner they did provided a boost to the team mentally just as it did with regards to the Premier League table. While Arsenal have played three fewer matches than West Ham and Manchester United, and one and two more than Tottenham and Wolves respectively, the table looks favourably on Mikel Arteta’s side.

There are still 14 cup finals left to play with a top four finish the remaining goal for the season, and if Arsenal were to win their three games in hand they smallest cushion they could boast over their closest rivals in the hunt would be six points. The hypothetical situation is pleasant to ponder.

Arsenal targets with Chelsea need tempering as third place in the Premier League table should not be a target to consider right now

But some are looking beyond that. Never look beyond that. While those involved are of course Arsenal fans who’re getting swept up in the momentum, going one step further is never a wise course of action.

That means targeting Chelsea in third. Indeed, winning the one game in hand on the Blues would put Arsenal two points behind their west London rivals, and even Lee Dixon stated that this should be where his former side should set their sights.

"“If I’m in that Arsenal dressing room now I’m not looking at Man United I’m looking at Chelsea,” he told Amazon Prime after the 2-1 win over Wolves.“Win our game in hand and [we’re] two points behind Chelsea – they’ve got more games than us to play in the Champions League – I’m getting my sights at where Arsenal should be, or should have been for years. All of a sudden that is the target they should be aiming at.”"

Thomas Tuchel’s side have won just six of their previous 15 Premier League matches stemming from November onwards, gradually falling into the purgatory of being neither in the hunt for the title or getting drawn into a top four battle. But those results have sparked some excitement from Arsenal quarters that require some serious tempering.

During that time Chelsea have also got one foot in the Champions League quarter-finals, run an exceptional Liverpool team all the way in a Wembley final, and lifted the Club World Cup. Struggling to make use of Romelu Lukaku, an outstanding waste of money, they’ve got Kai Havertz looking back to his best in a far more balanced team.

Yes they still have FA Cup and Champions League football to contend with, but eyeing up third spot is just setting oneself up for disappointment at something that shouldn’t even be a consideration to begin with.

Results may lean in Arsenal’s favour, as well as the upcoming meeting at Stamford Bridge, in which case this could be a very real possibility. But allowing that train of thought to come into the station is like stepping on the tracks in anticipation.

Put the manager’s hat on for every remaining week of the season: one game at a time.