Arsenal set new Premier League first in 2021/22 season

Just like supporters had allowed themselves to dream after the win over Aston Villa just before the international break, this time Arsenal are cautious in getting carried away.

Heading into the weekend’s game against Leeds with a two point buffer over Tottenham, if all goes well and Arsenal see off the relegation threatened side with Spurs losing away to Liverpool, it could come down to one game.

The North London Derby will follow that and if Arsenal clinch victory as the away side – which they haven’t done in the Premier League since 2014 – the will have secured their place in the top four. Should they go on to draw it then they will only need two points from their remaining two matches against Newcastle and Everton, working on the basis that Spurs win both of their fixtures.

However, lose that game and the Gunners will still have their destiny in their hands with a two point advantage going into those final two fixtures, meaning it’s still theirs to lose.

Arsenal set new Premier League first under Mikel Arteta in 2021/22 season

Or, the coming weekend could go horribly wrong, Arsenal could be leapfrogged in the table by Spurs and suddenly the pressure is ramped up to a whole new level.

Whatever the outcome, be it fourth, fifth or otherwise, Arsenal won’t be finishing lower than sixth this season. And that marks a new Premier League first.

Indeed, no side in the history of the competition has ever lost their opening three matches of a league campaign and finished higher than seventh. Is there a reward? No. Is it something to shout out from the rooftops? No.

But it does demonstrate the scale of the turnaround that has taken place from those horrifying opening games. Down and seemingly out for the count with no goals scored and nine conceded, by which points Spurs were top of the table with nine points, the situation looks distinctly brighter right about now.

Only Man City and Liverpool have accumulated more points since those opening three matches, which shows the mental strength of the squad and the quality of the recruitment, among many other aspects.

It’s still undecided where this team will finish this season, even with Europa League football sewn up, at the least.

Events at the Emirates Stadium and Anfield will go a long way to determining it.