3 key factors in Arsenal’s superb start to the 2022/23 season

3. A pretty easy schedule

Arsenal improved qualitatively over the summer, with William Saliba’s return bolstering a defence no longer crippled by individual errors (Gabriel’s blunder against Fulham aside). They’re better at both ends of the pitch, that’s for sure, and their evolution has enabled them to assert greater control in games.

However, there’s no denying that a kind schedule has played a role in their bright start. Many predicted the Gunners to start quickly and while some didn’t see them winning their opening five games, it wouldn’t have been an outlandish projection.

Arsenal were rather fortunate to face an undercooked Crystal Palace, a side that endured a hectic pre-season, on opening night, while the likes of Leicester and Aston Villa are sides Arteta’s men would’ve been expected to beat on home soil. Bournemouth will surely end the campaign bringing up the rear, and while Fulham will upset a few teams this season, Arsenal’s talent blows the Cottagers’ out of the water.

Of course, there are no ‘easy’ games in the Premier League. The quality of the top flight is staggering and never before have we seen such a collection of talent up and down the division.

However, winning games they were expected to win wasn’t a problem for Arsenal last season. Their issue came against the ‘Big Six’ (P10 W3 L7) and in their first fixture of the sort, they were beaten 3-1 by United at Old Trafford. Arteta’s side did display an ability to dominate proceedings in a manner which we haven’t seen before away from home against a top-six rival, but they were ruthlessly undone in transition.

Playing once a week has also helped, as it would any team, and we’ll see what the 2022/23 Gunners are truly made of once the Europa League schedule begins to take its toll. How will Arsenal fare playing two games a week? That’ll determine how far this side can go.