Arsenal must get their tough October off to a perfect start in the North London derby

Arsenal are top of the table, but Spurs are lurking

The Gunners will need to play their best match of the season to beat Tottenham in the home variant of the North London derby. Arsenal have started the season superbly, but there is always room for improvement.

Arsenal have a massive stretch of matches coming up – as I’ve previously discussed – and starting that stretch of Premier League and Europa League fixtures well will be crucial ahead of the World Cup break in mid-November. To do so, Arsenal must take advantage of their scoring opportunities on Saturday while limiting what a dangerous Spurs side can do on the counter-attack.

That remains the strategy of Antonio Conte wherever he goes, and for Arsenal to overcome the strategic mind of the Italian, as well as the talent of the likes of Harry Kane, Son Heung-min, and Richarlison, composure will have to be the concept and word of the match. To score while stopping those skilful playmakers and finishers, therefore, will require fantastic performances from not only Gabriel Jesus, Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli, but from William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhaes and Thomas Partey – to name just a handful of players.

Arsenal: Spurs are just the start

The rest of the group stage in the Europa League and matches against Liverpool highlight October, while tricky contests against Chelsea and Brighton occupy the first weeks of November. It will be important to stack those difficult points while cashing in against struggling sides like Southampton, Nottingham Forest and Wolves. Those sides somewhere in between – like Leeds and Brighton – will be further tests of resilience and mettle that will benefit the team in the long run – regardless of the result.

12 to 15 points from October would be ideal, and that is not impossible, because it would put the team in a really good position vis-a-vis other top sides early on in the season.

Winning the Europa League group stage should be an exercise in integrating the likes of Fabio Vieira, Marquinhos, and Albert Sambi Lokonga, to name several. Ideally, it will improve their form and perception of the game that Mikel Artera likes to play, while at the same time, providing the team with greater, more confident options later in the season as well.

This is great, but it has to all come off right. If the Gunners struggle at points domestically or in Europe, then it must only be a blip on the radar and not a full-scale problem for the team. Such downturns in form, as we’ve seen at points over the last two or three years, must be shorter this time around, while purple patches must extend longer than they sometimes have.

Some rumours suggest that moves could be made in January, and reinforcements may be required by the time 2023 rolls around. The Gunners have coped so far, but more rigorous tests in terms of squad depth are on the horizon.

Right now, though, getting through Spurs in Saturday’s derby is the first, but crucial step in a hectic period for the Gunners. Arteta’s side must play a really solid and competitive match to show Spurs who’s boss in north London!