We are done with Gameweek 10 of the Premier League, and now we can start talking about the title contenders – Arsenal. Surely there is still a lot of football left to be played and anything can happen, but we can certainly discuss the positives and the way this new Arsenal team is setting up this season.
The big question is whether this new side will be able to compete against Chelsea, Manchester City, Liverpool, and other title contenders, or if Arsenal will once again become its own biggest rival? which remains the main obstacle to its title hopes.
The change:
One thing that has surely changed is the maturity among the players and the mentality to win games. Arsenal may not be playing the most fluid or flashy football so far, but what they are doing is grinding out results in every match.
Their defensive structure is surely one of the best in the league.
Traditionally, it has been observed that the team conceding the fewest goals in the Premier League often goes on to win the title, and in line with that, Arsenal have conceded only three goals so far. The last time Arsenal conceded two goals in a Premier League match was in a draw against Liverpool, which also included a red card for the Arsenal side.
Lately, as I mentioned in my video, Arsenal’s biggest title-losing factor in the past was their inability to stay consistent or keep pace with other rivals and title contenders. However, if we focus on this season, the usual rivals seem far behind them. Liverpool at this moment is more focused on survival than on winning the league. City is highly dependent on Erling Haaland, and if he suffers a major injury or a dip in form, they could also find themselves in trouble.
At this stage of the competition, the closest competitors appear to be Bournemouth, Sunderland, and maybe Spurs, but maintaining consistency over a full Premier League season is still a major question for these teams. So, the dream of being on top of the table looks much more comfortable for Arsenal right now.
Another big positive for this Arsenal side is its squad. The variety of players with different playing styles and the way each of them can impact the game is impressive. The squad depth is also incredible in every position. This is a major factor because, despite so many changes, Arsenal have continued to perform well, unlike Liverpool or Chelsea. The full credit for this goes to Head Coach Mikel Arteta. The way he has integrated the new players into the lineup makes it hard to believe that some of them have only recently started playing for Arsenal.
As I mentioned in my video, Arteta has clearly defined specific roles for every player while also giving them the freedom to find different solutions on the field. Another big positive is the emotional stability that has developed after all the hardships this Arsenal side has faced. This maturity and composure make Arsenal a very different team compared to previous years.
Conclusion:
As I mentioned in my video, Arsenal’s upcoming fixtures are quite tricky, but if they can find ways to grind out results in these matches, they could be in a very favorable position for the title charge by the end of December.
Now the big question remains: can Arsenal finally break the curse – the “ghost of Arsenal”? Can they finally win the title, or will it be the same old story of finishing second and bottling the league again?
Do share your thoughts in the comments section of my YouTube video:
