Third of the season gone...

We have reached the 13 game point, and sit in a rather familiar second place. The 9 point gap to Liverpool looks large, while we have an identical record to 3rd placed Chelsea.

It has been a difficult start, with a lot of injury issues, controversial reds and 2 disappointing defeats to Bournemouth and Newcastle. However, in the last couple of weeks we have started to look good, scoring five twice in 4 days away from home.

The December schedule is hectic, and the next month could prove pivotal. Our run-up to Christmas starts on Wednesday, hosting Manchester United who have new manager bounce propelling them. A trip to Craven Cottage to face the team that did most damage to our title hopes last season follows on Sunday. Fulham, of course, have a number of ex-Arsenal players - though Reiss Nelson will sit it out.
A Champions League match at home to Monaco gives us a chance to secure our place in the next round while strengthening our top 8 hopes. Then it is Everton on the Saturday.
Our League Cup campaign continues with a home tie against Palace on the 18th, and we go to Selhurst Park 4 days later in a league game. No Boxing Day action for us this year, instead we host Ipswich Town on the 27th. Brentford away is the New Years day action, and then a trip to the AMEX to face Brighton on the 4th.
We learn our FA Cup opponents tonight, with the North London Derby following that match in a midweek slot. Before the end of January we face Villa and Wolves in the league, while the CL league phase ends with Zagreb and Girona.


Can we catch Liverpool? It is a tough ask, with very little room for error. Liverpool are flying, with van Dijk and Salah looking at their best. They did benefit from a kind start to get the new manager bedded in, and have faced teams at the right time. However, they have the momentum, the belief and that massive gap. It is definitely theirs to lose.


Bukayo Saka is doing everything he can to keep us in the race. He reached 10 assists in the PL on Saturday, with 5 goals to add to that. Kai Havertz is our top scorer with 9 across all competitions, 2 more than Saka. Gabriel, Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard all have 4 - as does Ethan Nwaneri. Our young star has definitely been a bright spark of the season so far, impressing in his league cameos and starring in the league cup run.

Yellow card suspensions for 5 yellows in the first 19 games is beginning to hit teams. Mainoo and Martinez both picked up their 5th on Sunday to get banned for our match. For us, it is Gabriel Jesus most at risk with 4. Considering he has only started twice it is quite shocking for him, but shows how desperate he is to impact when he comes on. Saka and Jurrien Timber are on 3 each, as is Jorginho.


This is the period of the season where the league really starts taking shape, and it is vital we reduce the 9 point gap somehow to stand any hope of winning the title. It starts Wednesday in a must win meeting with Man Utd.