Arsenal build a November to remember
The narrative that accompanies a Premier League season usually has some axiom that the league can’t be won this early in the year. It’s true it can’t. And if you are an arsenal supporter like me, you also know that the subplot to any league narrative is that Arsenal are horrendous in November. Also (recently) true.
However, some things may be changing. Surely, you cannot win the season in November. However, what you can do is begin to create space from the pretenders and Arsenal with yesterday’s win did that. It will be interesting where Sunday’s matches end up because Arsenal could put some bigger distance between themselves and some of the bigger teams expected to challenge for the title.
Yes, it’s a long run to May. There are so many intangibles that can happen. If Olivier Giroud goes down before a possible reinforcement is brought in, then Arsenal will have some issues. Conversely, if they don’t pick up any substantial injuries and Podolski comes back, Arsenal can create more space.
And as for bad Novembers, Arsenal are one game away from taking a possible 9 of a possible 12 points available in the Month. Throw in the win against Dortmund and a possible positive result against Marseille this week and all in all it will be a very good month for Arsenal.
And that’s a good thing because as Arsenal continue to put together results its only going to build more belief in their ability to achieve something. This is already a good season for me. Regardless of whether or not Arsenal win the title, they are building a case that Arsenal are back.
One of the things I’ve hated in the last few years is how our team gets dragged through the mud. Be it our financial policies or the focus on youth development or even some of Wenger’s frustratingly annoying comments – where the context is completely twisted to further beat the club. There is nothing I hate more than someone taking the piss out of my club. Want to make me utter defensive? Argue about our poor defense. Tell us how we never win anything (ignoring all of our past success) or that we will never win anything with Wenger again. You know all the points we are pelted with. It just pisses me off.
What Arsenal are achieving this season is a return to respect. Sure, we will never get respect from the likes the of the scum from Manchester or Tottnum. Who cares. But I am starting to hear from neutrals that say if their team can’t win it, they want Arsenal to.
People aren’t taking the piss out of our ways since they seemingly have finally resulted in the building of a team capable of challenging again.
I’m still being pragmatic and still think we’ll fall short in the quest for the League Title this season. I just suspect we might run out of gas after trying to set the pace all season long. But I also think we may be in it for the FA Cup and that’s a start for this squad. Like I’ve said previously it took Manchester City two seasons with the right squad to win the title, but they captured the FA Cup first and built on the winning from there.
This could be the path Arsenal take to firmly reestablishing themselves as challengers and considered in the title picture and not just “top 4” quality.
That challenging for the top 4 is the one that really gets in my crall. Because it ignores the fact that Arsenal were/are operating under a different premise then most of the clubs around them. They made the decision some years ago to build the Emirates and operate under a strict financial lock down that would severely hamper most teams. But through the lean it was all with a purpose and I firmly believe that this purpose is being realized now.
Again, it may still be too early. There may still be more to add to this squad. Certainly another striker seems to be in the offing. Additionally the possibility of another defender will be likely depending on whether or not Arsenal can resign Bacary Sagna or Thomas Vermaelen considers looking elsewhere for first team football ahead of next summer’s World Cup. But for the most part, it just requires some tweaking.
And then you add the depth. Not enmasse like Tottnum have done. Their biggest problem outside of perhaps not buying wisely is that bought all at once and made wholesale changes to their squad. That large of a change I think in the end dooms their top 4 chase and I think it will then present them a bigger challenge of retaining players who came thinking they’d challenge for Champion’s League football.
No, for Arsenal if they add the striker we need in January and possibly another defender, for me that would be enough. Even just a striker. Then in the summer hopefully no substantial losses (I don’t think there will be) and a couple smart additions then it’s continued progress.
Arsenal are making a point every match they play in. There was even a message sent in losing to United . Sure we lost. But we weren’t soundly beaten. Last season’s 2-1 loss against United was as emphatic as ever. It showed two teams with distinct gulfs in talent. In this season’s loss it was quite clear that this gap had been closed and just an RvP header (off his shoulder) was the difference.
To me and I am sure to you, it’s evident that Arsenal are turning a corner and yesterday’s match just emphasized that more to me. In year’s past that was a match that resulted in us giving away points at the end. Southampton are good and I believe they will have a stronger say in the top 4 race than Tottnum. They seem a much more complete “team” than our neighbors. Yes, that is meant with every ounce of bias you read it with.
Arsenal’s ability to control the match when they needed to is different than seasons before. Sou’ton had chances but for the most part they were either direct shots into the keeper’s gut or easily tipped over by Szczesny. There was only one worrisome chance, the shot by Rodriguez that Szczesny palmed to the side.
The result meant that Arsenal once again vanguished a threat within a few points of them and put further distance between them and other table toppers. Sure, you can’t win a title in November but you can build on the foundation for success and that is precisely what this Arsenal have done.
What do you think about Arsenal’s continued success? Can they maintain it? How is this November shaping up in your eyes? Let us know.
