Photo from Freepik.
From Freepik
Afternoon all.
Arsenal have played 17 matches in total this season, winning 14, drawing twice, and losing just once, with an aggregate score of 37-7. We are four points clear at the top of the Premier League and joint top of the Champions League group stage with a perfect record. Not to forget we are still in the League Cup after overcoming Brighton a few weeks ago.
The team//squad have kept a club-record-equalling eight clean sheets in a row between October and November, their best run in 122 years. 812 minutes of football had been played without conceding a goal before Ballard stopped the run.
Two weeks of international football means a number of Arsenal players will get a bit of a breather but not many as many will be away with their respective countries. Two fixtures in two weeks might seem a doddle after being used to playing more within that same timeframe. Plus, I don’t think international football is always as brutal as the domestic game.
Brazil have a couple of friendly fixtures, both of which are at home. France are at home before a relatively short trip to Azerbaijan, England face Serbia at Wembley before travelling to Albania, Spain play Georgia away before going up against Turkey at home. Italy are away to Moldova before playing Norway at home, Netherlands travel to Poland before facing Lithuania at home and Ecuador play Canada away and New Zealand at home. Belgium travel to Kazakhstan before playing Litchensutein at home and lastly, Denmark play Belarus at home before travelling to Scotland for their second match.
Then it’s Jona Lewie time except we will be welcoming the cavalry…..
November and December fixtures are challenging to say the least but what a boost it will be to have Havertz, Odegaard, Martinelli, Gokyeres and Madueke back. Jesus is more likely to return in December, not that December is a million miles away.
November 23rd sees Arsenal go up against its bitter rivals, the first north London derby of this campaign. It’s a fixture I love and hate in equal measure.
Honestly, is our November/December schedule any worse than what we’ve already been through? I don’t think so, not when one considers we’ve already played Liverpool A, Man Utd A, Man City H, Newcastle A and Fulham A. Plus we’ve beaten a very good Crystal Palace side. When we face Palace again in December in the League Cup, they are likely to be without Ismaila Sarr (Senegal), Christantus Uche (Nigeria), Chadi Riad (Morocco) and Cheick Doucoure (Mali).
I’ve read comparisons to Man City’s fixtures which in some quarters, are suggested to be easier but I don’t think they are. On paper they might look that way but in this league, any club can beat another if it’s their day. Any day, injuries can hurt any club too as they so often seem to hurt us which is why any talk about league titles winners and favourites to be relegated is far too early. I just pray our own injury woes are over.
Catch up in the comments.