Gunners
Club football on the horizon again, where do Arsenal stand?
Club football on the horizon again, where do Arsenal stand?
In the last international break, I predicted that 10 points out of 12 for Arsenal would leave them no further off Liverpool than they were at that point and more than likely closer to 1st place.
In the aftermath of drawing at home to what appeared to be an imminently beatable City side and Newcastle away still to come I did wonder if we would reach that target. I should never have questioned Mikel and the boys and I am still buzzing from the win at St James’ Park and the style in which it was achieved.
As predicted a month ago, lady luck deserted Liverpool somewhat and the ridiculous run of late goals turned back on them at first Palace scored very late and then a week later Chelsea did the same (with a Champions League loss in Turkey sandwiched in between). Let’s be honest though, these were not two unfortunate defeats but a continuation of the poor performances catching up with them and sides taking their own chances to inflict defeats on them.
So, in just a few weeks the pressure has gone from Arsenal being 5 points behind Liverpool with a couple of tricky fixtures coming up to Liverpool having lost 3 in a row, new signings not settling and falling off the top of the league.
What is coming next?
For Arsenal, between now and the next international break (thank God they are trying to change this up from next year onwards!) we have:
Fulham (A)
Atl. Madrid (H) Champions league
Crystal Palace (H)
Brighton (H) Carabao Cup
Burnley (A)
Slavia Prague (A) Champions league
Sunderland (A)
A favourable run of fixtures await the league leaders on return from the international break 🔜
— Fantasy Premier League (@OfficialFPL) October 10, 2025
Are you bringing any @Arsenal assets in ahead of Gameweek 8? 🤔#FPL pic.twitter.com/ysSpbqOIxy
Four league games, three of which are away from home but I really think we should be going all out for 12 points to really turn the pressure up on Liverpool. Fulham have had a couple of poor results recently and we really should have enough to win there.
The Palace game looks tough but, they have finally lost their long unbeaten run and they also play in Europe on the Thursday night ahead of this fixture, I think it will be their first ever European home game so potential an emotional come down could hit them on the weekend. In losing to Everton last time out they did look leggy in the second half and so I wouldn’t be surprised to see that game close at half time and Arsenal winning it in the second half as the benches come on and change the game.
Then we have two away trips up north to newly promoted sides. Sunderland have had a great start and I think Burnley have played much better than their points tally suggested and have been unfortunate with some late goals and the tough run of fixtures to start the season. Despite this, we really need to be coming away from these trips with 6 points and minimal fuss if we want to keep the pressure on all sides chasing us.
The Atletico game may distract us but the Brighton cup game and Slavia Prague game should be a case of rest and rotation so we can really keep the pressure up in the four league games. The benefit of winning both Champions league games gives us some leeway here, two more wins and I think we would almost be there.
Liverpool's run…
The fixture list looks slightly harder for Liverpool over the coming weeks:
Man Utd (H)
Frankfurt (A) Champions league
Brentford (A)
Crystal Palace (H) Carabao Cup
Aston Villa (H)
Real Madrid (H)
Man City (A)
A potentially tricky start at home to United – I think United are absolutely horrendous and Amorim should have been binned off by now but due to the historic rivalry and form Liverpool come in with, it could be a tricky game.
Brentford is definitely winnable but they won’t roll over for anyone.
Then a somewhat resurgent Aston Villa, a vital Champions League game against Madrid (especially as they lost in Turkey) and an away trip to City in one week. That is a tough week in anyone’s book and will really test them. If they win all three of them wow, the momentum will be well and truly with them but the defensive lapses shown recently will give all three teams confidence going in to the games.
The final game in that run may also tell us whether Man City are really going to contend in the title race this season or if they will only be competing for 3rd/4th place.
Prediction time…
I will be somewhat disappointed if Arsenal don’t pick up four wins from these league games. Do this and I think we will be starting to open up a little gap on Liverpool before the next international break.
Come on you Gunners!
Most Read
