Here Comes the Fun
There are 20 Premier League games before the next international break, but the next two in particular feel massive
During the first international break of the season, Arsenal were deemed overly cautious in their defeat at Anfield. Liverpool were deemed imperious, and potential rivals to the reigning Premier League champions were already being talked down, just three games into the season.
Liverpool went on to lose their last league two games before the next international break, and then the two games after it as well. By the time that little run was over, there had been a 10-point swing, and Arsenal sat top of the table, six points clear of Manchester City and seven ahead of Arne Slot’s Reds.
Suddenly, the title was Arsenal’s to lose.
Fast-forward just two more games from there and Arsenal’s impenetrable defence had been, well, penetrated by Sunderland. Twice. One early goal. One late one. The Gunners, written off as challengers by some just a few weeks into the campaign, had finally conceded goals and finally dropped points.
After so many near-misses (nobody here needs reminding about the consecutive second-place finishes) it can be difficult not to get a vague sense of déjà vu. Especially when, not 24 hours after Arsenal’s 2-2 draw at the Stadium of Light, Manchester City blew Liverpool away. For all Liverpool’s struggles this season, the City game (3-0) was the first time they had lost by more than a single goal, and the first time they had failed to score in 45 Premier League matches. There’s just one better such run in the history of the Premier League.
With Erling Haaland on form to break his own impossible records, with Jeremy Doku looking unplayable, and with City looking less susceptible on the break than they have for years (even without Rodri), the blue side of Manchester should feel very comfortable with the idea of maybe, actually, having a say in this season’s title race.
Arsenal, again, will be looking over their shoulder when elite club football resumes this weekend.
This latest international break was the third of four this season. The longest stretch of Premier League games without a break this season has been four, twice. There are now 20 rounds of Premier League football scheduled before the next international break takes place in March. The work until now has laid the foundation for the season to come, but this is where things get serious.
Arsenal will, unfortunately, be kicking the seriousness off with another injury, having lost Gabriel Magalhães over the course of the break. The improved squad depth has been necessary at the other end of the pitch already this season, with Kai Havertz playing just one to date. Martin Ødegaard has fared slightly better, completing the full 90 minutes one time. The last time Noni Madueke played, Arsenal were five points behind Liverpool. Gabriel Martinelli has been injured recently and has made just two league starts — one at Old Trafford, one at Anfield — this season. Bukayo Saka has had a brief absence too, as has Viktor Gyökeres.
Now, with at least a couple of Ødegaard, Martinelli, Madueke and Gyökeres expected to return this weekend, it’s time for Arsenal’s defensive depth to step up. Myles Lewis-Skelly is still waiting for his first Premier League start of the season, and summer signing Piero Hincapié has been restricted to just 26 league minutes since arriving from Bayer Leverkusen. They will both have to step up in Gabriel’s absence, as will youngster Cristhian Mosquera.
After so much good news in terms of results, Arsenal return to action this weekend off the back of a couple of minor setbacks. The points dropped in Sunderland, then the loss of a totemic, talismanic, goal-poaching defender in Gabriel, mean the mood heading into Sunday’s north London derby may be a little more on edge, a little less sure, than it could have been.
The visit of Tottenham is followed by a trip to Chelsea (with a Champions League game against Bayern Munich sandwiched in between for good measure) in a week that feels, like so many of them do, like it carries so much weight.
Six points from those two league games, and any lingering fears that Arsenal might wobble will largely be dispelled. But dropped points will, especially if City close the gap, make everyone very nervous indeed.
The season to date has given Arsenal a superb foundation for a successful campaign. Now, with 20 games ahead before the season is punctuated by more international football, is the time to build on it and set the stage for a celebration come what May, starting with two enormous London derbies.
