Arsenal are already hanging on by a thread in the title race after a draw at Chelsea on Sunday left them nine points behind Premier League leaders Liverpool.
Mikel Arteta, however, is refusing to throw in the towel and has urged his players to “show their teeth” when they return to action next week after the international break.
“When it’s Disneyland, it’s easy, everyone is next to you and telling you how beautiful you are and when it gets dark and difficult, everyone is questioning it,” he said. “That’s when I want to see people.”
No team has ever won the Premier League title after being nine or more points off the leaders at this stage of the season, but there are reasons to believe that Arsenal can make history.
Fixture list eases up
Arsenal have had a tough start to the season and Sunday’s clash at Stamford Bridge means they’ve now ticked off many of their hardest away games. Trips to Aston Villa, Chelsea, Manchester City, Newcastle and Tottenham are all in the rearview mirror.
Ahead of the Gunners is a much kinder schedule. They have seven Premier League games before the turn of the year, starting with a home match against Nottingham Forest next week.
Forest are fifth and Fulham, who Arsenal also face in this seven-game stretch, are seventh. Other than that, though, the Gunners have five matches against teams that are among the bottom eight sides in the Premier League.
That includes games against Everton, Ipswich and Crystal Palace, who are 16th, 17th and 18th in the league, respectively.
Arsenal also face less travel. In all competitions, they play just once outside of London - against Sporting Lisbon in the Champions League later this month - before the end of the year.
Jury still out on Liverpool
Liverpool have impressed in this first part of the season, but it remains to be seen if they can last the pace under Arne Slot.
Arsenal can take heart from the fact that it is not the winning machine of Manchester City leading the way and, crucially, the Gunners are only four points off Pep Guardiola’s side - which is one more than they were at this stage last season.
City’s aura has faded and the title race as a whole feels far more open. Liverpool face a tough run and that will truly test their title credentials.
Slot’s side return to action next week with a trip to Southampton, but after that they host Manchester City before visits to Newcastle and Everton in the space of four days. Liverpool also travel to Tottenham before the end of the year.
Influential Odegaard returns
Arteta has admitted that he will spend much of this international break “praying” that all his players return fit.
The Spaniard has described the situation up until now as “an absolute nightmare” and Arsenal have been hit hard by injuries.
Martin Odegaard returned against Chelsea, starting his first game for Arsenal since August, and that is a major positive.
The Norwegian created Arsenal’s only goal of the game, finding Gabriel Martinelli with a lovely dinked pass. Odegaard fashioned four chances during the match, more than any other player.
Arsenal have sorely missed their captain and injuries have caused problems in defence, too. Arteta has named seven different back fours in 11 league games.
Players are returning there, though, and Riccardo Calafiori should be back in action some time after the international break.
Chasers tag may suit Arsenal
Arsenal are now chasers in this title race - and that is a role which may suit them.
During the 2022-23 season, they faltered when leading the way and City reined them in despite Arsenal topping the table for 248 days over the course of the campaign.
Arteta’s side were chasers last season and showed they are capable of putting a run together when under pressure. After the turn of the year, the Gunners won 16 of their final 18 league games.
Arsenal will need to go on a similar run now, but Arteta will take heart from the fact that the tag of chasers could bring the best out of his players.
