Arsenal faithful have been impressed with the change in play style and form under first-year manager Unai Emery, and it will have many supporters eyeing a title challenge.
Free-flowing goals and decent results against other teams near the top of the table is a cause for relief after the end of Arsène Wenger’s reign. More than league results, Arsenal have got off to a flying start in the Europa League.
But fans will be hungry for more, and the team needs to finish in a top-four place in order to solidify Champions League football next season.
With transfer rumours picking up, it seems Arsenal may be active in January with attempts to solidify and mount a title challenge. Juventus central defender Mehdi Benatia is a transfer target for multiple Premier League clubs, and if Arsenal wins the bidding war for the Moroccan defender it will signal that Arsenal is not messing around.
Fans have been bemoaning the lack of a marquee signing in recent windows, but the current squad is still performing to a high level. Emery may opt to go forward with little change and increase squad cohesion.
Arsenal’s striker options have been providing a welcome selection headache for Emery and his staff. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette are competing for the striker position and both have impressed. Aubameyang has seven league goals and Lacazette is close behind with five, so both have a chance of reaching 20 Premier League goals in a season.
Many are predicted Arsenal will keep up the good form off the back of their star strikers. Betting websites are predicting Arsenal as favourties for the next several league games, and Arsenal will be looking to build momentum into the North London Derby on December 2nd.
The Competition
Tottenham is close to Arsenal in the table through the first third of the season, and Arsenal fans would be delighted if they could flip the script of recent years and finish higher than their rivals.
Elsewhere, several top competitors are embroiled in ownership and management controversies.
Reigning champions Manchester City are currently embroiled in conspiracy allegations. As part of worldwide football leaks, Manchester City has been connected to a conspiracy to cover up their Financial Fair Play misdeeds.
La Liga chiefs have demanded an investigation into the wrongdoings of the Manchester club, and other English clubs may be hoping the hammer drops on their rivals. If City is exposed and punished for Financial Fair Play violations, it could seriously impact their chances at repeating as Premier League champions. At the very least, it provides a constant source of controversy in the media.
Elsewhere, Chelsea has been returning to form under new boss Maurizio Sarri and are looking like they will be title challengers. But, Russian owner Roman Abramovich has been embroiled in diplomatic tensions between his homeland Russia and the United Kingdom. The Home Office has taken a hard stance against Russian oligarchs and Chelsea’s owner has fallen victim, noticeably absent at his team’s games.
This may not have an immediate impact on Chelsea, but it is a cause for concern around Stamford Bridge, and rumours have been swirling about Abramovich selling the club to cut his losses.
Finally, Manchester United’s troubles with manager José Mourinho have been a constant source of media fodder. The Special One has found himself in hot water multiple times in the early season, and if results do not turn around, he could face the sack.
Considering the baggage of many other top Premier League clubs, Arsenal can pounce on an opportunity to take control of the league and mount a title run. With Unai Emery at the helm, Arsenal fans have been given a reason to hope again, and that hope might be realized.
