- ARSENAL ARE KNOWN TO USUALLY START THE CAMPAIGN ON A HIGH
- THEY DON’T SPEND MUCH IN THE MARKET BUT THEIR TARGETS DELIVER
- ARTETA IS SAID TO BE SHOPPING FOR MORE GUN POWER
Arsenal are currently at the summit of the table having played and won all three games in what can be rightfully termed as a real reconnaissance. Arsenal have gone into enemy territory and done early damage but wait, haven’t they been starting like this almost every other season? Arsenal’s previous false starts have prompted a not soo good debate on whether they are pretenders or contenders to the throne.
ARSENAL TO RAID WOLVES
With new, not so expensively acquired additions, Arsenal has silenced many critiques, at least for now. Every department is fully catered for and Arteta is happy but surprisingly is still looking to recruit more guns before the end of the transfer window. Arsenal are reportedly in talks to sign Pedro Neto, the Wolves attacker , with Arteta making the Portuguese youngster their main priority as a replacement for Nicolas Pepe.
Gabriel Martinelli and Emile Smith Rowe are Mikel Arteta’s main left-wing options whilst Bukayo Saka is now the Gunner’s only player out on the right, with Pepe set to join OGC Nice on loan and Reiss Nelson out for the next few months due to injury. Some pundits and critics alike are arguing that Arsenal have been lucky to start this season’s campaign with probably weaker opposition. Pundits are saying that it’s too early for Arsenal fans to start merrymaking with 35 games still to go.
If Arsenal will comfortably beat two of the regular top 4 sides then maybe Arteta can bank on his side capturing some silverware. A top four for Arsenal looks qute achievable though. It would be unwise to forget how the Gunners were making sweet noise before the last 4 games of the previous season.
Arsenal were confident of a top 3 spot then but a string of defeats saw the Gunners miss the Champions league spot and settle for the less glamarous Europa with the likes of the once mighty Manchester United who are currently having a nightmare start to the new season. If Arsenal lose in any one of their first 5 games, then fans will definately start questioning their ability to maintain momentum, and the question of pretenders and contenders will arise once agin.
Arteta can smile. He can chest thump because his new acquisitions are delivering the spoils. His scouts have done a commendable job and his loanee players have brought back valuable playing experience. I wouldnt be surprised if the big poachers come for the likes of William Saliba and Gabriel Jesus. Arteta must do everything humanly possible to forever keep the two at the Emirates.
HAIL THE CAPTAIN
Arsenal recently announced that Martin Odegaard had been appointed as the club’s new captain. The 23-year-old only joined the Gunners in 2021 although has made a big impact during his time in England and Mikel Arteta has decided to reward him with the armband. It would be correct to say that Odegaard is a fully motivated gunner and his perfomances have wooed many. Im thinking that Real madrid are already regretting letting him go.
Gabriel Jesus produced a player-of-the-match performance in Arsenal’s 3-0 win over Bournemout. The Brazilian has scored twice and contributed three assists in three games. Jesus was shipped out of Man City to pave way for Haaland and i dont think he regrets the move. He is currently having the best time of his premier league life at Arsenal and as long as he is injury-free , Jesus will continue scoring and creating chances as well.
Mikel Arteta handed Gabriel Jesus the number nine shirt, backing him to the lead the frontline – and Jesus has embraced the challenge in style.
WHO WILL STUMBLE?
My own opinion is that , if Arsenal win their next four fixtures, then a top 3 is guaranteed. If they win their next seven games and the usual big four stamble at least four times, then they will definately be contenders as opposed to pretenders. As it stands, the big spending teams have all already stumbled, with Chelsea suffering a humiliating 3 goals to nil defeat at Leeds and Man City struggling to get a point at Newcastle.
Liverpool are definately missing Sadio Mane and have only managed two draws in their first two games. Manchester United are the biggest scam this season and have horribly stumbled as well, going on to loose their first two opening games and facing an equally dissapointing liverpool side later tonight. Arsenal have been able to set up a partten that shoud be converted into momentum. Maximize as early as possible and let all the others play catch-up.
Arsenal should just continue enjoying the game and maintain a starting eleven. We can all agree that Arteta has assembled a worthy team and ticket holders are happy. With the current team work and motivation at the Emirates, i leave it up to you to decide whether Arsenal are pretenders or contenders to the throne.
