By Danong
After 20 games, Arsenal sit with 40 points, exactly where they were at this stage last season—a season where we went on a title-winning run but ultimately didn't win the league.
Let's not kid ourselves; we haven't been good enough. But has bad luck contributed to our struggles?
Our Gunners had an insane start to this Premier League season in terms of fixtures.
We faced demanding away games against Aston Villa, Newcastle, Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester City, and Chelsea, as well as big UCL games versus Atalanta, PSG, and Inter.
Liverpool didn't have such a tough run and had easier fixtures to deal with helping them build momentum.
Injuries have also held us back. Injuries to Mikel Merino, Ben White, Takehiro Tomiyasu and most importantly, Martin Odegaard, have been significant setbacks.
Injuries have also held us back. Injuries to Mikel Merino, Ben White, Takehiro Tomiyasu and most importantly, Martin Odegaard, have been significant setbacks.
Now, we are also without Bukayo Saka, our best player. Without injuries, especially that of Odegaard, we would have been better off, trust me.
Controversial referee decisions have also held us back. Three awkward red cards cost us all three points against Bournemouth, Brighton, and Manchester City.
That absurd penalty from the head collision between William Saliba and Joao Pedro on Saturday for the 1-1 draw against Brighton also cost us 3 points.
Liverpool coming out of the traps running and Mohamed Salah putting up Ballon d'Or performances to carry them with his goal-scoring exploits has exposed us.
Apart from Bukayo Saka, we certainly don't have another attacker as influential as Salah. If only we could have another Saka in our team.
Moments like Martinelli being a toe offside versus Fulham, resulting in a winning goal being ruled out, and Gabriel being subbed off versus Liverpool, losing our defensive solidity for that draw, have also played a part.
We haven't had much luck. But there's nothing we can do about that—it's in the past. We just have to continue pushing and strive to be better in the next few months.
Hopefully attacking signings come through and Liverpool's luck and good form is bound to run out.
Notably, we are in a position where some feel that to have a shot at lifting the 2024-25 league title, we need to replicate the run we went on in the last 18 league games of last season.
Liverpool coming out of the traps running and Mohamed Salah putting up Ballon d'Or performances to carry them with his goal-scoring exploits has exposed us.
Apart from Bukayo Saka, we certainly don't have another attacker as influential as Salah. If only we could have another Saka in our team.
Moments like Martinelli being a toe offside versus Fulham, resulting in a winning goal being ruled out, and Gabriel being subbed off versus Liverpool, losing our defensive solidity for that draw, have also played a part.
We haven't had much luck. But there's nothing we can do about that—it's in the past. We just have to continue pushing and strive to be better in the next few months.
Hopefully attacking signings come through and Liverpool's luck and good form is bound to run out.
Notably, we are in a position where some feel that to have a shot at lifting the 2024-25 league title, we need to replicate the run we went on in the last 18 league games of last season.
With 16 wins, 1 draw, and 1 loss, Arteta and the boys unluckily missed out on the title race by 2 points.
With Liverpool dropping points like we know they will (they've started doing so with that 2-2 draw with United), 16 wins should win us the league.
With Liverpool dropping points like we know they will (they've started doing so with that 2-2 draw with United), 16 wins should win us the league.
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