And so the Arsenal bandwagon rumbles determinedly onwards. And upwards. So much so that I think that we can safely put the horrendous start to the season firmly behind us now. The perfect storm that led to those three performances/results has now been replaced by a strong tailwind that continues to carry Arsenal back towards where we all know they belong.
The vast majority of supporters were seriously doubting 'the process' after those three games. And if nothing had changed, they'd have been right to do so. But the mass introduction of the 6 players signed in the summer has seen the resurgence that we'd all been wishing for, featuring a visible change of attitude and commitment from front to back. And now, with a settled side, I'm starting to feel that Arsenal are going to be a match for perhaps all but the best that the Premier League has to offer. There will be ups and downs, of course, because this is essentially a young side, but I think that we can all see that the direction of travel is firmly heading towards sunnier climes.
Of course, a major test of that will come on November 20th with a visit to Anfield. But results this weekend have shown that even the best sides have their issues and off-days. That game is sandwiched between home games with Watford and Newcastle, so I suspect that the Curse of November is rather less likely to strike this year.
And what is more important is that Arsenal are now starting to compete with - and beat - the sides they need to beat in order to push on towards a return to the fabled Top 4 spots. With Tottenham, Villa and Leicester all seen off in the space of 6 weeks, and a hard-fought point won at Brighton, we can definitely start to look up now. And it's incredible to think that Arsenal now find themselves just three points off of fourth, and 5 off of second (!), a mere 7 matches after failing to gain a single point from their first three.
And so to the game at the King Power on Saturday. Same starting XI as for Villa - meaning that White had recovered from whatever caused him to come off the pitch on Tuesday - and frankly there was no reason to change it. The central defensive pairing is looking solid, Tavares has proved a more than able deputy for the injured Tierney so far, and Lokonga is quickly learning what is expected of a Premier League central midfielder. Up the top of the pitch, Auba certainly seems a much happier performer with his mate Laca out there with him and is leading by example.
Ans then there's Aaron Ramsdale. I'll be the first to admit that I wasn't sure about him - actually I was less sure about the size of the fee, I think, than about the man himself. But he blows us away week after week, does he not? Culminating in his quite brilliant save - an extra brilliant one amongst a slew of great blocks and saves on Saturday - from Maddison's free kick. Oh. My. Goodness!
Although, as my dearly departed and much-missed father would certainly have commented: 'He should've held it.'
As we have now come to expect, Arsenal started quickly, nearly taking the lead in the very first minute following a lovely run by Saka, but it wasn't long before our wonder boy's beautiful in-swinging corner was headed home by Gabriel. On Saka's 100th Arsenal appearance, I must mention. And on 18 minutes it was two, with a swift counter attack - started by Partey and followed by more trickery from Saka that led to some penalty area pinball - that was finished off, Lampard-like, by ESR.
Of course, we expected Leicester to find their feet in the game and to come back into it. And this they certainly did. But they met with firm resistance as the Arsenal defence held firm for the most part. And when they didn't... there was Ramsdale. Saves like the aforementioned one from Maddison, but also from Iheanacho (following a rare misplaced pass from The Staffordshire Ederson), from Evans on the follow-up from the Maddison free-kick, and also Lookman and Barnes (twice).
Some thoughts on this: Arsenal's fast starts and early goals are forcing opposition to change their plans. This is good, but there is still something of an element of Arsenal failing to react swiftly to these tactical changes (something Arteta needs to look at; but he's getting away with it at present), as they are forced onto the back foot for sometimes long periods of matches. Of course, it is unreasonable to expect any side to maintain that intensity for 90 minutes, but Arsenal as a team must continue to learn to manage matches better - and this will hopefully come with experience.
It's OK to drop back into a 'low block' when under pressure, but there is also a need to look to find a way out of it and to try to press higher up the field. That threat must always be there - otherwise, it is inevitable that goals will be conceded. If the opposition see no threat - just that low block - that merely invites more and more pressure. A microcosm of that is pulling everybody back for a corner - I hate that! Leave one up, and they have to pull two or even three back. And in the same way it's not OK to just defend, defend, defend. There needs to always be an out ball - or at least the threat of one. Otherwise it's just a siege.
But again on Saturday, Arsenal's defence bent but did not break. A clean sheet and a win at a difficult venue. Thank you very much.
Another quick take on Ramsdale, and this is it:
and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hkcLmp4r6hw. Bantered by the Leicester fans in the 'traditional' way, this response shows the character of the man. I cracked up with laughter at the time, and others noticed it too. What's not to love?
And so to Watford at home on Sunday. And the reasonable expectation of three points, which will hopefully continue to carry Arsenal upwards. If you can be bothered to look back, I did mention in this blog even whilst Arsenal were languishing in 20th place that 20 points going into the forthcoming international break was a reasonable expectation despite the awful start to the season. And we're on course for precisely that.
Top 4? Well, it looked like a pipe dream two months ago, but that is no longer the case.
Just a quick mention on referees and VAR - aren't you sick of it all? Two weeks ago McArthur's assault on Saka was not reviewed by Mike Dean, despite him being invited to do so by the VAR ('punishment' from PMGOL followed, but that's not the point). Andre Marriner took an age to award Chambers' goal on Tuesday; it's almost as if he wanted to ignore the buzzing on his wrist. And on Saturday two almost identical incidents saw Laporte receive a red card for a foul on Zaha, but Evans just a yellow for doing the same to Auba. Conspiracy? Nah...
I cannot end without a word on our neighbours... another manager bites the dust, and I believe that it's now 7 managers since their last trophy, won in 2008 under Juande Ramos. And I'm finishing off this article on an auspicious day - because November 2nd 2021 is precisely 5000 days since they lifted their one and only trophy this century. Big club... it's all Glory Glory with them, isn't it?
And for all Arsenal fans concerned that 'winner' Antonio Conte is taking over at The Toilet Bowl - don't be. Even Jose Mourinho failed there.
Lads; it's Tottenham. And no, I'm NOT obsessed with them - but they are the gift that keeps on giving. In any case, Conte is clearly the wrong choice. They should have gone with fish'n'chips entrepreneur Harry Ramsden. After all, Tottenham get battered everywhere they go!
I'll be back next week. COYG!
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