Arsenal go home (leader) for Christmas. It was 15 years, from 2007-08, that the ‘Gunners’ did not reach ‘Boxing Day’ leading the Premier League. It must be remembered that They went to the World Cup with five points!!! advantage over Manchester City.
It’s their highest income in the lead since 2013… but then they didn’t give it to them to win the championship. History, however, works in Arsenal’s favor. The seven teams that started the Premier League by winning 12 of their first 14 games were proclaimed champions.
It’s true that being leader at Christmas isn’t always synonymous with winning the championship… but it helps. Whoever arrives first on ‘Santo Stefano’ has won 16 of the 30 editions of the Premier that have taken place to date.
Arsenal, on the other hand, doesn’t work. On the two occasions he spent Christmas at the top of the table (2002-03 and 2007-08) he finished second and third. It is true that he had never scored so many points (37) in 14 games.
The ‘gunners’ will be back in action receiving West Ham on ‘Boxing Day’. Exactly three years have passed since Arteta’s debut against Bournemouth (1-1) with goals from Aubameyang. “Attitude, passion and fighting spirit,” stressed the ‘gunner’ coach. Of the first eleven of him there are only three survivors: Saka, Xhaka and Reiss Nelson. Leno, Maitland-Niles, Sokratis, David Luiz, Torreira, Pp, zil and ‘Auba’ either left on loan or were sold.
“We are excited. Something unprecedented is coming and we have to be prepared. We have to seize the opportunity that awaits us. We are doing things very well… but we will have to do much better,” Arteta acknowledged in an interview with Jamie Carragher on ‘Sky Sports’ speaking of ‘regaining a Premier League that has resisted him since 2004.
Something unprecedented is coming and we must be prepared. We must seize the opportunity before us…
Guardiola’s former assistant wants players with ‘tense ears’: “We have to be careful”. Starting with the derby against West Ham: “It’s a very dangerous game. I know David Moyes well – he played 209 games under him at Everton – and I know he maximizes the potential of his teams.”
Arsenal start the second part of the season with an important ‘handicap’: the injury to Gabriel Jesus: “He had to go under the knife and it’s going to take a while to get back. He will be missed.” This is why he doesn’t rule out buying in the winter: “We’ll be active on the transfer market trying to strengthen the team.”
“We are on the right track,” insists Arteta. Arsenal are back (leaders) for Christmas.
