Arsenal in December: Man City and Everton to test title credentials
Arsenal head into December’s football in an excellent position both domestically and on the continent, with tickets in high demand and a good run of fixtures to help the Gunners shape their title charge.
Arsenal currently sit in fourth place in the Premier League, three points adrift of leaders Chelsea, while qualification to the next stage of the Champions League has been confirmed.
December’s action starts with an away trip to London rivals West Ham United, who have struggled this season. Arsene Wenger’s men will hope to pile more misery on the Hammers, with the visitors surely having too much quality and attacking firepower for a team leaking goals at an alarming rate.
A trip to Switzerland in midweek awaits shortly after, with the Champions League clash against Basel to play. The English side look destined to finished second in Group A behind Paris Saint-Germain, with the North London side needing Ludogorets to get something from their trip to the French capital to potentially top the pool.
Wenger may use the European clash as an opportunity to rest players, with a home clash against Stoke City on the horizon the following weekend. For Arsenal to realistically win the Premier League this season, turning the Emirates Stadium into a fortress feels necessary, with nothing other than a win against the Potters sufficing. Stoke have overcome a poor start to the campaign and improved of late, but the hosts will be the overarching favourites to be victorious.
Two important away days in quick succession will test Arsenal’s title credentials leading into Christmas, with a clash with Everton at Goodison Park being followed by a trip to face Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium. Match tickets are available at WoWtickets.football for the travelling supporters, with fans’ support a key factor for potential Arsenal wins and ascent to the top of the league table. The Toffees have proven to be a tough opponent for Wenger’s men in the past and this game will be no different, even if Ronald Koeman’s side have been inconsistent of late.
The clash with City could well have a bearing on the title race come May, with Arsenal hoping to emulate the 2-0 victory this side recorded at the Etihad Stadium early last year. However, Wenger will know that his team will have to be at their best to leave Manchester with three points.
A Boxing Day clash with West Brom at the Emirates rounds out the year, with Arsenal again looking likely to get three extra points on their tally.
All up, Wenger and the Gunners side should go into December full of confidence with the belief that it can play a role in a successful campaign for the North London team.
Let’s be honest, we’ve been subpar last month and players that aren’t performing need to be dropped. Hurts me to say because i like the kid but Iwobi has to come off for the Ox against West Ham and Xhakha and Coquelin have to be in the middle. It might even be time to test Maitland Niles and let him have his EPL debut at RB instead of Jenko and Ramsey should be no where near the starting 11 until he’s proven he deserves it.
OT: After the Southampton embarrassment, it appears Wenger knew El Neny was feeling ill before the game but he still started him… what the hell?
If we can win away at Wham things will already look a little brighter. This is a tough away trip and a few top teams will drop points at them. We need to stop the delivery into the box, esp if Carrol is playing. Jenkinson would be a bad move, he’s not going to get over that performance and the crowd turning on him so easily. Gabriel I expect to start, but I agree with top comment, I’d like to see Maitland given a go. It doesn’t have to be the next game, but maybe try him out in CL game if not willing to gamble.
you can expect the hammers to really turn up tomorrow like all the other poor teams when they meet arsenal. I don’t know why but it looks like most teams play their best when they meet us.