Could Arsenal’s away record be a crucial factor in our last 4 away games? by Nick Carson
As we wind down Unai Emery’s first season at Arsenal Football Club, the Top 4 race is still as tight as it always was. Sunday’s game against Everton would have given us a chance to go 2 points above Tottenham Hotspur, and embed our presence in the top 4. But sadly things don’t always go the way we plan (story of being an Arsenal fan). Our 1-0 loss to Everton saw us maintaining a top 4 spot, until the next day where Chelsea beat West Ham. We currently sit in fifth place with 63 points and one point off a fourth place spot.
So just how important is it that we win every single game we have left this season? I’d say it’s the most important thing since the FA cup final in 2017. In our last 7 remaining league fixtures, 4 of those are away fixtures. Our away record in 2019 is currently the worst in the league, and going into these games is not a good look if we want to be called “favorites.”
Going into these last 7 games, I am confident but also worried. I am confident because I believe we will deliver under pressure, but I’m also worried because we’re playing what I’d say are the toughest away fixtures outside of the “big 6.”
As we’re all witnessing an excellent season from Nuño Espirito Santo’s Wolves, I think this will be the toughest fixture out of the 4. This season Molineux Stadium has been a fortress, and they are not ones to bow down to “the big 6” teams easily. Wolves have taken 13 points from top 6 sides this season, earning them the best record amongst the bottom 14 teams. It may not sound like that great of a record, but this shows that they’re no team to take lightly. We must be on top of it that game.
Another game I’m looking closely at is our final game of the season against Burnley. Burnley are not enjoying the same season they did last time out, and find themselves in a bit of a Relegation fight. They are currently 8 points safe from that third relegation spot, but they still have Chelsea, City, Everton and Cardiff to play before they play us. If they do find themselves 2 or 3 points from safety, I expect a tough game when we go to Turf Moor. Not to mention, playing at Turf Moor is never an easy place to go to.
Wolves, Watford, and Leicester are enjoying exceptional seasons, and are all fighting for that seventh place spot, the spot that will give them the opportunity for Europa League qualifiers next season. All the cards are stacked against us in these last 5 and a half weeks, so we have to make sure we do not slip up, unless top 4 could be gone. How many out of 4 away games do you think we’ll win? And are you confident of getting top 4 despite our dreadful away record?
-Nick Carson