It might seem a bit much to demand that Arsenal win every game, but I really think that we need to be right on the money after the current international break. The win over Burnley was well needed but on another day our slightly off the pace performance would have been punished, so if the Gunners are serious about winning things this season they need to hit the ground running when club football starts again next weekend.
To be fair, though, the fixture list gives Arsenal every chance, with the first four games after the break being at the Emirates stadium against Swansea (EPL), Ludogorets (UCL), Middlesborough (EPL) and Reading (EFL cup) before two away games against Sunderland (EPL) and Ludogorets.
Winning those six games will put us into the last eight of the league cup and should give us the platform to win our Champions League group, while staying no more than two points off the top of the Premier League. It could be better than that as well, because while we have three fairly easy games, Man City face Everton and Southampton at home and West Brom away, with Tottenham facing West Brom and Bournemouth away and Leicester at home.
Arsenal winning our games will keep the pressure on as well but more importantly we need to build confidence and momentum to a peak before the north London derby in early November. So there are six very winnable games for us before the spuds come to the Emirates. Can we win them all?
Bob.