Arsenal have been performing extremely well this season, and have gone 12 games unbeaten in the League since our opening day defeat to Liverpool, but as usual very few pundits, or even Arsenal fans, think that we can actually go on and lift the trophy at the end of the season.
In the last decade we have witnessed many seasons where we have been challenging at the top, only to weaken and drop away and ended up fighting for the minor placing. But with our new depth in the squad, and top players like Alexis, Ozil and Cech around, surely we can be a bit more resilient than earlier seasons and can cope with our inevitable injury list?
One ex-Arsenal striker, Alan Smith, thinks that we are still some way short of the mark. “I wouldn’t have too much money on them winning the league, I really wouldn’t.” Smith told SkySports.
“The performance at Old Trafford showed their shortcomings.
“They have got better, they’re winning or drawing some games that they might have lost last year, but I still think they’re a distance off having that mental attitude to go on and stamp their authority on the league.
“They have great quality and strength in depth – but are still a little bit short for me unfortunately.”
It is a bit hard to disagree, considering our recent performances, but every team has a blip at some point in a season, and we will surely recover and start winning every game again, but will we be able to cope when we play our rivals for the title?
Even last season, when it looked like the title race was going to be between us and Leicester, not even the bookies believed that we would win it, and there is no difference this year. I’ve just checked the odds for the title and right this minute both Chelsea and Man City are joint 2/1 favourites, with Liverpool right behind on 3/1 and Arsenal predicted as fourth favourites again at a price of 8/1.
Are Arsenal really that predictable? Or could we surprise all the naysayers this season?
Darren N