Normally it is Arsenal who are put at a disadvantage by the way that the football fixture list is worked out, as we are always involved in the Champions League and also tend to get through at least a few rounds of the two domestic cup competitions.
But for once the Gunners have been a handed a pretty easy run of games through the month of January, which is probably just as well because we were looking seriously jaded and it was costing us in the run up to the festive season.
Apart from that Premier League away game at Bournemouth it has been a pretty good month for Arsenal so far and even against the Cherries there were positives to be taken from the fightback to a draw when we looked down and out at 3-0 down.
The players are getting a week between matches at the minute and it looks it is helping them to get back to their best after putting four past Swansea without reply. At the same time our upcoming opponents have to cope with a more congested schedule than us, especially Southampton who we are likely to face next in the FA cup.
This week they have the replay with Norwich City before an EPL game at the weekend and then a massive EFL cup second leg against Liverpool before Arsenal go there, assuming they beat Norwich. So the Saints will have five games in the space of two weeks while Arsenal will have just two. We should hope they beat Liverpool or at least hold on to the 1-0 first leg lead to get to the final as I reckon they will be less focused on the FA cup if they do.
Our next game is at home to Burnley on Sunday and although they are doing pretty well it is almost exclusively at home and they also have an FA cup replay to get through this week. It is nice for a change that Arsenal are helped by the fixture list but can we make the most of it while it lasts?
Bob.