It is too soon to predict the course of the current Premier League season and what part Arsenal will play in it, as Arsene Wenger alluded to in his comments after the beating of Brighton. So yes it still really just the early knocking of the latest race to the EPL title, but it has certainly improved for Arsenal over the last month.
The fact that Liverpool could only take a point away from their game at Newcastle today means that only goal difference is keeping the Gunners out of the top four and that is a massive turnaround from the end of August. After an admittedly unlucky loss away to Stoke City, Arsenal went to Anfield and could take nothing positive away from a 4-0 drubbing that had the football media writing us off for the top four, never mind the title.
How times change, though, because Jurgen Klopp’s team have become bogged down and are struggling to beat anyone, while Arsenal have quietly gone about the business of winning matches, or in the case of Chelsea away, making sure we do not lose them.
Talking of Chelsea, do you recall what everyone said was the turning point in their run to the EPL trophy last season? That’s right, getting a tonking at Arsenal. After that Antonio Conte sorted things out, the players got on board and they never looked back.
Like I say it is early days, but I get the feeling that the hammering at Anfield is behind the new found resilience of Arsenal. It hurt and it bloody well should have. Could Wenger and the players be using that pain to drive them on? Could that game prove to be the turning point for Arsenal this season?
Bob.