Considering how Arsenal played in the first two months of this season, it seems like a dream to see us going ten games unbeaten at this moment, and only needing five more wins to secure second place in the Premier League and a repeat success in the FA Cup Final.
Per Mertesacker has been one of most improved performers recently and he is buzzing from the prospect: “We are so unpredictable in what we are doing, even for me at the back sometimes it looks a bit weird!” the BFG said on the official Arsenal website. “Sometimes we lose balance but sometimes it is really good so we have to keep going and focus on our game, especially defensively.
“We want to qualify directly for the Champions League. The championship has gone but it would be an improvement for us from last season where we had those two qualifying matches [against Besiktas], really tight ones, to secure the Champions League.
“That is the first target and then obviously the FA Cup – to defend our title would be absolutely amazing. That is the focus at the minute and it looks like we are quite sharp. It demands a lot but how we keep going is really pleasing.”
Although it is nice for Arsenal fans to be treated to a couple of early Champions League games, I really believe that it will make Arsenal’s transfer window so much easier. It seems that Wenger always splashes out very late in the summer window and I often think that he is waiting to ensure that the Gunners get through to the Group Stages before spending the extra profit that going through generates.
If Wenger is guaranteed the revenue from the Champions League, it not only gives him more money to spend, but it will also make it much easier to convince world-class players that they are going to club with great prospects of more trophies in the very near future.