As ridiculous as it sounds Arsenal are very close to being in a relegation dog fight.
As things stand right now, Arsenal is on 19 points after 15 games. There is every chance they could pick up no points in their next four games. That means they would be behind schedule to reach 40 points at the halfway stage of the season.
Now, before anyone starts claiming I am being overdramatic, think about it like this.
Last four Premier League games
Leicester City away – title challengers – no points
Southampton home – bottom three, conceded nine goals at home to Leicester City – one point
Norwich City away – bottom three – one point
Brighton hone – mid-table – no points
So, just two points including against two bottom three sides and a team that barely survived relegation last season.
Now, look at our next four games
West Ham – recently beat Chelsea at Stamford Bridge
Man City home – no comment required really
Everton away – revitalised under Duncan Ferguson and stuffed us last season
Bournemouth away – always capable of beating top teams on their home patch.
Now, a quick disclaimer, I have deliberately put those comments in to highlight the dangerous position we are in and how it is far from a given that we pick up any points.
I could easily have written how poor West Ham have been, that City is not the City we saw last season, how one good result for Everton could easily be a fluke and Bournemouth themselves are not in good shape.
But in all fairness, Southampton, Norwich and Brighton were in bad shape when we faced them and the point that I am trying to make is a simple one. Arsenal could easily end that four-game sequence still on 19 points.
Now, if we do beat West Ham this evening, get a positive result against Everton and Man City, let’s say draws for an example and beat Bournemouth then we would be on 27 points and no longer in serious danger of being in a relegation dog fight.
That would mean the club could focus on the Europa League, accept the Premier League is done for a season and work on getting it right for next season.
The next four games are absolutely critical. Lose tonight and the pressure will be on massively. Win and that pressure will be significantly eased.