Now is the time for Arsenal to start collecting points

Following their victory over Sunderland, can Arsenal now go on a run of victories? by SE

Arsenal went into the game against Sunderland on Saturday, having picked up a single point in their last two Premier League games. However, the Gunners had a relatively easy time of it at the Stadium of Light, as an Alexis Sanchez’s brace gave the North Londoners all three points and pushed them up to 5th place in the Premier League table.

The visitors enjoyed plenty of possession, which was not unexpected, and the hosts, for their part, didn’t threaten Wojciech Szczesny’s goal for much of the game. Sanchez, as has been the norm for much of this season, was Arsenal’s star player, and although the Gunners cannot look too much into their performance against Sunderland, they more crucially got back to winning ways. Having done so, can Arsenal now go on a run of victories?

The home game against Hull City kick started a run of four winnable games in the Premier League for the Wenger’s wizards who, owing to their insipid display, dropped two crucial points that surely would have hurt the North Londoners’ prospects at the time. However, they have followed it up with a couple of victories — against Anderlecht in the Champions League, and on Saturday against Sunderland in the Premier League — which should see them gather some momentum as the season reaches the quarter way mark. Burnley and Swansea City await the Gunners next in the league, before Manchester United come visiting to the Emirates after the international break.

Consistency is going to be the key to Arsenal finishing as high as possible in the table. And, it’s now, more than ever, that Arsenal got to go on a run of victories, and close the huge gulf in points between them and the likes of Chelsea and Southampton — who have made a rollicking start to the season.

Returns of Aaron Ramsey and Theo Walcott, despite the long injury list inclusive of Mesut Ozil, Olivier Giroud, Mathieu Debuchy and Laurent Koscielny, will surely reinforce Arsenal, as the aforementioned duo bring a lot more attacking ammunition to the North Londoners, giving Wenger a lot more options to pick and choose from. Sanchez, at times, has overworked, and Arsenal cannot afford to lose the Chilean who, as things stand, is going to be the focal point of how the Gunners finish their season. With Hector Bellerin proving a good addition to the mix, Wenger shouldn’t be hesitant to play the Spaniard at Right-Back, shifting Calum Chambers into playing at Center-Back where he belongs.

After the victory against Sunderland things look a lot better for Arsenal who now need to get consistent, and vie for 6 points in their next two Premier League fixtures against Burnley and Swansea City. Winnable fixtures and players returning from injury will also be a huge sigh of relief for Wenger and the sea of Arsenal supporters, who will now seek a turnaround of sorts, after the victory over the Black Cats.