Arsenal may have gone into this first international break of the new season on a bit of a high, with a good attacking display earning the Gunners our first victory away to Watford and Arsene Wenger completing the two transfers that most us felt were needed but thought may not happen, but we are still playing catch up.
All three of our big rivals for the Premier League title have got off to the start we all hoped they wouldn’t, so Jose Mourinho at Manchester United is looking as smug as possible and Antonio Conte is looking well suited to Chelsea while Pep Guardiola has hit the ground running at Man City.
All Wenger and Arsenal can do for now is to keep winning, of course, but it would be a big boost if these three rivals dropped some points before too long. Our third league match after the break is against Chelsea and it is at home so we can do some damage there but hopefully there will be a bit less pressure on us by then and with Chelsea facing Swansea away and Liverpool at home before coming to us, there is a good chance of that.
With the two Manchester clubs facing each other in the first round of games after the internationals, however, we could really do with a draw and that is why I think that the ban almost certain to be given to Sergio Aguero could be great news for Arsenal.
Even though the derby is going to be at Old Trafford I would have put money on Pep and City to get one over on his old rival Mourinho and the expensive misfits of Man United. Without Aguero, though, I reckon that City will be much less adventurous and will first and foremost try to ensure they don’t lose.
I really hope I am right about this, because if the there is to be a winner from the derby clash then I would much rather it was City, even though I think they will be a bigger obstacle to Arsenal’s title hopes than United because I just can’t bear to see Mourinho winning.
Who do you think will be our biggest rivals this season?
Bob.