I am sure that Arsene Wenger and everyone connected with Arsenal Football Club will have been a little worried when the fixture list for the new Premier League season were revealed, especially when they looked at the games set to be played after the dreaded Thursday nights in the Europa League.
With five out of the six European games seeing Arsenal play away and all five are traditionally some of the toughest trips around, with Burnley, Everton, Chelsea, Man City and Southampton for Arsenal to face. Whether this forces Arsene Wenger to go with a second string side in these Europa games we will have to wait and see. It could depend on the teams we play and where the games will be in Europe.
This is not the only worrying part of the new EPL fixture list though, because the Gunners have also been handed a really tricky opening. Just like in the last campaign our first three matches include games against Leicester and Liverpool abnd sandwiched in between is the generally disappointing away clash with Stoke City.
The fact that Arsenal got just one point from the Foxes and the Scousers at the start of last season, however, could actually help us, as it will surely keep Wenger and the players sharp and perhaps will force the boss to ensure his transfer action and training is sorted before the start.
If we can hit the ground running from a tough start it may just set the tone for a strong season. We can hope.
Bob.