30 December 2021, 12:00
With officially half of the 2021/22 season played, Arsenal find themselves sitting nicely in 4th spot - though this comes with the caveat that a number of teams below them have had games postponed recently. Regardless, many observers would say this means a job well done so far for Mikel Arteta as manager. Few would complain with a return to Champions League football should they still be there in May 2022.
Can Arsenal finally get it done against a major rival?
Okay, in recent seasons few would consider Arsenal to be a major threat to a team like Manchester City in their pursuit of the title. In terms of club size however, these are still two of the league's heavyweights, and on paper Arsenal are capable of beating anyone in a one-off match.
But if one major criticism can be directed at this youthful squad currently it is that they struggle against top teams while beating those below them. This was exemplified when they were outclassed by Man City in the reverse fixture during the early weeks of the season.
Of course, this pattern could well be enough to secure a top 4 spot anyway, and it just may be the case that the top 3 of Man City, Liverpool and Chelsea are simply a level above everyone else in the Premier League. Arsenal fans though would relish bragging rights against this season's likely league winners.
Signs of hope amidst ongoing cancellations
As the Covid pandemic continues, football has managed to continue on despite a run of recent disruption caused by positive tests across a wide number of clubs up and down the leagues. Arsenal themselves have succumbed to the cancellations, with their recent match against Wolves the latest to fall.
Yet, this squad of young players are giving fans something to cheer for and, crucially, a glimmer of hope for a brighter future. When the world finally emerges back into a land of normality, long-suffering Arsenal supporters may find it's players like Emile Smith Rowe and Bukayo Saka leading them closer to another league title that may have once seemed a long distant (and fading) memory.