Arsenal’s first six games in the Premier League will provide them with some early tests that will indicate the state of the team and how the season might unfold. At this point, it is still early in the transfer window and there is a lot that the north London club can do to help navigate this tough start to the season.
Getting their targets in early will help the players to have a good pre-season while also assisting Mikel Arteta in deciding on a solid first eleven and getting them gelled for the start of the season.
In these first six games, the Gunners will face newly-promoted Brentford, followed by European champions Chelsea and Premier League champions Manchester City in back-to-back weeks. Norwich, the newly promoted champions of the League Championship will visit the Emirates next, followed by a visit to Turf Moor to face Burnley and to cap it off Spurs come calling. Now let’s look at each game in detail.
The first match is Brentford away. Now some fans may scoff at the notion of this being a tough game because they are a newly promoted side. However, they will pose a threat for a few reasons. One reason is that the players and fans will have the energy and momentum of being in the top flight for the first time since 1947.
That energy will definitely be at its peak for the first game of the season and in their brand new stadium. They also boast the League Championship’s top scorer Ivan Toney, who netted 33 times in last year’s campaign. Also, newly promoted teams tend to do well at the start of the season as there is an unfamiliarity factor as far as the team’s tactics and players.
The next match is Chelsea at home. Always tough for obvious reasons but now they will saunter into the Emirates as European Champions, something that will surely keep their confidence high. They also could improve further if they acquire some of the targets that they are rumored to be after. Man City away is by far the most challenging match in the first six. The north Londoners have struggled mightily against City with their last win against them in the league coming back in 2015.
After Man City, the Gunners will face Norwich at home. Again a newly promoted team who will still have the early season buzz of being promoted to the top flight and they are a side that were crowned champions of the League Championship last season. They were in the Premier League just a year back and won’t be overwhelmed by competing amongst the best teams in the country.
Burnley is a side that, let’s not forget, took four points against the north Londoners last season and are always a gritty and tough team to play against at Turf Moor. Then rounding off the first six matches will be with our north London rivals, Spurs, who to be honest are in a bit of disarray at the moment but in a north London derby, all bets are off.
There is a positive outlook that can be had on this tough start. While Brentford will be tough, Arsenal should have what it takes to collect three points from them. Especially if they strengthen in the transfer window. Chelsea are European champions but the Emirates club have beaten their London rivals in the last three matches including the double over them last season.
The north London club have had a decent record at home against the Blues as of late so it’s not too far-fetched to think the Gunners are capable of picking up three points here. Winning home games against the bigger sides would surely boost the chance of a top-four finish. If they are going to reach the top four, then surely it’s time that they go to Manchester City and at least pick up a point. Other sides have been able to do that and more at the Etihad in recent years, see Leicester City’s 5-3 win there last season.
Norwich at home is another game where Arsenal would be favored to pick up three points. Even though the Canaries are a good side and are the League Championship winners, they have lost arguably their best player in Emi Buendia and the Gunners should have more than enough to beat them at the Emirates. With the goal of a Champions League place finish, Arsenal will have to pick up points at Burnley which they are more than capable of.
Then Arsenal take on Spurs, who have only been victorious once at the Emirates and have lost three out of four away in the recent past. They are struggling to find a manager and could very well be without their talisman Harry Kane, who has been the subject of transfer rumors this summer.
If Arsenal have a good start in these first six games it could definitely be a springboard to a successful season. It would be a great indicator that the team is moving in the right direction towards the goal of gaining Champions League football again. If the north Londoners can get at least 14 out of the 18 points available points, that would boost the confidence and morale of the team and fans and also would be a great start to the season that would be needed to get back into the top four.
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