Arsenal to be sitting top of the table by November. The Gunners have taken the league by storm and have already carved out a five point gap between them and second place Chelsea. However, with the high density of fixtures in December, Arsenal could see their five-point lead diminish; they have six league games and a Champions League fixture on the horizon in the festive month. There is no doubting that December will provide the sternest test for Arsenal’s title capabilities. With seven games set to be played, Arsene Wenger is going to have to be at his managerial best. When you have to play three games in six days rotation is vital. Luckily for Arsenal, this season they are finally having the rub of the green when it comes to injuries. Wingers Theo Walcott and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain as well as forward Lukas Podolski will all be back by December, and with their return Arsenal

Crucial Month Looms For Arsenal

Following their opening day defeat to Aston Villa earlier this season, nobody expected Arsenal to be sitting top of the table by November. The Gunners have taken the league by storm and have already carved out a five point gap between them and second place Chelsea. However, with the high density of fixtures in December, Arsenal could see their five-point lead diminish; they have six league games and a Champions League fixture on the horizon in the festive month. There is no doubting that December will provide the sternest test for Arsenal’s title capabilities.

With seven games set to be played, Arsene Wenger is going to have to be at his managerial best. When you have to play three games in six days rotation is vital. Luckily for Arsenal, this season they are finally having the rub of the green when it comes to injuries. Wingers Theo Walcott and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain as well as forward Lukas Podolski will all be back by December, and with their return Arsenal will have a fully fit squad. The supposed lack of depth at Arsenal has always been detrimental to their title efforts; unlike Man City and Chelsea their second string isn’t filled with high calibre players. Remaining injury free is going to be vital for Arsenal, but if they do then their squad is strong enough to rotate successfully. If not, December could be a very rocky road indeed.

Olivier Giroud will be of paramount importance come December. The striker has netted five league goals this season and bookmakers Betway Sports price him at 13/1 to be top scorer. The French ace will need to continue in this rich vein of form as he is Arsenal’s only real striking option. If he is out of form manager Arsene Wenger doesn’t really have a good enough replacement. What would be worse would be Giroud getting injured. With Giroud on the injury table Wenger would have to turn to Nicklas Bendtner. Despite his own self-confidence Bendtner is not good enough to start for Arsenal; he has only scored 22 goals from his 101 games. If Arsenal have to turn to the big Dane then they are in trouble. The striker’s goalscoring record is not good enough and his overall style doesn’t really work with the fluid Arsenal philosophy.

Arsenal’s December sees them face Hull, Everton, and Chelsea at home, while they visit Man City, West Ham and Newcastle. The Gunners know that they need a minimum of four wins out of the six games to remain at the top of the table. The Hull, West Ham and Newcastle fixtures should be viewed as definite wins. Anything less than nine points could potentially derail their title hopes. Chelsea, Man City and Everton provide Arsenal with their biggest challenge. Last season the Gunners only managed to take a combined three points from these teams. They simply cannot afford a repeat of that this season; you need to take points from your title rivals otherwise you won’t win the league.

December is going to be one of the deciding months of this campaign. It can either solidify Arsenal’s position at the top of the table or potentially thwart their title prospects altogether.