Let's Stand up for The Arsenal

Does it really matter that we drew to Southampton? Does it really matter that we dropped points on Tuesday? Does it really matter that we are now second in the EPL? No it does not since after all we are The Arsenal, one of the greatest clubs to ever set foot on a football pitch.

I was thinking about the current status of the club a few days ago and I came to a revelation. We are finally on our way to overcoming the adversity that has surrounded us for the past 8 seasons. It’s quite amazing actually; the fact that we are now considered a threat in the world of football again. Seeing as we were once the joke of the English Premier League and the Champions League, and now we have the chance to finally break the dreaded trophy-less curse.

My Top 5 Arsenal Targets

With the transfer window having been open for 3 days now, there has been much speculation as to who the Gunners may decide to pursue in order to bolster the options for the squad. Many think that the club are in need of a striker, some say defenders, some people are even saying the club need more midfielders. From my eyes, I believe that the club should mainly focus on attacking players, just to have a variety of options with the attacking man up front. There are 5 transfers in particular that I would love to see happen, even if they are unrealistic.

What we can take away from the Chelsea Match

Yesterday’s Monday Night Football match ended in a goalless draw, far from the expectations of many spectators. Both sides played particularly well and in lieu of the circumstances, we can see that both squads played with their guns a blazing. The result of the match would ultimately decide who would be atop of the Premier League table going into Christmas and although the Gunners did not prevail with a victory, supporters should not be too disappointed and here’s why:

Why Chelsea at Home is a MUST win

The upcoming fixture against Chelsea this Monday may prove to be the most important of this year’s Premier League campaign. After drawing at home against Everton and losing away to Man City, the squad will need to pull together to avoid dropping points for the third game in a row. A loss at home would mean Arsenal would be fourth in the table, dropping from first place. The result of the game, in my opinion, can be enough to determine if the Gunners can prevail to win the Premier League for the first time in 10 years.

Arsenal’s Unheralded Star – Mathieu Flamini (Written by @ChrisMoore32)

With Arsenal two points clear atop of the Barclays Premier League, there seems to be plenty of reasons why the team has started off the season so well.  Midfielder Aaron Ramsey has inarguably been the team’s player of the season so far (and perhaps the league’s top player).  The Welshman leads the squad with 10 goals and is second on the team with seven assists in 23 total matches.  Ramsey has also managed to win Arsenal’s Player of the Month award for five consecutive months.

German midfielder Mesut Özil has also been outstanding and has proved his worth after joining the club from Real Madrid for a record fee of around $68 million.  Not only has Özil played well on the pitch (five goals and nine assists in 20 total matches), but the signing of the German playmaker has appeared to change the mindset of the club, from the players down to the fans.

While the midfield duo of Ramsey and Özil has undoubtedly been the best midfield tandem in the Premier League this season, one Arsenal player seems to get lost in the shuffle: Mathieu Flamini.

My Match Story: Arsenal vs Everton

So as you all know, Arsenal recently drew Everton at home 1-1 last Sunday. This was perhaps one of the most hard fought games by the squad, and perhaps the most interesting of the season to date! I'm really starting to like this type of play by Arsenal; play hard and with heart, as well as these new kind of "chemistry trick-shots/passes" that I keep seeing every single match. It's saddening that the Gunners were not able to hold off the pressing Everton side to earn the 3 points, however that being said, drawing against a club that has only lost one match this whole season is something to be appreciated. That being said, being able to watch the game for myself was no easy challenge...

The Life of a Canadian Gooner

Oh to be a Gooner, especially in a country where football means something completely different. Yes I’m talking about the struggles of being an Arsenal fan from across the Atlantic, in my native Canada. The time difference, lack of media coverage and the virtually unknown existence of the club make it difficult to follow my favourite club.