With the Gunners having been hit with few red cards and having lost a host of first team players through injuries with the likes of Martin Odegaard and Ricardo Calafiori through injuries this season, it has led to a misfortune of results with Arsenal losing to Newcastle and Bournemouth with the Gunners lacking creativity in the loss at Saint James Park to Newcastle, and after William Saliba red card against Bournemouth, Arsenal never looked like winning with the Gunners having to defend for majority of the match before losing 2-0 late on with Ryan Christie scoring from a well worked Bournemouth corner in the 70th minute, before Justin Cluivert made it 2-0 from the penalty spot.
And after the impressive win over Reuben Amorin’s Manchester United, the Gunners followed it up with draws against Fulham at Craven Cottage and at home to an impressive Everton team. It was said that Arsenal are a team in crisis but with a back to back wins over Crystal Palace in the space of four days, first a comeback 3-2 win in the Carabao quarter final courtesy of Gabriel Jesus hat trick and then a 5-1 win at Selkurst park with resurgent Brazilian scoring twice to bring his tally to 5 goals in space of four days having only netted 5 in over a year, the only sour note for Arteta’s Gunners was the injury suffered by Bukayo Saka, who was pictured leaving the stadium on crutches.
With Everton draw at home to Chelsea on Sunday afternoon, Arsenal are just two points off second spot and six behind Liverpool after Arne Slot’s reds defeated Tottenham 6-3 on Sunday evening. It can’t be said of an Arsenal team still in the quest for all the trophies they are playing for this season, with an FA cup tie against Manchester United and Semi final clash in the Carabao against Newcastle in January while still competing for Champions League and Premier League to be seen as a team in Crisis. The red card against Brighton and Manchester City for Declan Rice and Leonardo Trossard has been crucial with Arsenal dropping points from a winning position to draw against both teams having taken the lead on both occasion. The red cards has been controversial and injuries to Club captain Martin Odegaard and summer signing Ricardo Calafiori had been a huge miss with Thomas Partey having to fill in at right back for a number of games this season and Mikel Merino taking time to settle in, yet the Gunners are still competing on all front this season, with injured players now returning back from injuries, though with Saka’s injury and a rumoured hamstring with a time frame of 4-6 weeks. Arteta’s men can cope in the absense of the England international and keep the momentum going with Gabriel Martinelli impressing on the right wing against Palace after Trossard replaced Saka and Martinelli moved to the right hand side. Arsenal are in a pole position competing on all front and should not be termed as a team in crisis. Up next for the Gunners is a home clash against Ipswich at the Emirate under the lights on Friday night. Kick off 21:15 at the Emirate.
Gabriel Jesus is expected to lead the line on Friday night with his scoring form now and of course its Christmas season and its the Jesus season with Kai Harvetz dropping to the bench. Expected Arsenal starting line up: Raya, Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori, Partey, Rice, Odegaard, Trossard, Martinelli, Jesus.
