Are Arsenal Genuine Title Contenders???

Are we there yet?? Are we a genuinely going to compete for titles?? Based on the evidences shown by all the so called genuine contenders, I am pretty sure it won’t be crazy to certify arsenal as one of the title contenders.

Arsenal are currently a team, who have lost only once in last 16 League matches. I don’t think any of the other so called contenders can say the same. City and United have lost 2 or more already. Chelsea are not any better either. I don’t count Bale as a team and no matter how many more millions Tottenham spend they will still remain as the North London pretenders. Liverpool are a top 6 side at best.  

Yesterday night we recorded our 12th consecutive away victory in all competition and 8^th consecutive away victory in the league by defeating Swansea city.  We went there with a spate of injuries infesting the first team and squad players we had to rely on our reserves and academy players. We reinstated Bendtner and Miyachi to the bench with the likes of Arteta, Monreal, Vermaelen  and  Jenkinson providing them company. Gnabry started out on right with Wilshere on left flanking Ozil on both sides. As predicted Flamini started alongside Ramsey ,with the usual suspects starting in the backline.

We didn’t exactly start brilliantly. The passing looked labored and disjointed.  Swansea we not brilliant either. Swansea had majority of possession but were restricted to taking shots outside of the box without really ever troubling Sczeszny. The only time  we we looked in trouble was when Gnabry played a back pass to sczeszny putting him under pressure, and with Sczeszny being himself made a few cheeky decisions till the ball was called out of play. But at the stroke of half time Gnabry drove through the box to deliver a sweet pass to Giroud who could only hit his shot wide of the far post.  

After the break we started to play a bit more dynamically and then Ramsey played Gnabry through who saw his shot hit the back of the far post. Ramsey started to get more involved in the game and again played a neat pass to Ozil with only Vorm to beat but the Ozil chose to go to the near post and  the shot was comfortably saved by Vorm.

Minutes later we were on the counter with a loose ball won by a Wilshere, who slid on the ground to reach the ball and played it to giroud, who then layed it for Ramsey and guess what happened next…..Ramsey Scored…Beast Mode Activated. For next 20 minutes we played mostly inside our box trying to defend harmless efforts made by Swansea .  Gnabry was substituted for Arteta to defend the lead. But in 81^st minute , Ben Davies was played through by a lobbed pass , which he calmly finished past Sczeszny to make it 2-1. with 9 minutes left  plus extra time. Arsenal of old, would  have crumbled under pressure but not this new Arsenal side. They brought in two more defensive player and hold on to the lead till the whistle blew off. And we won 2-1. We made a gap of 2 points at the top of the table.

The victory was important for many reasons as we saw our 4 main contenders  dropping points, which would help us to build up on our momentum. The character the squad has shown to go through this injury crisis and yet grind out results is worth of a title. If any other team would have done this they would have been viewed as the title contenders but because its done by the club which wants to do things the right way people are lining up to still count us out. Its good to be counted out, because then you get more satisfaction when you get a result and prove doubters wrong.

Can we win the title…..only time will say but as of now things don’t look shabby with Rocisky, Cazorla, Chmabo, Diaby, Sanogo, Poldi and Walcott to come. The squad  has immense quality. The quantity might not please critcs and pundits but quality wise we are not lesser than any other team in the EPL. Maybe a proper back up for Giroud would really complete the team. Wenegr can look into that in Jannuary. Last I heard Yilmaz, Benteke and Benzema are all available. Anyone of them would strengthen the team beyond doubts. But if bendtner could prove himself to be worthy of wearing the Red & White then we might not have to look outside. Time will tell what will happen but till next week lets be happy that we are on top of the table.

Now Lets beat Napoli……Come On You Gunners!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!