What December means to Arsenal

As we approach the midway point of the season, December becomes the make or break month for this team.

In the Premier League, Arsenal is currently 8th, 7 points behind 4th place, and 7 points in front of 18th place and the relegation zone.

Depending on December’s results, we are either in the hunt for a top 4 spot, or we are floundering mid-table or below, and our club is being lead by an interim manager to boot at this critical stage. Can Freddie successfully guide Arsenal through a difficult and hectic list of fixtures in December?

Let’s look at Arsenal’s December fixture list in the Premier League and make some predictions…

December 5 – Brighton and Hove Albion (Home) – Win

December 9 – West Ham United (Away) – Draw

December 15 – Manchester City (Home) – Defeat

December 21 – Everton (Away) – Win

December 26 – Bournemouth (Away) – Win

December 29 – Chelsea (Home) – Defeat

If my predictions come true, we would have 10 points out of a possible 18 in those 6 games. Hardly enough to move the needle in the table.

So, then what?

A bad December also sets up a January transfer window where the wolves come hunting. Torreira, Xhaka, Aubameyang and Leno have all been mentioned as targets by various European teams. Can you even imagine where we would be right now if not for the heroics of Auba and Leno this season? Even the thought brings chills down my spine! Without Auba we would have only 20 goals in 21 games this season. Frightening isn’t it?

And, of course, we have to discuss the manager’s position in this equation. Will Freddie be given until the first of the the year to prove his worth, or will a new face emerge as the Gunners main man? Rumors abound in north London with candidates’ names flying everywhere. For my money, Brendan Rodgers would be the perfect fit for this team, at this time. He was successful at Liverpool and Celtic, and look at what he has done for Leicester City. Amazing results, but would he pack up and leave a 2nd place club at this point of the season? Apparently, he has an escape clause in his Leicester City contract, but it would be a very difficult decision for him, and a very expensive decision for Arsenal to make this become a reality. Stranger things have happened, but my feeling is that he stays put for now. My second choice is Max Allegri, however, his English apparently sucks, which didn’t help Unai Emery either.

So, Gooners…here we are drowning in a sea of uncertainty and mediocrity. I’m so tired of writing these skeptical posts. I want nothing more than to see this club rise from the ashes and climb back to here it belongs…among the elite in Europe. Can and will it happen any time in the future? December is where it starts…one way or the other.

If you have a comment click on the date at the top of the post, or email me at yankeegooner1953@yahoo.com

Cheers. Gunner1953