Arsenal are enjoying a relatively excellent start to their 2019/20 campaign, having performed really well in the Cup games. But most importantly, they are third in the Premier League table, with 15 points on the board. Therefore, the Gunners’ fans have every reason to be excited about this new season.
But, in this article, we will discuss three reasons why the North London giants are still third in the league table so far this campaign.
Mediocre performances from rivals
Arsenal haven’t exactly done anything special to warrant a place in the top three. Instead, their rivals have performed miserably, to say least.
Cross-town arch-rivals Tottenham Hotspur, in particular, are experiencing a crisis for the first time under Mauricio Pochettino. The Lilywhites only have 11 points on the board, and it could be difficult recovering from this. They recently lost against Brighton 3-0, just a few days after getting a 7-2 beating by Bayern Munich.
Same goes for Manchester United, who are on the wrong end of the table, following yet another dismal start to the campaign. The Red Devils haven’t been able to perform in away games, and the future of Ole-Gunnar Solskjaer is in serious doubt after slumping to a narrow defeat to Newcastle in the last game.
As for Chelsea, they, too, have struggled under Frank Lampard, though they are gradually improving. The Blues are currently fifth in the table, trailing Arsenal by just one point.
Regardless, the mediocre performances from these London based rivals are mainly the reason why clubs like Crystal Palace, Leicester City and Burnley are roaming on the top end of the table. It is partly the reason why Arsenal are third as well.
A world-class attack
Unai Emery may not have had total support from the Arsenal fanbase. But, the Spaniard deserves credit for integrating the youngster into the first-team and helping them accumulate experience with some of the best players in Europe.
As a result, Arsenal have formulated one of the most interesting attacking units in Europe, with players like Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Alexandre Lacazette and Nicolas Pepe. In behind, they have youngsters like Reiss Nelson, Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli, all of whom have impressed and have made themselves a reliable option in the first-team.
Stability in midfield
The signing of Dani Ceballos was a masterstroke by Emery this summer. The Spaniard has been able to add more flair into the midfield that was lacking the stability, largely due to Granit Xhaka’s inconsistency.
But, Matteo Guendouzi deserves more credit for stepping up his performances to a whole new level. Indeed, the Frenchman has been one of the best players in the Premier League so far, which led to him earning his first call-up to the national team.
Guendouzi’s partnership with the likes of Xhaka and Ceballos has made Arsenal a balanced side in midfield. As a result, the Gunners are flying high in these early parts of the campaign.
