Before the World Cup, all the pundits, journalists and opposing fans said the same thing: Just wait until January.
Arsenal then became the biggest losers of the World Cup with star striker Gabriel Jesus rules out for many months.
Facing Newcastle, Tottenham and Manchester United in consecutive games, whilst relying on Eddie Nketiah upfront, would see the end of Arsenal’s title race.
Well that is what was supposed to happen. The reality was somewhat different.
We returned from the World Cup with a bang – a comfortable 3-1 win at home to West Ham.
That was followed up by a 4-2 win away to Brighton. A great result considering the South-Coast has not been a happy hunting ground for us in recent years.
Then disaster struck. We drew 0-0 at home to Newcastle United.
If you listened to the media, you would think that result was the worst thing that had happened. Ever.
It had been forgotten that Newcastle had already taken points off Manchester City this season. Also Tottenham, Manchester United and Chelsea. And it had only been a controversial 98th minute goal that saw them lose to Liverpool.
They were a team set up not to lose, and have doing that very well with just one defeat all season.
A trip to Tottenham was next up. A place we had not won at for close to a decade. Without a win in one game, we were on a poor run of form.
Defeat to Spurs would make it no wins in two. We won 2-0. Never looked in danger.
And then we get to a resurgent Manchester United. Unbeaten since the return of the World Cup. They would put in the final nail of the coffin. 3-2 Arsenal.
January was supposed to be the month our title race ended. It has ended up being the month we have confirmed ourselves as season-long challengers.
Since the World Cup, no team have got more points / only Fulham have got more points.
13 is our lucky number. The same amount of points as Manchester’s City and United. But we have played a game less. And that game in hand is at home to Everton.
Instead of being out of the title race, we are now bookies favourites. Most Arsenal fans I speak to however still have City as favourites.
Accusations of arrogance and smugness are being blown out of the water. It is basically opposing fans saying “Arsenal fans need to be humbled” rather than us getting too big for our boots.
If we do not win the title, a narrative will be writting that “we should not have been so arrogant”. Even though we are not. It is a falicy. Created by those who will use the strawman they created to beat us in the future.
One game at a time is what is needed. And that is what Arsenal fasns are looking at. Everton away next week.
Our detractors however have already moved on to predicting the next run of games that will see our title challenge crash and burn.
From 8 April to 6 May is the dates they have picked.
During that period we face Liverpool (A), West Ham (A), Southampton (H), Manchester City (A), Chelsea (H) and Newcastle (A).
Not an easy run, but a run we will need to get through if we want to lift the trophy.
For now though, the focus needs to be on Everton.
UTA.
Keenos
She Wore A Yellow Ribbon 
Every match feels like a big ‘un at the minute, which is exactly what you want. Everton on Saturday feels massive to me. Never an easy place to go IMO. Goodison is a proper old football ground and the Toffees are a proper old football club. We could have done with fat Frank staying on for one more game as well. Dyche will have them fired up for our visit. No doubt he’s been onto the groundsman telling him not to cut the grass. Come through Saturday with maximum points and apart from Citeh, our fixtures do start to look a bit more inviting. However, not many easy games in this league and as you say, one game at a time.
Up The Arse.
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