Maybe a 2-2 draw at Chelsea was not the disaster that some fans made it out to be?
12 games in and, ahead of the final international break of the season, I think we can confidently say that we are in the title race.
Some were concerned that last season was a one-off, a flash in the pan. Our 2021, when Manchester United finished 2nd with Ole at the wheel. But we are back again.
Yes, we have not quite looked as smooth as last year, and maybe not as exciting going forward, but that shows the growth of this team under Mikel Arteta.
The fact that being 3rd in the league, with only Manchester City having more points, has left some feeling underwhelmed shows just how Mikel Arteta has raised the bar of expectations.
I for one am please we seem to be holding a little back.
Last season we started quick, and led the title race for the majority of the season. But Manchester City were always just a length behind and, in the closing stages, they galloped ahead whilst we ran out of steam.
Anyone who has played sport to any sort of decent level will know about peaking your fitness. In individual sports such as cycling, swimming or athletics, that will usually be around a single event that season.
They will tend to compete in other events at around 80% whilst in intense training. Then when the major events come up, they will peak and taper to ensure they are at 100% for it.
In football, with games every week, and twice a week for much of the season, teams do not really peak for an individual game but more a period of games.
Sides lower down the table will try and be at 100% fitness at the beginning of the season. The hope is to get some early points on the board and take the pressure off.
At the other end of the table, your champions-elect will usually try and start the season at around 80% fitness and build into the season, with the goal being to be at 100% for those closing stage. The aim is to then get through those first 10-15 games dropping as few points as possible whilst not expelling to much energy.
Over the years, we have seen Manchester City “have a slow start”. They are winning games 1-nil. Dropping points here and there. And then with 15 games to go they are basically invincible. Win after win, week after week. They go up another level.
Sir Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United was similar. As was Arsene Wenger’s early Arsenal teams. Hold a little back in the first half of the season to be better 2nd half.
It is like a marathon runner when they aim to do a negative split (when you run faster in the 2nd half of the race compared to the first). The top athletes begin to accelerate whilst lesser opponents who were giving 100% to keep up start to fall away.
We are hanging on to Manchester City’s coat tails without having really overexerted ourselves too often this season. That means we should be keeping plenty in the tank for those last 15 games of the season.
There has also been the feeling that we have not been as good going forward this season as last. That is simply not true.
Yes, we are not as exciting going forward. But that is mainly due to Gabriel Jesus being injured. He is organised chaos up-top who gets bums off seats in his play style. This season, we are a bit more simple in attack. A bit more formulatic.
We are top scorers from corners in the Premier League. I always think it does not matter how you score, what matters is that you score.
The international break is now upon us. It will give some of the squad a break and a chance to get closer to full fitness. Hopefully the likes of Gabriel Martinelli, Gabriel Jesus and Martin Odegaard see little game time considering their recent injuries.
Onwards and upwards!
Keenos
She Wore A Yellow Ribbon 
It is also important to note that players who had rigorous pre-season training will take time to gain full season fitness. Maybe for a few months. People may ask why such gruelling pre-season training if it affects your initial performance. It’s for body conditioning and physical perseverance to withstand the changing climate, rough plays and consistency throughout 90mins. Just look at Trossard and Zinchenko. They both lost a lot of weight to improve their in field dynamic play while Nketiah bulked up to play his position. Gabriel is quicker and more agile after losing some weight too. He marks player better now while Saliba bulked up for his style of play. Guardiola had been doing this for years. And Arteta learned from it.
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“To withstand the changing climate…”? It is pushing credulity over the edge to suggest that climate change has any impact whatsoever on players fitness.
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