Are We Actually Playing Well? | Arsenal Monthly Review

Arsenal are still unbeaten. Another month, another unbeaten run continues. I didn't think we'd be able to say that. I do know we'll lose at some point this season, but so far so good has the month of October been to us people. It's been a movie as it is. As you know, people, we've played Lens, we've played Manchester City, we've played Chelsea, we've played Sevilla and we've played Sheffield United. I think there's a bunch of talking points. It's nice to see two clean sheets in back-to-back home games. It's nice to beat Sevilla coming back from the disappointment against Lens earlier in the month. At the end of the day, four points off City and Chelsea isn't too bad people. Of course, you know, the Champions League, the Sevilla game was amazing. Gabriel Jesus and Gabriel Martinelli, the Brazilians duo were in top form people and we got to see that. Again, for me, the high of the season has to be so far people beating Manchester City. We kept a clean sheet against Manchester City. We beat Manchester City. This is almost unheard of people and it's nice to take points off them. Definitely where you see certain Manchester teams, you know, beating Man City at home isn't for everyone. It's lovely to see Martinelli, I believe, now make 100 career appearances in the Premier League for Arsenal. In fact, that might be a lie, 100 appearances in general. It's nice to beat Sevilla again because it was, in my opinion, last chance saloon. I know mathematically we could have gone through, but it would have been a dark place, back-to-back Champions League defeat. So it's nice to go to a difficult ground and get something. Whatever you feel about Eddie Nketiah, he got a hat-trick against Sheffield United and it gives me a sense of pride to see our Hay-Len boy do that. I think that's his second hat-trick for Arsenal and obviously his first in the Premier League. It's called his first goal from outside the area. It's so good, I have to show you twice. He had no right slapping that. That was a goal that Thierry Henry, our legendary number 14, would be proud of and I'm proud of Eddie Nketiah. He deserves it and I love the camaraderie we saw for El Nene, for Tomiyasu, for Eddie Nketiah getting his hat-trick. It's a family vibe, people. A family that prays together, stays together and I do believe that with Arsenal. Don't get it twisted, we're not here to make friends, we're here to win games, but it's amazing really and truly. Again, as I said, I'm happy that we haven't lost this month and I'm sure you lot are as well. It's nice to see Bakayo Saka captain the club. I mean, you can't help but feel proud and obviously see Eddie Nketiah get the captaincy. He's living the dream, people. It's nice to see Tomiyasu get his first goal and to be honest, I had to fight back tears when he came out with the revelation that his mum passed away a few months ago, people. You never know what footballers are going through and it was nice to see him score because he's had a great month and it's been great in all his recent appearances. Couldn't believe I got to see Smith-Rowe start a game and obviously, Emil Smith-Rowe got an assist. I know I'm shameless, people, but with injuries in midfield, we're going to need everybody to step up. Speaking of midfielders, it's lovely to see El Nene back because he's the closest thing we have to Partey in terms of being a number six, excluding Declan Rice, and it's going to be a big test this month to come. Nice to see Fabio Vieira score. You've seen many a player this season for Arsenal impact the game off the bench. We have to talk about lows. Losing to Lenz in the way we did, for me, is a big low. While we rescued a point against Chelsea and if you can't win, don't lose, for me, it is a low because that was probably our worst 45 minutes this season. Had we have played as we did in the second half, in the first, who knows what would have happened? We shot ourselves in the foot just like Spurs. Obviously, David Rayo still isn't exactly convincing every Arsenal fan. Martin Odegaard, since the international break, his form has deserted him and obviously where Kai Havertz is concerned, they're still concerned. Gabriel Jesus had the most touches inside the opposition box of any player in the Champions League. For the first time, three teams in Spurs, City and obviously Arsenal have 24 points after the opening 10 games, 28 games to play, but who knows, people? It's shaping up to be a good season. Eddie Nketiah, Odegaard and Sakharov scored the most goals for our football club. Eddie Nketiah is one of five players in the Premier League to net a hat-trick. Arsenal have now gone 13 years almost without losing to promoted sides, people. Fabio Vieira's goal was the sixth penalty we've seen scored by Arsenal this season. Declan Rice's goal against Chelsea was our longest range strike since 06-07. When we played City, they only had four shots, which is undoubtedly a record of such people and good for us. We've kept back-to-back home clean sheets for the first time since December of 2021 and obviously when you look at the games to come, we have West Ham, Newcastle, Sevilla, Burnley, Brentford and Lens. It's going to be an interesting game, people. Apologies about game. It's going to be an interesting month, people, in November as we get towards the end of the year. So yeah, big up you lot, people. For me, I'm happy with the month of October. It could be like life, it could be worse. I'm very disappointed to drop two points against Chelsea because we still have this element of shooting ourselves in the foot. I think that's been the case of when we played a lot of London teams, when we played Fulham, when we played Spurs in previous months and obviously against Chelsea. But saying that, to be unbeaten this season, remaining in October, heading into November is great for us. Obviously against the top six sides, we're still yet to lose. I think we've scored a decent amount of goals this season and to see two back-to-back clean sheets at home is great. So I'm happy with that. As I said, the highs of the month for me would be beating Manchester City and the way we played against Sevilla. The lows would probably be Lens and the first half for me against Chelsea. I still have question marks over our chance conversion and creation. On the other hand, the table doesn't lie and the points don't lie. But are we necessarily, to be devil's advocate, are we playing well or are we getting a bit lucky? Now, there's nothing wrong with luck. You earn your luck. As I said, I like the fact that we're scoring goals. I like the fact that we're not giving up until the end. I like the fact that we're getting points, really. The defeat will come, but hopefully not anytime soon, if I'm completely honest with you. As I said, I think we need to learn how to kill teams better. I think you're never going to be perfect across 90 minutes, but I think we need to find that element of more consistency across 90 minutes. I would say, for me anyways, the opening 15 to 20 minutes, I think we could start faster. I don't think we've scored this month in the opening 15 minutes, of course, I'm being a stickler, but I do want to see that. I do want to see us kill teams early, really and truly. So, yeah, in terms of players of the month, for me, it would be Tross up for his cameos and what he's done. I think Tomi Asu deserves a hail up. I think Saliba's been great. Obviously, he locked up Haaland, boss of a performance. I think Martinelli's been good. And there's a bunch of players, really, you know, big up Eddie Nketiah on his hat trick. And it's nice to see Smith-Brown start. Obviously, in terms of concerns, you know, Thomas Partey's injury and how that will affect us and what we do in terms of the games to come is obviously something to worry about. I still need to see us create more and score more. I still don't know if we're necessarily playing well just to play devil's advocate, really. Obviously, Martin Odegaard's ultimately right now being, you know, crucified for the high standards he set. I want to see my captain get back into form, people. And obviously, I think Raya's been okay. I think a lot is made of it, but undoubtedly, there is concern. So, I would like to see Raya and also Kai Havertz look to convince the fans a bit more. But we just need to keep chugging along. As you lot know, people, we need to make it to the end of the year, still talking about what we're talking about. For me, still being in all competitions, really. So, yeah, man, we put ourselves back in the driving seat in the Champions League. We're ticking along in the Premier League. We know we've got the FA Cup in January to come. And hopefully, against West Ham to kick off the month, you know, we'll do what we're doing. You know, there's a bunch of tough games this month to come. So, we'll have to see exactly what's in tow, people. But, you know, so far, so good. Let's keep going. Don't forget to let me know your thoughts. Don't forget to like, comment, and subscribe, people. Without you lot, it's boring following all the socials. And stay blessed, stay safe. One love.