The next two games will be season defining.
I wrote an article a few weeks back about the game we had coming up, that game being an away trip to play Aston villa, i remember clearly writing in the article that a win there would be a statement of intent to the rest of the league from us that we will firmly be title contenders again.
We got the win that day and proved our title credentials, but the next set of fixtures on the horizon will be an even tougher test to our resolve, in the next two fixtures we will travel to two of the toughest away grounds in this league to face two very difficult opponents, one being tougher more than the other but tough nonetheless.
The importance of us even getting 4 points from these two fixtures cannot be overemphasized, we will not want to be playing catch up to this relentless machine that is Man City. If we hypothetically lose the next two fixtures we could potentially be eight points behind Man City in September! It would then be a tough ask for us to remain flawless from there on in, while expecting Man city to drop nine points.
The risk of dropping points goes beyond Man City though with the way Liverpool have started the season, they too could prove to be serious contenders and a threat to our title aspirations therefore the importance for us to come out of this period unscathed is very important.
The absence of Declan Rice for the game against Tottenham has already left us at a disadvantage with being without one of our best players for such a crucial game early in the season however this team has more than enough in their locker to overcome a spurs side we’ve basically owned in the past few seasons in his absence. We will have Rice back for the game against city though which will be a big boost to our hopes of seeing through this tough set of fixtures.
The next two games could be season defining so how many points do you all think we’ll win from them ?
KENNETH BENJAMIN.
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I think we’ll get a draw in the NLD and lose at the Etihad
If we get four points from those two games, Arteta would be a genius
He’s shown that he’s learned a lot by beating Emery at the Villa Park, so I hope he knows how to play against Postecoglou and Guardiola this season
4 points
Win against Spuds
Draw against City
Taking only 2 or 3 points would not be devastating at this point in the season away from home unless we let it be.
Two tough away games in a row so I think 4 points will be the most, but I wouldn’t be surprised with 3 or possibly 2.
For me it’s not so much the points from individual games, but the size of the gap (bigger or smaller) between us and most likely City/Liverpool after this difficult opening run.
If was just Spuds and City in back to back games I wouldn’t be all that concerned but with Atalanta also away sandwiched in between, we may very well lose all three. Then again, we may win all three. Reminds me of last season when AV was sandwiched between the Bayern games except AV was at home in an 8 day rather than 7 day span. Was that a learning experience? I hope so.
3 points
Our record is terrible at the Ethiad
Good test for us, to see if we have that winner’s mentality. Yes we have injuries, but you have to find ways to win, and get points by overcoming your difficulties.
Falling 8 points behind City would be trouble. We would have to win every game while hoping they lose 3 matches; not a good place to be in.