[image source: paininthearsenal]

I’ll just give the short answer: no.

Arsenal have currently won 11 straight games in all competitions. This includes Premier League matchups and Europa League group stage matches. Since losing to Chelsea in week two, Arsenal has not lost or drawn any game, they’ve won all of them.

That sounds incredibly impressive. I mean, 11 straight wins without even a draw is a stat worth touting. Arsenal plays Crystal Palace next, so it’s at least reasonable to think it could be 12 straight wins. After that it’s Blackpool in the League Cup (which would be inexcusable if they don’t win that game). So they could be sitting at 13 straight wins when they take on Liverpool November 3rd.

So Arsenal should win these two easy games coming up and extend the win streak, but that’s the thing: they have only played sub-par teams in this stretch of wins. The biggest challenge they faced was Leicester City at home. I think people have been giving Leicester too much credit the past few seasons since they won the title. They are still a bottom-to-midtable team at best. Their current team looks nothing like the team that won the title. They aren’t playing the same style or the same quality. But they were the best team Arsenal has faced in this winning streak.

Other than Leicester, they have played Fulham, Brentford, Watford, Everton, Newcastle, Cardiff City, Vorskla, Qarabag FC, and I think you get the picture. They have not played any of the top 6 teams. They haven’t played any giants of the Premier League. That is about to change when they come up against Liverpool and then Tottenham not too long after that.

Arsenal is not title a contender. They do not have the talent. The title race is pretty much between two teams already: Manchester City and Liverpool. Manchester City will probably end up winning it again, but Liverpool has a really good chance. If Mo Sallah can find his last-season form, Liverpool will be absolutely scary. Arsenal does not have the quality to match up to them. Arsenal is now winning the games they should win, against mid to bottom table teams, but I still don’t think they can beat the top teams. They could beat Manchester United, who are a dumpster fire this season, they could beat Tottenham, and they could beat Chelsea (will they? I don’t know, but they can). They can’t beat Man City or Liverpool.

I don’t mean to sound too critical or like too much of a Debbie Downer. Arsenal is on the right track. Last year, I could not at all imagine Arsenal winning 11 straight games. I couldn’t imagine them winning two games in a row. They are back to beating the teams they should beat. I will write another post soon about the positive changes I see in Arsenal this season, and it is almost all positive, but that still does not mean they are title contenders. They are a Center back and a solid winger away from being title contenders.

I am really interested in seeing how they play against the tougher opposition of Liverpool. That will be a real test and I’m very excited for it.

For now, Arsenal sits in 4th place, a Champion’s League place. I think that’s where they’ll end up. They are fighting for a Champion’s League spot, but they are not title contenders.