This weekend saw Arsenal as the big winners in a number of ways, with Chelsea and Manchester United dropping points and Alexis Sanchez bagging a brace…
Arsenal and Arsene Wenger have struggled for consistent form so far this season; both in the Premier League and in cup competitions. After salvaging a draw with Hull last weekend and somehow snatching an undeserved win against Anderlecht in the Champions League midweek fixture, Arsenal fans were beginning to have doubts over their ability to see off a Sunderland side who recently lost 8-0 against Southampton.
In the end however, this weekend’s Premier League results couldn’t have really gone much better for the Gunners.
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Here are six reasons why Arsenal were the big winners this weekend in the Premier League:
6) Winning dirty
Arsenal have not exactly been their usual dynamic and deadly selves recently, and many would argue that based on recent performances they don’t deserve to be where they are in the table.
A lot can be said for grinding out wins despite playing badly however, with Manchester United famous for it back when they were winning titles regularly.
If the Gunners can keep picking up wins while playing badly, then surely that can only mean good things for when their form finally returns.
5) Van Persie left it late
I doubt there is a single Arsenal fan who likes the Dutchman anymore, but his late equaliser at Old Trafford against league leaders Chelsea actually gave Gooners something to celebrate.
A draw was the best possible result for Arsenal really, with both teams dropping points. For Manchester United that meant staying below the Gunners, while Chelsea were prevented from further running away with the title at this early stage.
4) Super Song
Another former Gunner doing Arsenal a favour, Alex Song is currently on loan at West Ham from Barcelona.
The midfielder inspired a fantastic win for the Hammers against Premier League champions Manchester City. Another of Arsenal’s top four rivals dropping points this weekend when they were expected to win comfortably.
3) And Super Mario
Arsenal were heavily linked with Mario Balotelli in the summer, but Arsene Wenger apparently had no interest in the controversial striker.
Fans were begging the board to sign him up, but after seeing his recent performances for Liverpool they will for once be glad the board completely ignored them.
The £16m forward lead the line for Liverpool against Hull on Saturday, and missed a clear cut chance at the death to keep the game scoreless; more dropped points.
2) What do we think of Tottenham?
No Arsenal fan likes Tottenham even when they aren’t a direct threat to their aspirations, so for their North London rivals to drop all three points at White Hart Lane against a struggling Newcastle side is nothing but good for the Gunners.
They have been fairly erratic in the Premier League this season and currently find themselves in 11th, but had they managed a win against Alan Pardew’s side they would actually have been level on points with Arsenal.
1) Theo! Theo! Theo!
Although he didn’t actually make an appearance against Sunderland, Theo Walcott was on the bench after being out injured with cruciate ligament damage since January.
He has been sorely missed by Arsenal both in the tail end of last season and the beginning of the new campaign.
With their lengthy injury list at the moment he is a much needed addition in terms of pace and firepower.