Massive Fixtures Ahead : Arsenal Title Credentials On The Line

They said "Arsenal will be tested by Swansea"; Arsenal won the match. They said "It will be Napoli who will really test Arsenal"; Arsenal won the match- comfortably I should add. We lost against Dortmund but they were champions league finalists last season and Arsenal did not make it a walk in the park for them did they?

Arsenal Flying High But Tougher Tests Lie Ahead

Arsenal are 2 points clear at the top of the EPL and there still remains doubts, in the minds of the so-called football pundits at least, whether Arsenal are genuine contenders to the title. Who cares what they think, Arsenal are top of the league and Arsenal fans are loving the view from the top :). My honest opinion is that it is too early to predict who will win but we will get a better idea at the end of December.

Moving on from foretelling the title winner, Arsenal are heading into the start of a very difficult period in the season with some tricky ties coming up. Staring with the home match against Chelsea tonight in the Capital One Cup, Arsenal host Liverpool followed by a visit to Dortmund in the Champions League and then to Old Trafford to face Manchester United in the League and they face an equally daunting task against a flying Southampton side at home in the league.As if that was not enough, Arsenal will arguably have an even tougher December to follow with games against Everton(H), Machester City(A), Napoli(A) and Chelsea(H). It is incredible how these big fixtures have all been put together. No wonder people are reserving their thoughts on Arsenal's credibility, because if Arsenal get past this storm of massive fixtures unscathed, or at least not battered, the title would be Arsenal's to lose.

A short note on tonight's match. Arsene knows that a critical phase is approaching in the season and I think he will be forced to prioritize here. He would want his best players to be fit for all these fixtures ahead and I think he will take a big gamble if decides to start with any of his regulars in tonight's match. Whether he will take that risk remains to be seen.

Reading Vs Arsenal Preview : Another 12 goal Thriller On The Card?

The last time Arsenal met Reading was in the Capital One Cup a month ago when the teams played in a 7-5 goal-fest, in which Arsenal managed to prevail. It was a remarkable turnaround from Arsenal's point of view, given that they were 4-0 down at one stage. Given how poorly Arsenal have been playing, if anyone could replicate the scoreline again, the bet would be on Arsenal!

Arsenal are currently eighth in the league while Reading are rock bottom. However, by no means will it be a walk in the park for Arsenal. Reading are decent at home and their only problem has been that they have failed to score enough goals which has also been the Achilles's heel for Arsenal. It will also be interesting to see how Arsenal's players react especially after the demoralizing mid-week defeat at the hands of Bradford City in the Capital One Cup Quarterfinals.

Santi Cazorla has claimed that Arsenal's inexperience has cost them this season while Jack Wilshere has called everyone to be united in these tough times. It shows the players too are concerned about the club like the fans, unlike reports in the media that they do not care. There are still doubts whether Arsenl will deliver, not only in this match but the upcoming fixtures, consistently, because only consistency can give them the a top four finish and respect from all corners.