Traditionally, the month of November is met by Gooners worldwide with winces, the muttering of oaths and various explicatives, and an overall impulse to seek cover. We do not like November. Or should I say, November does not customarily like us? It has been a month in past seasons where Champions League, International Play, and regular League games all collide at a time when our players have started to feel the fatigue of the season. November is a month where the squad becomes thin and the physio room crowded. November has been Known to be Notorious. This year, however, I am not fearing Notorious. But before explaining this change of heart, let's look back to previous Novembers.
In the 2008-2009 season, Arsenal played played eight matches in November - Five League matches, ! one Carling Cup, and two Champion's League games. We scored a total of 9 goals giving us an average of 1.13 goals per match for that month. We also had 13 players out during that month due to injury or suspension. Those missing included RVP (suspension), Gallas (calf), Theo (who can keep track), Adebayor, and Almunia. Cesc, Sagna amd Nasri were in out and out of the squad the entire month as well. The November of that month saw Silvestre play five matches. That, my friends, should say it all. Nine squad members missed the last two games of the month. International play ran from November 16th to November 22nd. We ended up losing three out of the five League matches, won the Carling Cup match, and drew one/won one in Champions League. The funny thing? We were back in the title race by the end of the month.
In the 2009 - 2010 season we played only five matches: three League and two Champions League and scored 10 goals altogether giving us a slightly higher average of two goals per game for that month. During this season, Notorious ate up seven of our players with Gibbs and Clichy both being injured at the same time, Diaby and Bendtner were both out the entire month, and more importantly, this was the month that RVP got on the receiving end of a "robust"tackle from Italian player Giorgio Chiellini. He was not back in the squad until the following April. That international break began November 7th and ended November 21st.
This season? This season we are playing seven games, those being made up of two Champions League games and five Premier League matches, with one international friendly scheduled. The number of matches is not bad, but out of those seven, we have only two home games and end up traveleing to Eastern Europe twice for Champions League.
We are going into Notorious with an average of 3.07 goals per match. Injury wise we are entering the new month with (pre-West Ham) with six players injured. Diaby, Gibbs, Vermie, Frimpong, Ramsey and Van Perise. Six injured is not bad for us - actually it's pretty low and will continue to dwindle as- and here I believe is a big difference from other Novembers, we have our star strike returning this month from after being injured on August 28th. And maybe having an even bigger impact on morale will be the return of Aaron Ramsey to the squad. Aaron has been out rehabilitating his ankle after having it broken by Idiot Shawcross on January 24th last season. Both of these players are returning to full training with squad on Monday. If all goes fairly well, that leaves four on the injured list, as opposed to nine or thirteen or what sometimes seems like 37 players out.
Another cause for my optimism is the depth of our bench. When Robin went out injured for six months last season, Arshavin was called upon to play striker. Bendtner was out injured for three of those six months also. The diminutive Russian was playing up top on his own, struggling to win headers against central defenders nearly twice his size. At times, it was almost comical. This year, we have the Chamak-Atak and a healthy Bendy. Depth. Theo is just coming back from injury (and looking awesome), but if he happens to get hurt, there's Rosicky, Nasri, Arshavin, Vela, and even Eboue. Depth.
The only area of concern is left back as Gibbsy has gone down with a medial ligament injury and although Arsenal are giving "a few weeks" as the answer to the question of his length of time out, we al lknow it coud be months. Clichy has no other back up and at times has had back problems (as well as focus issues). Eboue filled in for them last match. He is a utility player and could provide cover.
So there you have it. Compared to last season, I think we are in a strong positon to take on Notorious. I believe this team will not only take it on, but will come out the other side still riding the wave of momentum that has been building in October. Who knows, November may lose its repute for the damage it causes. Next season, it may be known as the impetus to a trophy winning season - a season accumulating in silverware, accolades, and people eating humble pie. It could become Legendary for all the right reasons.
Yes. Legendary has a nice ring to it, don't you think?
P.S. (We are playing the Hammers today and need to trample the \team that are at the very bottom of the table. Yep - that's my preview. Have a good one Gooners).
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