Perhaps the international break was just what Arsenal needed. Since the last pause of domestic action, they have failed to win a single league game.
Bukayo Saka picked up an injury while with England, the Gunners then lost to Bournemouth before drawing with table-topping Liverpool.
A torrid performance against Newcastle followed as Mikel Arteta’s side lost 1-0 and then came the 2-2 draw at Stamford Bridge.
Once this break ends, it surely cannot get any worse than that. This is the chance for a reset. It’s a chance to get players back to full fitness and attack the Premier League hard over the festive period.
However, they will still have to wait another week or so with international fixtures aplenty still to come.
One source of comfort for Arteta is that three of his key players aren’t travelling anywhere during this fortnightly period.
Saka and Declan Rice both pulled out owing to little niggles. The former hobbled off in the dying minutes against Chelsea a week ago while Rice has been nursing a broken toe.
Martin Odegaard also pulled out of the Norway squad in a bid to regain fitness after only just returning from an ankle problem.
So, there are fewer players in action over the course of the break and it’s been a bit of a mixed bag so far.
