Arteta's Hot Arse

The season starts on the 11th September for Arsenal - I suppose you could say the same for our relegation roommates: Wolves and Norwich - and I can't wait. Although the results, and even more damning, the performances have given me migraines, I'm aware of the mitigating circumstances which have been under-published - to the extent of being ignored entirely - and I have hope that the collapse of the mitigation will spark the revival which is so desperately needed.

The unfavourable circumstances I am talking about and those on pundit panels are not, are of course the scourge of illness and injuries which took 9 first team players away from us at the start of the new season. I won't list them however it only takes a glance at the three team sheets deposited by Mikel at the FA to realise there's F All difference between those teams and the "un-coachable" mess Mikel inherited at the end of Unai's tenure.

I am by no means saying it was acceptable what I saw in those three games. But I forgive the manager as he seems to be permanently donned in the high-vis reds of a fire fighter, going from each fiery calamity to the next, putting out the fires - seemingly with his never-ending pot of hair gel. My patience is guaranteed - unlike the salty social media bunch - however, it cannot be taken for granted. Mikel, if you read this: don't indulge in my patience pool. Like our goals have, it will dry up.

Saturday is a chance to field a team which is closer to the preferred starting eleven that must be swirling around in Mikel's mind, like one of those fairground rides spinning customers on chained, swinging chairs. I'm sure if Mikel looks at his ideal and unobstructed team sheet for too long, he too gets dizzy. It has been that rare and this season, impossible.

Gabriel and White will hopefully come back in to defend in front of one of the best shot-stoppers in the premier league and one of the worst footballers in Europe: Bernd Leno. I doubt Tomiyasu will get a start due to his jet lag and Arsenal's laggy approach to paperwork. Meanwhile, in midfield there is a chance for the terribly missed Thomas Partey to return - alongside Sambi we all hope - and with Odegaard in form for Norway, there's no-way we can give Mikel a second of sympathy.

Norwich have never taken 3 points on the road in London in the Premier League. Another contemptible record for the record breaker himself, Mikel, to break. Putting joking - which if you can't tell has been my source of coping - to one side, I do believe with the correct tools (our actual, good team) Mikel can get us climbing up the table. Even if it is just above Norwich.

Trust the process. If we have zero mitigating circumstances come the North London Derby and we lose - in underwhelming fasion - I will be the first to voice displeasure and join in chorus with the chants of #ArtetaOut. I will however, do it either at the pub or on Anarsenalaffair.com - not in the twitter comments of a poor u23's squad player who is out with his mum for her birthday.