Title lead, Champions League statement, January transfer hints - Arsenal seven-game dream stint

Arsenal return to Premier League action this weekend at Bournemouth A great start has seen his side go unbeaten despite a challenging run of fixtures.

Yet, having come through such difficult clashes already, the next stint of seven games before the November break sees the trickiness of the games not ease in the slightest.

Three competitions await, and as the season goes on, the closer to the January transfer window it gets, the knowledge of any potential business becomes clearer, if at all. football.london takes a look at what a dream seven-game stint might entail and what, beyond just winning matches, can provide boosts to Arteta’s October and November run.

Leading the league

. With both Manchester City and Liverpool playing Sunday, it is a chance to go top but this is of course just one weekend.

League matches against the Cherries in addition to Liverpool (H), Newcastle United (A) and Chelsea (A) is an intense four-game stint and should the Gunners win them all, they would go above Arne Slot’s side and hope to eclipse City too, at least on goal difference although Pep Guardiola’s run by comparison is much simpler on paper.

San Siro statement

In the Champions League, Arsenal will take on Shakhtar Donetsk at the Emirates Stadium and hope to collect three points. The Ukrainian side have something of a narrative with the Gunners after the lengthy and unsuccessful negotiations last year for Mykhailo Mudryk but have been poor in Europe winning none of their first two matches and sitting 27th in the table.

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However, what follows and is sandwiched by games away at Newcastle and Chelsea is a midweek flight to Italy and the San Siro to play Inter Milan. A win over the Nerazzurri would be such a statement of intent in Europe and emulate the Invincibles side who were the last team to face Inter in Italy and won 5-1 thanks to a stunning late rout of goals.

Hints at winter business

Arsenal have suffered with continual injury woes throughout this early period. Nine players are currently either not playing, have issues or have pulled out of international duty.

There are needs in the forward positions, midfield and potentially defence depending on injury statuses. Sporting director Edu likes to have plans in place months ahead of the window opening and therefore we may get some hints as to who the club could be targeting in the weeks to come.