We all know the drill don’t we? November hits and Arsenal start to fluff their lines.
We’ve seen it time and time again – so much so the November curse is not part of folklore in the red half of north London.As soon as Halloween has been and gone, Gunners fans start to fear the worse. It doesn’t matter how well their team has started the season, things usually start to come crashing down once we wave goodbye to October.
Statistically, November was Arsenal’s worst month under Arsene Wenger when it came to average points gained in the Premier League.
They also lost 27 league games during Wenger’s reign in the penultimate month of the year, far more than any of month in the football calendar.
So it’s perhaps no surprise that just the mere mention of November has been enough to spark fear into even the most optimistic of Gunners fans in recent years. But – and whisper it quietly – Arsenal may have now turned the corner under Unai Emery.
The Spaniard has certainly lifted the club since his arrival in the summer and now – following the 3-0 win against FC Vorksla in the Europa League – he has just guided the Gunners to their first unbeaten November since 2005.
It’s been 13 years years of hurt in north London, but perhaps the tide is beginning to turn.
In 2005, Arsenal enjoyed a sensational November – winning all six of their games in all competitions, three in the Premier League, two in the Champions League and one in the League.
It may not have been so impressive this time around, with Emery’s side drawing three and winning two of their five games, but the fact they have avoided defeat has not gone unnoticed with fans.