Arsenal: Has January Replaced November as the Gunners' Worst Month?

Difficult spells are part of any season, but Arsenal's Novembers seem a bit extreme at times.

Take the 11th month from 2008, for example.

After teasing with a massive 2-1 victory against reigning EPL champions Manchester United at the Emirates on the back of two sublime Samir Nasri goals, the Gunners then proceeded to shoot the wheels off their own wagon just days later.

That win against United had come exactly one week after a forgettable 1-2 defeat away to Stoke City. Well, it was forgettable except for Robin van Persie's sending off for headbutting/pushing/I'm-not-sure-how-to-describe-it to Stoke keeper Tomas Sorensen with the game slipping slowly away.

But, if the Gunners could beat United—that season the defending champions of England and Europe—without Van Persie, then just imagine the potential for the side through the rest of the month. A run of form seemed on the horizon.

Except not.

Ensuing losses at home to Aston Villa (1-2) and away to Manchester City (3-0)—the Citizens were then in the infant stages of their oil-money monopoly, with Robinho and a host of ill-advised striker signings—hey there, Roque Santa Cruz—snuffed out what precious little hope Arsenal had held onto up to that point to make a charge at that season's EPL title.

But then, in vintage Arsenal form, a 2-1 victory at Stamford Bridge against Chelsea closed out the month with the proverbial bang, delivered in this case by a Van Persie brace—one with each foot—to seal the proceedings over the west London rivals.

Arsenal had beaten two perennial top-four members that month.

Still, the November struggles weighed down. The wins against United and Chelsea were great, but when viewed in light of the losses, they almost seemed irrelevant. If you're going to mount a title charge, it's the games against Stoke that become crucial.

You need to take a point there at the absolute minimum.

November has always seemed to provide a series of pot holes—coinciding perfectly with the impact plummeting winter temperatures have on roads—for the Gunners. 

The reasons—injury, suspension, what have you—grow like Jack's beanpole to reach the giant.

But, in the end, results must be obtained, no matter the ensuing circumstances. That's what champions do best, and that's exactly what Arsenal have failed to do since 2005—the last time they won silverware.

Here's a look at how they've coped over the past five seasons—this current edition included—in November:

*Note: the home team is always listed first in the scoreline

November, 2007

Nov. 3: 2-2 home draw to Manchester United (English Premier League)
Nov. 7: 0-0 draw away to Slavia Prague (UEFA Champions League)
Nov. 12: 3-1 away win against Reading (English Premier League)
Nov. 24: 2-0 home win against Wigan (English Premier League)
Nov. 27: 1-3 loss away to Sevilla (UEFA Champions League)

Two wins, two draws, one loss

November, 2008

Nov. 1: 1-2 loss away to Stoke City (EPL)
Nov. 5: 0-0 home draw to Fenerbace (UCL)
Nov. 8: 2-1 home win against Manchester United (EPL)
Nov. 11: 3-0 home win against Wigan (Carling Cup)
Nov. 15: 0-2 home loss to Aston Villa (EPL)
Nov. 22: 3-0 loss away to Manchester City (EPL)
Nov. 25: 1-0 home win against Dynamo Kiev (UCL)
Nov. 30: 1-2 away win against Chelsea (EPL)

Four wins, one draw, three losses

November, 2009

Nov. 4: 4-1 home win against AZ Alkmaar (UCL)
Nov. 7: 1-4 away win against Wolverhampton (EPL)
Nov. 21: 0-1 loss away to Sunderland (EPL)
Nov. 24: 2-0 home win against Standard Liege (UCL)
Nov. 29: 0-3 home loss to Chelsea (EPL)

Three wins, zero draws, two losses

November, 2010

Nov. 3: 1-2 loss away to Shakhtar Donetsk (UCL)
Nov. 7: 0-1 home loss to Newcastle Utd (EPL)
Nov. 10: 0-2 away win against Wolves (EPL)
Nov. 14: 1-2 away win against Everton (EPL)
Nov. 20: 2-3 home loss to Tottenham (EPL)
Nov. 23: 2-0 loss away to Braga (UCL)
Nov. 27: 2-4 away win against Aston Villa (EPL)
Nov. 30: 2-0 home win against Wigan (CC) 

Four wins, zero draws, four losses

November, 2011

Nov. 1: 0-0 home draw to Olympique de Marseille (UCL)
Nov. 5: 3-0 home win against West Bromwich Albion (EPL)
Nov. 19: 1-2 win away to Norwich City (EPL)
Nov. 23: 2-1 home win against Borussia Dortmund (UCL)
Nov. 26: 1-1 home draw to Fulham (EPL)
Nov. 29: 1-0 loss away to Manchester City (CC)

Three wins, two draws, one loss

All things said and done, that accounts for 32 matches played during the past five editions of November. Arsenal have taken 51 points from a possible 96—hardly the sort of return rate one would hope to see from a title challenger.

Now, one month does not make a season, but it does make an impact.

Consistency is a trait shared by most champions, yet it's one that's been horribly lacking in recent Arsenal sides. For every win over Chelsea or Barcelona or United—granted, less frequent in the most recent matches—there comes an inexplicable mix-up or reverse.

It might be the debacles against Birmingham—William Gallas refusing to get up out of the goal at St. Andrew's after it became apparent Arsenal were headed for defeat, or the mix-up between Koscielny and Szczesny in last season's Carling Cup final—or this season's slip-up away to Swansea.

November becomes a microcosm for the rest of the season—when the Gunners need to get results, they often fail to do so.

But now has January come to replace it as Arsenal's bane?

So far in this first month of 2012, Arsenal have played four matches—three league affairs, and CC tie.

They've dropped all three of the league proceedings—2-1 away to Fulham, 3-2 away to Swansea, and 1-2 at home to Manchester United—and won against Leeds United at home 1-0.

It's a worrisome start to the new year, surely, and a perversely symmetrical one at that.

Just as the Gunners outclassed United back in that November '08 match, the Red Devils completely overwhelmed Arsenal for two-thirds of Sunday's match.

The second-half charge, which began with excellent defense from Koscielny and ended in Van Persie's goal off superb wing play from Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, was sublime stuff to watch.

Eventually, United outlasted their opponents and grabbed a crucial three points that helped them keep pace with league leaders Manchester City.

Renowned Gunners enthusiast David Hirshey's prediction of a 1-3 loss at the hands of Fergie's men wasn't too far off the mark. It could certainly have been worse.

United laying siege to the Arsenal goal-mouth area in the first half evoked painful memories of Barcelona doing the exact same thing in the 2010 Champions League quarter leg at the Emirates.

A result against United was the absolute minimum if Arsenal were to benefit from Liverpool, Newcastle, Chelsea and Tottenham all slipping up this weekend.

The Gunners are fighting with each of those teams for a Champions League place, but a loss did them no good—although it was easier to swallow given those set-backs from their challengers.

All the same, January certainly runs the risk of becoming a month non grata where Arsenal are concerned.

There's still time to salvage something from this month—an FA Cup tie against Aston Villa comes up on the 26th, and it could do some good for an Arsenal side whose bloodied body comes in stark contrast to the snow on the ground.

With Thomas Vermaelen back on Sunday, and his fellow first-team mainstays Jack Wilshere and Bacary Sagna looking set to return to fitness soon, hope remains as Arsenal look to the rest of the season, and undoubtedly weigh their objectives through a more realistic lens.

Ain't nothin' to it but to do it, right?

I sincerely hope that isn't Wenger's pre-match speech on Sunday.