3 Biggest Concerns for Arsenal's Fans in 2015/16 Season so Far

Thus far, Arsenal’s 2015/16 season has been relatively promising. Heading into the November international break, the Gunners sit joint-top of the Premier League table with front-runners Manchester City.

After a disappointing loss on the opening day against West Ham United, their form has recovered sufficiently to make them look like legitimate title challengers.

However, it has not all been plain sailing. There are still several things concerning Gunners supporters as we enter the crucial winter period.

In this piece, we identify the three things giving Arsenal fans the greatest cause for concern.

Injuries

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Once again, Arsenal have been struck by their annual injury crisis. According to PhysioRoom.com, the Gunners currently sit fourth in the Premier League’s injury table with seven players on the sidelines.

The effect on the first-team squad is debilitating. In the recent north London derby, Arsene Wenger did not have a recognised attacker on the substitutes bench. Instead, he was forced to call upon Kieran Gibbs to play as a wide forward. The experiment paid off, but the situation is far from ideal. 

When teenager Alex Iwobi is forced to make his Champions League debut away to Bayern Munich, it’s clear that the Gunners are down to the bare bones.

The issue is bigger than a mere lack of options. The players who remain fit end up being overplayed, so they become fatigued. The true effects of that will only be felt in the crucial final few months of the season.

It’s difficult to ascertain how much damage will be inflicted in the future by the demands placed on the available players.

Champions League form

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While Arsenal have been impressively consistent in the Premier League, their UEFA Champions League form has been largely poor. While there was the obvious highlight of beating Bayern Munich 2-0 at the Emirates Stadium, they comprehensively lost the reverse fixture 5-1.

What’s more, they suffered defeat in their opening two group-stage games against Dinamo Zagreb and Olympiakos.

Arsenal now stand only a slender chance of qualifying for the knockout phase, which could leave them facing the chore of an unwanted UEFA Europa League campaign.

The fixture list

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Although Arsenal have had a good start to their assault on the Premier League title, the fixture list has arguably favoured them.

Aside from Chelsea, most of their toughest games have been at home. The Gunners have already faced Manchester United, Everton, Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur at the Emirates Stadium. By Christmas, Manchester City will have joined that list. 

That means that all those fixtures will be reversed in the second half of the campaign. Although there has been some improvement over the past 12 months, Arsenal typically struggle in these crunch games away from home. It’s possible those vital fixtures will deliver a less pleasant perspective on Arsenal’s early-season form.

Of the four home games mention above, Arsenal have won only two—against United and Everton. They may need to improve upon that record in the away games if they are to retain their spot near the summit of the table.

James McNicholas is Bleacher Report's lead Arsenal correspondent and is following the club from a London base throughout 2015/16. Follow him on Twitter here.