Arsenal are top of the league going into the international break after the perfect start to the season five wins in five games, topped off with a spanking of Spurs this weekend.

BOREHAMWOOD, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 18: Caitlin Foord of Arsenal celebrates with teammates after scoring her team's third goal during the Barclays FA Women's Super League match between Arsenal Women and Tottenham Hotspur Women at Meadow Park on October 18, 2020 in Borehamwood, England. Sporting stadiums around the UK remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)
BOREHAMWOOD, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 18: Caitlin Foord of Arsenal celebrates with teammates after scoring her team’s third goal during the Barclays FA Women’s Super League match between Arsenal Women and Tottenham Hotspur Women at Meadow Park on October 18, 2020 in Borehamwood, England. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)

With all the other leading teams dropping points, or not playing, it was an excellent weekend for the Gunners.

Vivianne Miedema broke the all time goalscoring record, reaching 52 goals in 50 games. The BBC made an excellent analysis of her record breaking numbers. It is quite scary to think that she spent most of the 2017/18 season with an injury problem sustained after wining the 2017 Euros and therefore could have reached that number a bit earlier.

Arsenal destroyed Spurs on Sunday thanks to an early goal and reached the half-time break with a 5-0 scoreline. They scored another in the second half but also conceded their first ever North London derby goal.

That was probably the only disappointment on the day, not being able to keep a clean sheet.

The other concern is the usual one: injuries. The bench on Sunday had two senior players in Williams and Wubben-Moy plus two 17 years old Mace and Denton. There is no doubt that both are benefiting from training and getting game time with the first team, but we should not be in a such a situation with a potential title decider in the near future.

We now have 20 days before the next league game away to United and 27 days from a crucial home game to Chelsea. The international break curse has been real for the Arsenal with players coming back from national team games with injuries that often take a lot of time to heal.

BOREHAMWOOD, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 18: Vivianne Miedema of Arsenal scores her team's fifth goal during the Barclays FA Women's Super League match between Arsenal Women and Tottenham Hotspur Women at Meadow Park on October 18, 2020 in Borehamwood, England. Sporting stadiums around the UK remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)
BOREHAMWOOD, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 18: Vivianne Miedema of Arsenal scores her team’s fifth goal during the Barclays FA Women’s Super League match between Arsenal Women and Tottenham Hotspur Women at Meadow Park on October 18, 2020 in Borehamwood, England.  (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)

Hopefully, Kim Little will be back to full fitness by the time those two big games come round. Fran Stenson, Jennifer Beattie, Steph Catley, Leonie Maier, Noelle Maritz, Jordan Nobbs, Jill Roord and Lisa Evans are all at a different stages of recovery. It is really hard to know how many of those players will be ready for those key games.

There will be also a Continental Cup group stage game three days before the United match and it would be the right time to rest a few players against a Championship side, but obviously a lack of players to rotate will probably mean little if any rotation.

It would be difficult but possible to beat an improving Manchester United side without a full squad, but we will need our best players available to beat Chelsea, there is no doubt about that. The Blues seem to have found a way to disrupt our passing game with their high press and their ability to hit us in transition. To beat that press, we need all our best players who are technically strong, excellent on the ball and with high passing skills to be on the pitch.

Until then, we can enjoy the FA WSL table that sees us ahead of Everton and United by two points, Chelsea by five points, although they have a game in hand, and City by seven points already. City’s title hopes are nearly gone by mid-October, a clear reminder that no game or victory should be taken for granted.

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