Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger believes that while the likes of Leicester City are doing well at this stage in the Premier League season, the real trends will begin to set after the Christmas period.
The Foxes are currently top of the table, two points above second place Arsenal, having lost just one game all season – incidentally, to Arsenal.
With West Ham performing a similar feat last campaign, the Frenchman claims that the Christmas period will test his opponents to see if they can keep their consistency and quality.
I think you always see the real trend after Christmas.
Of course every year you have a surprising team who is in the top four. Last year it was West Ham, this year it is Leicester.
The question is always can they maintain their run. It looks like Leicester are producing the consistency and quality.
The number of goals they score indicates to you, yes, they will remain up there and you have to consider them now as fighting for the Premier League.
Moving on to rotation, the long-term Gunners boss admitted that while he wants to field his strongest XI every single game, he recognises the need to, at times, rest his top stars.
It does because for managers, you have the next Premier League game in your mind when you go into Europe sometimes.
Recently we were not in that position, but at the start of the competition yes, you have in your mind, ‘The next Premier League match is difficult – do I rest one or two?’ Especially in the Europa League, I see that teams do it.
Arsenal travel to Villa Park this Sunday to face Remi Garde’s struggling Aston Villa side, who are sat bottom of the Premier League table having won just once all season.
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