The sky falls quickly when you're an Arsenal fan, and many are wondering whether this is the week when everything goes wrong for the Gunners.
Their Champions League hopes took a hit Monday at the Champions League round-of-16 draw: Arsenal will play Bayern Munich again. And their Premier League campaign was dented by Tuesday's disappointing loss to Everton, especially as all their rivals won on Wednesday. Now Arsenal face a daunting trip to Manchester City this weekend, and another loss could leave them nine points behind leaders Chelsea. That would leave little reason for fans to be jolly this holiday season, so we're here to spread some pre-emptive Christmas cheer.
Because there's no reason to panic just yet. Yes, the Everton defeat showed some familiar shortcomings in Arsene Wenger's team, and yes, Chelsea are chugging along like a steam train, and yes, anything but a win at the Etihad would have pundits writing off Arsenal's title hopes immediately.
But regardless of what happens against City, Arsenal's chances won't be over. Here's why:
January schedule favours Gunners
Even if Arsenal were to head into the Christmas weekend on a low, their list of upcoming fixtures should give the team a bright start to the new year. After Man City, Arsenal host West Brom on Boxing Day and then don't face an opponent in the top nine of the Premier League standings during the month January. Their schedule includes home games against Crystal Palace, Burnley and Watford, along with trips to Bournemouth and struggling Swansea.
Chelsea, meanwhile, have tough away games at Tottenham, Leicester and Liverpool in January. That means the Gunners have every chance to make up ground before the two sides meet at Stamford Bridge on Feb. 4.
Reinforcements are coming
No, we're not expecting Wenger to make any big signings in January. But Arsenal's squad will still get stronger after New Year with the return of injured players. Santi Cazorla could be back in early February, which would provide a massive boost going into the business end of the season. Danny Welbeck, when he returns, will provide another option for Wenger in attack and could provide even more pace and power on the wing to complement Alexis Sanchez up front. And Arsenal remain undefeated when Shkodran Mustafi is in the lineup, and the Germany centre-back should be back in January.
More to come from Xhaka and Perez
Then there's the fact that we probably haven't seen the best of summer signings Granit Xhaka and Lucas Perez yet. Xhaka seems to be finding his role now that he's getting regular playing time in Cazorla's absence, but Perez has remained a peripheral figure despite his Champions League hat trick at Basel. Together they represent more than £50 million worth of talent, and both should have more to offer in 2017 than they've shown so far.
Perez has already demonstrated both an eye for goal and an ability to set up goals for teammates despite his limited playing time. Now that he's fully recovered from an ankle injury, he should be desperate to prove his worth.
One loss doesn't make a trend
The Everton loss may have been damaging, but it was only Arsenal's second league defeat of the season. That's the same as Chelsea, Liverpool and Tottenham and one fewer than the two Manchester clubs. It's also one fewer than Arsenal had at this point last season, when they were top of the table after 16 rounds. So let's not get carried away.
Heading into this week, they were the only team in the league that had lost only once, and even that was on the opening day of the campaign against Liverpool when they weren't at full strength. So the suggestion that Everton exposed Arsenal's soft underbelly seems a bit unfair, or at least premature. It could have just been a bad day at the office, the likes of which have already been experienced by all their title rivals.
Alexis Sanchez, baby
Whether he will commit his future to the club remains unclear, but Alexis Sanchez remains a Gunner for now, and that means Arsenal can't be counted out against anyone.
Sanchez gives Arsenal the kind of top-class striker they've been craving for years. He's also the Premier League's joint top scorer with 12 goals so far. If that form continues, Arsenal's title hopes should remain intact until May. He's the type of forward who isn't overly reliant on getting service from his teammates, either: Sanchez is a one-man wrecking crew up front who can create his own opportunities by harassing defenders into making mistakes.
As long as Sanchez remains fit, Arsenal are a threat in any competition.