I'm sure if you're anything like me, you've been bored senseless at this latest international break.

The football on show is generally fairly tedious and all it does is make me nervous that members of our squad will come back with season-threatening injuries.

The sooner they return to Arsenal, the better.

However, I have enjoyed the fact that we've had a period where we've been able to enjoy being top without any risk of that changing.

Now though, we are dangerously close to the return of Premier League football and a potentially decisive fixture against Manchester City.

Having spent the past two weeks wishing for Arsenal to return, I'm now dreading it more than ever, writes Thomas Dow.

Arsenal are about to enter into the business end of the season, the part that will determine whether this side can make that step into greatness.

It's exciting and terrifying in equal measure.

Should we progress to the Champions League semi-finals, then we will face a gruelling 14 games between now and the end of the campaign.

It can be said with some certainty that Mikel Arteta is going to have to make use of his squad if we are to end the season with silverware.

Over the past months, we've seen rotation largely through necessity. Absences in defence have led to opportunities for Jakub Kiwor, while Leandro Trossard has deputised for both Gabriel Jesus and Gabriel Martinelli in attack.

Their respective stocks have risen throughout this time, and Arteta now has genuine options in both.

Now though, we are returning to action with an almost fully-fit squad. Jurrien Timber could well be the only continued absentee, with Takehiro Tomiyasu and Thomas Partey both edging closer to match fitness following a behind-closed-doors friendly against QPR during the break.

For the first time in a long while, Arteta has options.

Arsenal fans are going to have to get used to this idea of rotation.

There will be games that require a more sturdy tactical set-up, and that is likely to see Declan Rice partnered alongside either Jorginho or Partey.

However, there will be other times when Kai Havertz, Fabio Vieira or even Emile Smith Rowe could be utilised in the midfield.

In defence, Arsenal have availability that was missing for much of the campaign. Tomiyasu can play across the back line, while Oleksandr Zinchenko can be a pivotal player at left back against certain opposition.  

As supporters, we have an important job. It isn't to criticise and question the decisions of the manager. It is to back him.

Whoever steps foot onto that field needs to feel like they belong, and we can play a major part in that.

Changes to the line up will be done for a reason. It might be on the advice of the medical team, or perhaps a tactical alteration designed to surprise the opposition. Whatever those reasons though, we can't question them.

This has the potential to be a special season for the club.

We find ourselves in a title race and with a chance to overhaul the demons of the past 20 years.

Let's do this together. 

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