In August of last year, they lost their first three matches by a combined score of 9-0, including ultra-humbling ass-whoopings by Chelsea and City. There have been moments of progress and excitement that have been smothered by the need to blow their own toes off.
It wouldn't be a surprise if the most annoying person you know is still jumping up and down with joy at the beginning of the season. The risk is exciting, but the suspicion that the next step will plunge one into the icy depths still rules over all.
It's difficult to ignore the facts. Three games, three wins, nine goals for, only two against, and the only two that came after that match was pretty much decided. You couldn't ask for anything more.
New additions are leading the way. While signing Gabriel Jesus away from City was questioned by some, he never convinced anyone in Manchester that he could play as a center forward full-time.
You feel like you are being bullied. The game has been opened up by the three attackers behind Jesus because of his better touch and vision than Alex Lacazette.
Even as exciting as Jesus has been, and even as galvanizing as a talented forward with a point to prove, it is William Saliba in defense that has the faithful really purring. Their defense has been the story of the season so far. A lot of that has been done by Saliba. The show-stealer has been his passing, which has been as solid as can be. He completed all of his passes yesterday. Didn't lose one. He doesn't just knock the ball over to his defensive partner with every attempt on the season. He will sometimes do things like this for the sake of it.
When your teammates can't take it, you know you've done something.
He has been another buy. He is one of the most creative full backs in the world, and can also play in the middle, even though he never broke into the City team. In addition to being able to get the ball forward and into the opponent's box, he is also more proficient at rotating into the left-back spot than anyone else.
There are some things that may or may not happen. It's definitely true. Brendan Rodgers doesn't stop bitching and throwing his board under the bus when things start to go wrong, he's a Brendan Rodgers trait when things start to go wrong In their opener against Crystal Palace, they were on the back foot for a long time.
They've benefited from over half their shots on target finding twine, which won't continue, no matter how much of a gift Jesus may be. Their margins aren't as big as they might have looked because they aren't creating more chances or shots than they did last season. Mikail Arteta's teams don't press much on the field, keeping things low even.
It was in that low event style that they jumped forward. They have allowed fewer shots per game this season than they did last year. Ben White was allowed to shift out to the fullback to lock down that wing because of Saliba. Another factor is the health of Thomas Partey in the middle of the field.
If you want to pick at the soft opening to the schedule, it will stay that way. One of the other members of the top six will be Man United on October 1st. They will see several teams in that time, so they can accumulate points before the season starts.
There will be a flattening of the curve in the near future, according to the numbers. It might not be for a while, but the sun is going to be out for a long time.
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