Top four is minimum requirement for unpredictable Arsenal

FILE PHOTO: Jul 23, 2019; Landover, MD, USA; Arsenal forward Alexandre Lacazette (9) celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal on Real Madrid goalkeeper Keylor Navas (1) on a penalty in the first half of a match in the International Champions Cup soccer series at FedEx Field. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

LONDON (Reuters) - With one player on strike and two more forced to fight off knife-wielding attackers on a London street, nothing that unfolds this season can top Arsenal's close season for drama.

Try as manager Unai Emery might to present a boring narrative of steady progress, it is hard to avoid the conclusion that almost anything might happen next and probably will.