Has Arteta now made the complete Arsenal squad to lift the title – Are we there?

So I’m old enough to remember the last time we won the title.

Thierry Henry was at the peak of his powers, Bergkamp’s understanding with Pires and Ljungberg was sublime, Vieira, Gilberto and Campbell gave us a physical presence, etc.

The obvious names rightfully get the credit for the Invincible season. Yet you can’t win titles without a strong squad.

I remember thinking at the time, every Champion need an Edu and/or Ray Parlour.

These are not the first names that will come to Gooners minds when you think of the 2003/04 campaign and yet you can’t win trophies without them.

Injuries and suspensions meant that Parlour had a run with the captain’s armband, including in our famous 5-1 win in the San Siro.

Edu ended up scoring crucial goals at Anfield and Stamford Bridge.

It’s not apparent at the time but these contributions are the difference between success and failure.

Mr Wenger was able to select off his bench true professionals who were reliable, a solid 7/10 every week .

I was reminded of this at the weekend when, concerned that Ben White was on a yellow card , Mikel Arteta was able to replace him with the always consistent Tomiyasu.

Our Japanese right back is a rarity for a modern full back in terms of he seems to prefer defending to attacking. It means there are fixtures our manager will view that tactically suit him more than others.

With Tierney on the other side that’s two full backs currently not starting who you can trust to defend. Two talents who’s attitude you can’t question.

Like an Edu and Parlour it’s not the skillset that is crucial to the group, it’s the variety of skills.

Then you look at Trossard’s cameo appearance at the weekend. His touches in midfield, how he took the ball for a walk, composure when we really needed it.

An additional player for Man United to worry about running at them.

Eddie Nketiah meanwhile has chipped in with 6 goals since Jesus has been on the side-lines.

If Arsenal lift the title in May there will be more iconic names then the ones I just named, but without the squad players you don’t win titles.

Do we finally have the squad to be champions?

Dan Smith


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26 Comments

  1. Yes! From the look of things as related to all the match playing personnel in the current Arsenal first team this season. Definitely, Arsenal a very strong first team squad on ground that win the Premier League title this season. But is still one personnel short in a top quality holding midfielder to completely completed. Who can sort for to find this Jan window. And after found abduction signed this winter winter. The squad will become fully solidified with the new Dmf signing. And fully ready more than ever to launch a devastating onslaughts campaign against 18 Epl opponent teams to win the title this season. And will win lift the title trophy at season’s end unfailingly.

    1. This guy. I practically know it’s you everytime without having to look up the name. You have a certain way with words. 😅

  2. Plenty of defensive options, attack is looking better with ESR back and the signing of Trossard. Central midfield is where we’re really short of options.

    We have get central midfielder before the window closes.

  3. Yes! From the look of things as related to all the match playing personnel in the current Arsenal first team squad this season. Definitely, Arsenal has a very strong first team squad on ground that can win the Premier League title this season. But the squad is still one personnel short in a top quality holding midfielder to completely be completed. The new top quality holding midfielder if sort for at the transfer market in this Jan window can be found. And when found, signed and added to the squad. It will make it become fully solidified with the new added Dmf to it. And will be fully ready more than ever to launch a devastating onslaughts campaign against it’s 18 Epl opponent teams totts win the title this season. And will lift the title trophy at season’s end unfailingly.

  4. Agree you always need those players. Eddie/Tierney/Tomi/Trossard will be vital. You missed Vieira who has been underrated in his impact thus far IMO.

    Scary fact look at the ages of the players.

    Further worth remembering Parlour didn’t score that year in the league, he assisted 3. Vieira has a goal and an assist at halfway.

  5. Have we got a squad that can win the PL if we lose Partey and / or Xhaka?

    Let’s see at the end of this transfer window, but I believe we are nearly there.

  6. I think we do have the squad to win everything with the additions of Trossard and Kiwior. Every position is covered including Partey’s DM which Kiwior can cover as well. These group of players just need to maintain their quality level consistently. With a number of squad players out of contracts end of this season, further enhancements can be made. To make the squad more competitive. And the squad average age will get younger despite the fact that Arsenal is the youngest squad in the league. Well done.

  7. I think we need to wait and see until our game against City in Feb
    If we don’t loose then we are almost there

  8. We’ve got a title-contender squad, thanks to Kroenke, Arteta and Edu

    But I still feel we need someone like Giroud on the bench, because we won’t be able to always score from open play. I think the Manchester clubs realized that by signing Weghorst and Haaland

    1. Well said!

      Though, I can see MA using Nkeitah or Martinelli as a CF or box striker as needed with keeping ESR or Trossard on the left side.

      1. Thanks

        I think Arteta would keep Martinelli on the left wing and try Smith-Rowe in the CF position again. Smith-Rowe did it against Villareal in Spain

  9. I completely agree with the article. The Invincibles did not have a team, they had a squad. Wenger could 100% rely on his bench as he could rely on the starting XI. That said, I still feel the addition of 1-2 more players in this transfer window, specially in midfield and striker positions, could make our squad great. Arteta and the players are going in the right direction and long may it continue and we lift the title in May.

  10. Not quite there yet midfield is still a issue do not have the same quality to come in if partley gets injured and a out and out goalscorer jesus is not a number 9 yes you can use him there but he’s not going to get you 20 plus goals a season so would use him on the flanks like city did then have neiketia and another top class CF competing for that position!

  11. I am not yet comfortable with this Title winning talk.
    May be with 5-10 game to go then I might start believing. Still 18 or so games to go?

    Lets calm down a bit, we are challenging that’s for sure. But a long way to go. Lets not get too ahead of ourselves as the sqaud has not history of winning Title yet. Let’s take it step by step.

    1. Agree with goonster. We have to see game
      By game, long way to go. We still have big 4 matches – mancity, chelsea, liverpool. We cant afford to loose any of those. Why do I feel that not qualifying for european cups was a benefit for us this season. We dint have to play more games, our players have been fit and not much of injuries.

  12. Currently we have the strongest squad we have had in the last 10-15 years. The only missing piece is a competent backup for partey. Ideally someone young with huge potential which can cover for him in the future.

  13. What a change from a person, who didn’t believe, we would finish in top 4.
    I am glad you are asking it as a question. Please don’t start predicting.

    Anyway, my opinion is, we have been lucky to be able to start every game with 9-11 of the same players, and if we continue to be lucky in that respect, we have a very good chance.
    But the project is far from finished. We need to continue adding young players to be developed by Arteta and his team, so we can have a very strong 17-18 players to compete for both CL and PL glory in future years. That is what it is all about.

  14. Our squad is not as impressive or stronger than other top squads. It is the genius of the coach and clever signings of players who can execute his innovative tactics that is winning us the league.

    Mikel is on his way to probably become one of the few best in history.

  15. Life is forever changing. If we get a team that is “There”, it will not be “There”. Constant change needs a skillful master, and hopefully Arteta recognizes that and acts upon it. We certainly are not there yet. We need to, like Man City, keep staying on the top level and constantly improve. We need the athletic movement, dance football that infuses us with joy. We are getting there, but there is a long way to go….and with football the goal is is continuous and never really reached. Joyous football, magical football is what we can aspire to.

  16. the squad is just about complete. I think only thing missing is depth in Xhaka and Partey positions. If its true we want Rice in the summer and a CM/DM now, then we are looking very very good for the future.

  17. I believe we are still NOT complete in our set of back up players. The missing DM!!

    It seems that Partey has a knock. We have a little time, but if it turns out to be a serious injury, I think we will be in trouble!!!!

    I read that we are in for Caicedo from Brighton and that we have offered $60m.

    However, I see that Chelsea are also in for him (gazumping anyone).

    I have read of other candidates for back up DM, but Caicedo is Premier League ready.

    If we lose Caicedo to Chelsea I will really start to worry!!!!!

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