Do Arsenal really have no chance of winning the Premier League?

Let’s be honest we are all very excited about Unai Emery taking over at Arsenal, and are longing for the Spaniard to make us into proper contenders again, but are we simply expecting too much in Emery’s first season? Accoroding to the Gunners legend Nwanko Kanu, we need to keep our feet firmly on the ground. ‘If it happens and they win the league, it’s a miracle,’ Kanu said.

‘It takes time for the newcomers, the new signings, to adapt. We have to allow time for him to bring his own style and the way he wants to play.’

‘For the new manager, it’s going to be a very big challenge; the fans want them to perform in the league in his first year, which is always difficult for a new coach,’

‘It’s a very big club – coming into a big club you need a trophy, so if you don’t win the league, you need to win the others. It’s hard, but that’s what you expect of a coach of that stature and a big club.’

‘He’s been signing new, good players. They’re more defensive and not allowing goals, which is good,’

‘They have to know how to win games, even if it’s 1-0. All they need is the three points.’

Would it really be a ‘miracle’ if we won the League straight away? Yes we have brought in five new players, but surely they will be integrated slowly into a team that has been together for years. I’m not so sure I like the idea of being pessimistic!

Sam P

42 Comments

  1. Don’t worry Kanu we are use to disappointments, no disrespect to Emery realistically I don’t think no one is expecting Arsenal to win the EPL our best expectation is to win the EC and get back in the top four of the EPL and Emery to build the team within two seasons to realy chalang for top spot

    1. As long as Emery can bring Arsenal back to a top four position with stylish/ entertaining performances from the team, I will be happy

  2. Kanu is realistic if we take a look at our squad. Arsenal could achieve a top four position, but it is going to be difficult to get the Premier League title

    Pros:

    – As a newcomer in EPL, Emery could come up with new strategies that his competitors are clueless about

    – We have many hungry young players that could hopefully bench some of demotivated senior players

    – There are good internal competitions for all positions, e.g. Aubameyang vs Lacazette, except for Ozil’s position (CAM/ playmaker)

    Cons:

    – Unlike Ranieri and Conte, Emery doesn’t inherit good defense

    – The abilities of some senior players have gone down due to aging process or lack of motivation (because some of them have won major trophies and have got big long term contracts from Arsenal)

    – No player is able to split the defense of the opponents with through balls or runs/ dribbles consistently

  3. It would be entirely unexpected. But, with new personnel and decent tactics a surprise is possible if a very good start is made. I have a feeling that Lichtstiener is going to be more influential than anticipated. However, a good showing, determination and togetherness are more likely to get a top four.

  4. comparing arsenal to other teams winning the league is simply impossible.
    the best hope is fa cup and if we cansurprise othe teams maybe the el.

  5. Obviously its too early to say how strong the other teams will be this year, but I think that getting fourth is a realistic objective for Emery’s first year. We lost sufficient points to teams that finished below us in the league last year (10 points against the bottom four alone,) that it should be achievable.

    Having said that, I do think there are still too many weaknesses in the team for us to do well against the other top teams, and that is what would be required to win the league.

    I expect the team to be much stronger after a year training under Emery, so, with Champioins League football to offer and a number of smart transfers next summer, I think Arsenal may be in a position to genuinely compete in the 19/20 season.

    It isnt impossible for Arsenal to win the league this year, its just very unlikely.

  6. It’s match day! Torreira time!

    The defence is a little worrying, not sure about Sokratis. Anyway anything is possible, the league hasn’t started yet.. I’m backing the team for a good season, maybe even a trophy ? COYG

  7. If we look at Liverpool’s owners vs ‘Greedy Stan Kroenke’ it becomes clear that Arsenal start with a handicap. It seems Unai Emery is a fine coach and Mislintat a real spotter of players. Kroenke however will not spend his money. He holds many clubs, mostly in America, and has a massive American project in LA. He will not spend liquid assets at Arsenal even though Arsenal have them. Can Emery win the league….yes, proved at PSG. Can Kroenke win the league….no, proved over the years of his ownership. He is a cheapskate in the longer overall pattern of football and we will always be 2 top players short of a league challenge. It should not be legal to own 5 major clubs between the UK and the States. He is the biggest liabilty Arsenal have. Support the team, Emery and Mislintat fully. The board though are a bunch of clowns with an owner who has no love like we do for our beloved team. You cannot turn a sow’s ear into a silk purse. Kroenke is Arsenal’s nightmare.

      1. No arguments with those comments at all.Our problem will be if Usminov sells his shares to Kronke giving him full ownership.If he hasn’t put his hands in his own pockets to date then there is no chance of it happening if he owns the Club outright.
        But then again it was said Wenger could never be removed and the fan base made that happen.If it comes to it then Kronke will soon get what Wenger and the Board got last season and look who won that battle

  8. Guys no matter how some view the club, we are still a top club. Realistically it looks impossible but I feel we have chance to win it if we set or mind and hearts towards it. Leicester never believed they could win the league but realising the opportunity they had a will and they found a way. we can and throw this top four bs in to the dustbins. we can!

  9. if we can strengthen our defense then its a yes we can win the title

    our firepower and playmakers are world class quality

  10. Now that Sead Kolasonac is out injured for 10wks.Ia it not a good idea to sign someone who could cover for Monreal and replace him come next season??

  11. YES. Kanu is correct.
    Torreira is not enough to fix our problems but is a huge step in the right direction.
    We don’t have a top CB like Koscielny used to be.

    At the moment City, Liverpool, Spurs and United are butter than us
    City will be stronger with Mahrez
    Liverpool will be stronger with Keita, Fabinho, Allison and Shaqiri
    Spurs, United will be same as last Season unless they get a big signing.

    Even Top 4 will be a challenge
    I think our problems in defense will cost us at the end of the season unless Emery corrects it

  12. Reading all the above comments as to the handicaps of winning the league Arsene Wenger didn’t do too bad did he? 19 times in the top four. 3 FA cups in four seasons 7 FA cup wins in all. More than any other manager in history. Take a look at the famous back four goal leaks in GG’s last season when we ended up 12th!

    The fans back then really did have something to complain about.

    1. the problem with wenger was the way he asses the needs of the team. Emery brought a cb and dmf who are what the team needed the most last season. Wenger problem is always looking for available players and not assessing our problems.

      1. Please:
        1) Look at Arsene Wenger pre Kroenke and post Kroenke. Wenger should have stood up and supported David Dein’s vision for the Arsenal, rather than turning into an apologist for the Board; and
        2) Look at the quality of defensive players and mid field Arsene Wenger (plus Dennis Bergkamp) inherited from George Graham and Bruce Rioch, to what he has left for Unai Emery. No comparison.

        1. In GGs last season with GG’s back miracle defensive four we ended up 12th not 6th not 7th not 8th not 9th not 10th not 11th but 12th six places lower. That is how bad the defense was that was left to all who followed GG.

          Last season our home defense was good but we were let down by our away defense. I don’t deny that but we were still good enough to come 6th not 12th.

        2. wenger offered to resign but dein told him to stay…

          he left a team full of midfielders and a very power attacking duo laca and auba….but a very poor defense

  13. ITS OFFICIAL!!!!
    Iwobi has signed a new contract.
    Emery confirmed it
    And Akpom is off to PAOK

    Now the Ramsey, Welbeck, Perez, Campbell situations need to be sorted. Sold or sign or loan?

  14. I hope the rumour of VIDA are true
    We need to strengthen our defense

    If we got Dembele and Vida we could win the Title

  15. Arsenal have the capacity in top quality senior players at the Ems on ground already with one more top quality addition being expected this summer and 5 Arsenal Academy graduate top quality senior and junior players in Iwobi, AMN, Nketiah, Nelson and Rowe(thanks to Monsiuer Arsene Wenger) to win the Premier League Title next season’s campaign.

    Therefore, let’s us stop be littleling Arsenal and Unai Emery with a top 4th finish in the PL next season talks. But challenge Emery to in his first season at the club to lead the Gunners to the PL Title win next season. And also as an early prelude to the PL Title win, let him lead Arsenal to a League Cup win which the club missed winning it last season to lose to it Man City in the final match at Wembley. Arsenal who have not won the League Cup for over 20 years but have won the FA Cup thrice in the last 5 seasons should in next season be more hungry to win the PL Title and the League Cup in my opinion than to be hungry for the FA Cup win. And of course an Europa League Cup win by Arsenal next season will be a big bonus.

    1. Yeah-interesting you thank Wenger for those four young players.Do we also thank Wenger for
      Else you
      Mustafi
      Xhaka
      Iwobi
      Sanogo
      Senderos
      Jhorou
      Schillachi
      Silvestre
      Santos
      Etc etc etc etc etc

      1. Phil, you can do that with every club and every manager, every one of them. Difference is other clubs scrape it under the carpet by getting the checkbook out. At least you can’t thank Wenger for a De Bruyne and Salah brain fart.

        1. No arguments here BoT-I just can’t have remarks praising Wenger for the (hopefully)breakthrough of some young talent(at last) when Wengers track record in the transfer market in his final decade was tarnished by him bringing in some absolute rubbish..
          And Mourinho will forever have to live with his decision on KdB and Conte with Salah.

      2. Phil not part of the agenda. I’m sure Ivan Gazidis bought those players and even forced Wenger to play them.
        Even Wenger himself said he stayed too long at Arsenal, but some people won’t let it go. He was out of ideas, out of tactics, and eventually out of a job.

        1. Hi Durand-I’m not too sure about Gazidis buying those players and forcing Wenger to play them.If that’s true let’s hope he takes them to AC Milan if he goes there and gives us our money back

        2. You seriously think that Gazidis picked Wengers team? That is what your post said. Sorry, but I thought you were much brighter than that! I agree with many of your posts and with the last two sentences you wrote. But to state that Gazidis picked the team is plain wrong and I think you know that very well. So why say it then?

  16. realistically, can we boast a stronger first team than citeh, man u, or lpool do? i think not; however based on the lineups we can put out onto the pitch there’s little between london’s bigger football teams. If it’s a london derby i come to expect arsenal to win – the only period this wasn’t the case was when chelski had drogba, seems he made the difference back then.

    so long as our midfield and central-defenders remain far off from being a full quality contingent with back-up then this 2019 EPL title will remain a bridge too far. It appears we are closer to what is a domestic knock-out cup and europa league side until its proven otherwise.

    1. 2018/19 season if we’re to be contenders: we have to find players that can make a difference; find players to equal the likes of kante, hazard, salah, mane, de broyne, aguero, silva, ottemendi, kane, ali, eriksen, pogba, alexis, matic, willian, sane, even vardy, Fact is that anytime we ever mention leicester city lifting the epl – is that same time we botched it up when we were meant to wrap it up – instead we lost the edge, lost the will and allowed matters to slip from our grasp.

  17. Sam P, the problem over optimistic folk have is that they confuse REALISM with PESSIMISM. I believe that sensible supporters are helping our club more by being REALISTIC about where we are now and what we need to do to improve, than by fooling themselves that we are better than we are. We are clearly NOT going to seriously challenge for the title this season. Sober analysis of our strengths and weaknesses compared to our several rivals will easily show that as truth. However great a coach is he cannot make silk purses from so many sows ears. Wenger left many of those behind and with the window closing in a few days, it is obvious that many of that deadwood will have to play key roles in the team this season. Emery will need a realistic several windows to fully get his own entire preferred squad, esp with the stingy owner we have. I firmly believe we will much close the enormous points gap we had last season , 37 points behind City. With a fair wind we have a chance of fourth place and a domestic trophy or Europa Cup. That is REALISM and is what I ALWAYS PREACH. I WISH MANY MORE DID LIKEWISE AND WERE THUS ACTIVELY SUPPORTING OUR CLUB FROM A POSITION OF HONESTY , RATHER THAN EXCITABLE , ILL THOUGHT OUT HYPE.

    1. @John Fox – as ever i appreciate (and welcome) your considered input on this forum. Were it not for Realists we’d still have the AKB brigade confusing progress with regress along with the illusion things remain better as they currently are. Its good to know some fans (here) don’t wish to impose mediocrity on the arsenal, neither do we endorse arrested development, stagnation or any state of decline.

      1. waal2waal, Nice comments and I’m grateful for fellow realists speaking the truth. But we are far from alone on here . Trouble is , I think many who only read these posts but generally do not themselves post, are also realists. i am not against the excitable hype brigade just because they let their fantasies run away with their brains but BECAUSE those fantasies help breed unrealistic, unobtainable expectations in certain types of fan and this heaps unneeded presure on our club , thus causing us harm. And those who harm our club are our foes and need challenging and defeating, just as we finally defeated WENGERS LONG UNWELCOME OVERSTAY. They are too daft to realise the harm they do but they are still harming the club and must be stopped. ONE DAY THEY MAY GROW UP BUT IN THE MEANTIME THEY HARM ARSENAL. LIKE SO MANY YOUNGSTERS DO, THEY TAKE TELLING OFF PERSONALLY AND DO NOT SEE THE WIDER PICTURE OR THE REASON THAT I CHALLENGE THEM, WHEN THEY HYPE.

  18. Do we have a chance to win the EPL? Yes, however I think at the current time it is a slim chance, given the fact that we have a new manager, albeit a good one, who was limited by a fairly low budget with to make changes that he wanted, and the fact that the club did not have a good defense last season. The players are still adjusting to the way Emery wants them to play, especially the high press which is essential to Emery’s strategy. This team is a long way from mastering that tactic and it may take a several games before they are there. I think top 4 is a realistic, but difficult task. I think that Emery is still trying to determine who his best 11 will be. I think this game today will give us some indications of who he thinks that is. Also, I think Emery knows he needs some new players to put this team where he wants it, and next summer I think he will make some more changes to get this team to the level where the chances are better to win the EPL.

  19. Winning the prem shouldn’t even be mentioned. It’s beyond achievable with the players we’ve got.
    Making it into top 4 will be a miracle of its own. To make that happen, we need the spuds and CSKA London to have a really bad transfer window and generally bad seasons if we’re ever thinking of making it into the top four. I believe fifth is achievable, but that’s about it. Come 2019 we’ll know whether or not top 4 is realistic or not. From what I’ve seen in the friendlies, we’re not going to have a good time against the bigger teams. Our defense is as suspect as ever. MAYBE Torreira will help us enough to win an odd game or two against the likes of the last year’s top 5 clubs. And MAYBE some of the loose gooses in the defense will actually come to their senses and commit fewer mistakes than what I fear they will.

  20. I think we have better chance of winning the EPL than LCFC when they did.
    It is a lot to expect but it isn’t too much to HOPE for.

    We all should HOPE to win the EPL, even if they know it is too much right now… Shouldn’t stop us hoping to win it.

    If the team performs then they can feed that hope.

    If we are all negative from day one then I feel sorry for the players, if the fans do not have hope in them then what’s the point? Why is this club worth it?

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