As there is with every season, there’s talk about whether Arsene Wenger has prepared Arsenal enough over the course of the summer, to be ready for a strong start at the beginning of the campaign. As this year again proved, Arsenal didn’t start things off as they would’ve wished. However after three consecutive wins in the Premier League, things seem to be back on track and Arsenal are no longer trailing far behind the leaders so early into the new campaign.
There’s been a little bit of talk in the media this past week about Arsenal’s chances of going on to win the Premier League this year, in what seems likely to be the EPL’s most competitive campaign yet. Although it is still early on, so many teams look like they could win it and even though Manchester City seem to be running away with it a little so early on in the season, anything can of course change and Arsenal could be in with a shot.
Former Gunner and Arsenal legend Freddie Ljungberg has been speaking about the club’s chances for the title this season and he seems to share the same positivity that others have shown so far this year. When questioned about if Wenger is still the right man to lead Arsenal towards getting their hands on the trophy, Ljungberg said: “He’s shown he’s a great manager and I think he’s been restricted a bit on the financial side in the past. They were second last year and this year hopefully we can win it. I think some people wanted some signings in the summer but everyone knows English clubs have a lot of money at the moment and if you ask for a player they raise the prices. He managed to get the players in the end.”
As Ljungberg suggests, although it was a frustrating summer for Arsenal fans when it came to new signings, Wenger did eventually get the players he wanted. Albeit they may not have been the club’s first choice signings, but they are still players that will undoubtedly help Arsenal achieve more than would’ve been possible without them. Personally for the amount of money Wenger has spent, I think he’s done very well to get the calibre and strength of players that he has bought. Xhaka looks like a cracking deal for the price paid and if Arsenal are to go on to challenge for the league, I think the midfielder will be pivotal to our success. Mustafi looks strong at the back and will prove to be vital in what we can hope to be a stronger and more disciplined back line, whilst Lucas Perez will be looking to be the striker Arsenal fans have been hoping for.
Ljungberg still works at Arsenal, coaching the Under 16’s team, so he is still in and around the club and its first team officials. Hopefully Freddie has a good insight of what this team is capable this season and with the right balance, I think Arsenal could certainly push onto competing all season long, in what will be a very hard fought campaign.
By AH