Why Arsenal Will Challenge For The Title. by Adewole oluwafemi peter
Hello Gooners all over, i can barely contain my excitement as we look forward to another season of Premier league football, what a wait it has been!
But i believe we can all agree that the club has given us a lot of things to be happy about even in the boring summer. Although, the world cup was always on hand to fall back on for most of us on here (Unless you are Chief Jon of course…). We still had a great summer as far as Arsenal is concerned if you consider our usually slow, reactive and panic-buying history.
But the dust is gradually settling and the new season is now just around the corner, and i think we can really challenge for the title for the following reasons;
World Cup exertions
Most of rivals had a lot of their stars in the world cup with some even getting to the latter stages of the competition. Teams like the City, United, Spurs and Chelsea are not complete or ready enough for the new season which leaves us, Liverpool and perhaps one other surprise package or “early season rush” team to fight it out! Make no mistake, Liverpool have upgraded an already strong team, they have stability, they are formidable and should be installed as favorites.
For us, we have one player in defence, four in midfield, and one in attack in the world cup, and most of them have re-joined the group. Apart from being affected by the world cup, Chelsea are far from a stable team at the moment on and off the pitch. Man United do not look formidable to me, Mourinho is not happy and this is his third season (you know what that means). Yes, we are also a team in transition, but we have done everything quick and fast that it is almost like nothing changed.
New Belief
I think it is obvious to everyone that the players are in high spirit, everyone is falling in line with Emery’s philosophy of hard work, even his gruelling training sessions have been welcomed by the players who are trying to impress their coach and be in his good books, the fans are generally happy which will remove the dull and toxic atmosphere around the club and boost players performances.
Unpredictability
Everyone and his dog can usually predict a typical Arsenal formation, matchday squad and even the entire season, our time of good form, our period of capitulation and all. But with Emery, there is surely an unpredictable element now, even we the fans don’t know what to expect, which is a nice change! We have a manager that adapts his team to his opponents, one who is not afraid to change one or two things, scouting of opposition teams, what more can we ask for!
The only predictable thing now is Ramsey getting injured.
No Pressure of Expectations
Simply put, our away form destroyed our season last time out. We had arguably our worst season in recent years, so Emery being a debutant coach in England and the fact that we are experiencing our own transition should give Emery a little breathing space as he settles in.
Emery Out to prove a point
Upon his appointment, it was said about Emery that he is not good with the league and that he is a Cup specialist. Well, that may be true, but even the current Barcelona coach wouldn’t have won the league had he not signed for Barca, who is to say Emery wouldn’t win the same league with the same team? At PSG, he lost the league to Monaco in his first season despite having the best team, but there are rumours certain players in the dressing room were not willing to follow his philosophy, but that wont be the case with us Emery is aware of this, he is hungry, he is out to prove a point!
All in all, i think we can summarize Emery’s overall task as thus; maintain our home form and improve our away form, do that and we are on our way to the top.
COYG!
Goonerboy…
nope
I agree with this post, all valid points why we can challenge but the reason why we won’t win is the defence. Unai emery has improved us defensively and we will improve more but having the likes of mustafi, holding, bellerin, chambers, kolasinac and xhaka who are all liable to defensive errors due to lapses in concentration and awareness will cause us to come short of winning the league. I think this season will give emery the full picture of players he needs to keep and those he needs to sell so we can challenge to win the league next season but i am still excited for the coming season and i will gladly take a fourth place and europa league win. COYG
I agree,
Individually, our defence does not fill one with confidence but, i am hoping that as UNIT, we can manage, now that there is a certain attention to defending…am optimistic!
I think the new level of discipline being injected into the team will do a lot to address the now familiar scene of unforgivable defensive errors caused by lack of concentration. I believe Emery can make Xhaka the kind of player Sunday Oliseh of Nigeria was in his playing days. Mustafi, Welbeck and Iwobi should be sold this summer.
nice one .I just can’t wait for d new season to begin
Yes. For me, the main reason is the surprise element
Ranieri and Conte came with a completely different strategies, therefore they were able to surprise many of their competitors. The same strategies lost the surprise factors in their second season though
Wenger used to surprise many teams with his 3-4-2-1 formation at the end of the 2016/2017 season, but it was anticipated in the next season. From the pre-season matches, I noticed Emery tried 4-3-3, 4-2-3-1 and sometimes 3-4-3
I hope Emery will continue with his policy of playing Aubameyang and Lacazette together. To date, I am yet to understand why Wenger refused to unleash them on opponents together.
Interesting article, nice and clear points… The season will be a long and tough one. Let’s hope we start with a big bang against City and Chelsea
Eddie my brother,
Thanks…..I dont know why am so confident we will beat City, i really think we stand a very good chance.
Mahrez is now injured, they cant be at full strength when we meet.
nope
Oh how I love this article!! COYG & hand out some thrashings against Liverpool, United, Chelsea & those spuds ?
Exactly how I see the situation in every respect.
The community shield game will also see our first two opponents going at each other hammer and tongs, another chance to assess them for Emery.
Of course I hope there won’t be any injuries or red cards, but you never can be sure in this ‘friendly’!
OT It’s being reported that Sanchez salary is £505 thousand a week.
Where does our media get these figures from?
I couldn’t imagine being paid that much every week!!!
Sue,
The thrashings are long overdue and we hand it to them, starting with City….
I sure hope so! Although my oldest daughter is a man city fan, so they can score 1 but we’ll score 3!!
How did you allow that Sue.
I think if Unai can see the team needs changing we won’t have to wait for the 70th minute.
Haha not really sure Kenny!!
Chuba Akpom will not be joining Sint Truiden anymore because of his high wage demands.Fee was agreed but personal terms could not be agreed.He’s now nearing a move to PAOK.
Ospina is close to joining Besiktas despite interest from Boca Juniors who have already been pipped to him.
We are very interested in Dembele and will continue to monitor his situation.As I said it will take £75m-£85m to buy him.
Lucas Torreira joins us on July 30th.
Why not Leon Bailey or Kingsley Coman? Dembele is expensive and overrated in my opinion.
Dembele could click immediately with Aubameyang and Mkhitaryan, but I don’t think Arsenal would be willing to splash that amount of money for him
Arsenal would most likely chase someone much cheaper like Adama Traore
I thought Adama Traore was off to Wolves?End product and decision making are lacking.Very very hard for to turn it around completely at this stage of his career unless he was showing signs of good end product as a teenager e.g Nketiah.
That’s why I don’t believe a player like Iwobi can ever have that end product and decision making fans want him to have.Its part of a player’s talent so if you don’t have it you don’t have it.
Personally I wanted Lozano over everyone but Sven and co have different ideas.
Not yet
His lack of end product and decision making could be mitigated by Emery, because they are both Spanish and Emery has good experience with young players
Adama Traore is a selfish young player, but he is one of La Masia’s most skillful graduates, very quick when dribbling and very athletic
Doubt it tbh.It just doesn’t work like that.Most of the fault if not all is on the player.Very very hard for him to turn it around unless he always had it in him or was showing signs of it as a youngster.Its all part of a player’s talent so let’s see but I doubt it.
Kev I prefer Leon Bailey over Traore; just never really been impressive. More lacking in his game than positives, in my opinion.
Lozano would be fantastic as well, has good facets to his game.
@kev – have you any joined-up thinking with the recent reports that dembele remains very much part of barca’s plans?
Those reports are all normal.I didn’t expect anything different.Even their president comes out and say a they won’t sell all those things must be said so that it will look like they won’t sell.
As I said,it would take around £75m-£85m for them to sell.
I think we are freeing up wages with the sales of Ospina,Akpom and co so that should he really become available the salary won’t be a problem.Of course we also gain some funds from selling too.
..on another note what value (if any) would you attach to the following reports:- Arsenal are believed to be one of a number of clubs interested in the highly-rated Watford midfielder Abdoulaye Doucoure? reason I ask because we don’t just buy stars we make them too – and for considerably less than £85m…
As far as I’m concerned Arsenal were very very interested in Doucoure at the very very early stages of the transfer window.In fact there was a point where reports and media made it look imminent that we’d be signing him but after the signing of Torreira, Nzonzi is the other central midfield option we were looking at.
I’m tempted to believe this is all made up by the media because they feel Arsenal need a tall player with some bite due to Torreira’s height.
Until a CM is sold I’m not buying this rumour.
@Kev why would Barca sell Dembele for £75 mill or £85 mill, when they bought him 12 months ago for £135.5 mill? Spoofer.
Our attack is lethal,need to sort defense though…Emry is looking to bring the confidence back.
Hi Pires-how are you?Its been a while since you and I have “debated” issues.Im I bit like you in that we will always score goals but it’s how we perform defensively that we must be concerned about.Emery seems to know what he is doing and if the reports regarding the training sessions are correct then it seems the players are buying into the work ethic the manager demands.My big concern is the lack of pace we have at Centre Back.But with Torreira to protect the back Four/Five this will at least give us a defensive shield we have not had for far too long.
It’s certainly a tough start with City (who WILL have all their top players on the pitch)and Chelsea away (who will always be tough to beat at their own ground).And WHU will be no pushovers with Pelligrini in charge.
We will soon find out after those three games how we will be set up defensively and it will be a good pointer for the season ahead.
If we manage to win those three games, the rest of the league will know we are back!
the defence is still shaky. bellerin is still far from the one we know; chambers and holding for the moment seems shaky; the greek papandoupolis hope i spelt it wright, still to impress. mustafi and kolasinac are not at their best. hope that with the introduction of torreira and leichsteiner and maybe xhaka we will improve. gooner = forever
Good observation, i can’t wait to watch EMERY EMIRATES.
Reminds me of the spurs fans who claim similar things, and i am not even sure if we are superior to them.
with mourinho having a meltdown and chelsea a little late with their planning with the conte/sarri debacle it shows how smooth of a transition we have made this summer. Team is looking good and wanting to impress. No more favourite players treatment, opposition scouting and tactical changes now a real thing, the future is more promising.
I have followed the article very carefully and wish to state that I concur with the writer on many issues. I strongly feel that our team has been reinforced in the weak areas such as the defence and midfield positions as follows: We recruited a new GK in the person of Bernd Leno; we have a new CB Sokratis Papastathouplous; there is a new RB called Stephan Lichsteiner who is also the Swiss national captain; we have a midfield maestro Lucas Torreira whose outstanding performance many of us witnessed in the world cup; there is a surprise package in form of Matteo Guendouzi who has taken our preseason matches by storm. I guess many of our fans don’t believe that these are good signings because they haven’t cost astronomical amounts of money. To such people players are like commodities whose worth is commensurate with the purchase price! Nothing can be further from the truth. Getting good players largely depends on an efficient scouting system and good negotiating skills. You may spend a lot of money and end up with average players if you don’t do due diligence. How much money did Leicester spend to get the team of 2015-16 which was a world beater? Conversely how much has Man U spent in the last three years and what are the results? I strongly feel that Arsenal is now in position to stand up to any team due to the reasons that the writer has ably enumerated and the spirit that Unai Emery has instilled into the team. I was greatly impressed to see the ease with which the boys played against two big teams in the preseason matches in Singapore. Much as some people may argue that it was only a friendly, it goes a long way to show the new confidence our players now have. Let us wait to see the new season but the future is bright.
An excellent post ,David!
David, agree totally. The things that have impressed me during off season have been the intensity and variation of training and the involvement of Emery and his assistants, the practicing of skills, such as shooting and heading for goal and the display of enjoyment, comradeship, harmony and team building in the squad. All very positive.
“To such people, players are like commodities whose worth is commensurate with the purchase price!”
There is an old saying that such people “know the price of everything and the value of nothing’ which fits very well with your comment. Not just football, but all walks of life.
Im excited to see our main team play. Im hoping it will be something like this
…………………………….Cech
Lichtsteiner..Koscielny …Mustafi…Kolsanic
………………..Torreira….Guendouzi
Aubameyang……Mkhitaryan ………OZIL
……………………….. Lacazette
The defence is a worry … It will I think be
Bellerin Socrates mustafi Monreal
But even if he goes with lichsteiner and Kolasinac there is no combo that looks really solid … Better teamwork maybe but it’s gotta be a source of concern esp against fast attacks
I think you’re right……… the defence doesn’t fill me with confidence, but we’re ok in the midfield and attacking departments……… my preference would be Chambers and Mavropanos for CBs, then Bellerin and Kolasinac for fullbacks………. they don’t look that convincing, but I feel they’re our best options for now……. it’ll be good for Holding to go to an EPL team on loan, I think he has the potential to be a very good CB, but his chances would probably be limited this season……… our best case scenario for our CB problem is for Sokratis and Mustafi to turn into confident beasts of CBs, but it just seems unlikely…. we could be hopeful though.
The one sure thing is that the defense, which will be combination of Swiss, Spanish, Greek, German, English and Bosnian Herzogovian internationals (that is should be competent individuals) will be coached by Unai Emery and his assistants. I even look forward to seeing Steve Bould’s influence unleashed by Emery to bring back historical Arsenal defending.
Hopefully we will see a defense that is tactically aware, disciplined and well coached as a unit, to vastly improve on last season’s abyssmal away record.
COYG
Where is Ramsey?
Many things, compared to last season, that I can predict with great confidence is that we will be far more hungry, dynamic, physically able, enthusiastic, quicker passing, more forward passing (by far), an absence of the CBs constantly snail like passing back and forth to each other 4,5 or 6 times before slowly crossing the halfway line with the ball(This was usually when Kos and Merts played as CB’s but others did it too). We will make subs when they are needed, not always at the 70th minute. We will not constantly play central midfield players as wingers nor natural attacking players as wing backs/ full backs. We will NOT be constantly bullied in away games and be embarrassed by our players. We will have a coach directing and coaching from the sidelines and not fiddling with his coat zip. We will have a far more honest assessment of the team to the press after the game and an end to ludicrous lame excuses. Emery WILL, rather than WILL NOT “see it.” We fans will , finally, be respected and valued by the manager and others in the regime(though NOT Kroenke nor Sir Chips). The ground will be full and fans aching to get in, rather than stay away out of anger and sheer frustration. I don’t know where we will finish BUT I would stake my life on us gaining far more points than last season and being far more successful. This is a realistic assessment, based as ever from me , on sober, mature and non- biased assessment of all our strengths and weaknesses(which ALL clubs have).
JF-You and I must arrange to meet up for a pint one game don’t you think?Especially after your self imposed exile is about to come to an end.I can actually feel your excitement mate.It shows through in the optimistic comments you have been writing that your glad to finally be back where you both long and belong to be.
Good to have you back mate
??jon, and hopefully a back four that don’t play around at the back, but reef the ball up field to safety. The sideline can be your friend.
Ozzie, Steve Bould, when a player was never afraid to use Row Z and I would have him, with Adams, in my best ever Arsenal eleven.
Phil , Great idea. I first have to arrange a match ticket as I have no season ticket now. Will advise of when possible, on here.
OT. @kev Is the interest in Leon Bailey genuine?
Ramsey to Chelsea gaining momemtum, i hope it happens quickly, the blue shirt will suit him nicely!
Not happening.As I said player already has verbal agreement like Wilshere but yet to honour it i.e sign it.
Yes.But if it comes between us and Chelsea he’ll pick Chelsea.Hes known to like Chelsea very much.
You still have reason to be excited because we are very very interested in Dembele.This is your usual media talk.Im telling you we are interested in the guy.
Kev eagerly awaiting news of Ramsey transfer AWAY. Fingers double crossed, incense burning, karma on the positive side.
Durand, Ramsey and his manager are mucking Arsenal around; time to sell and bring in replacement.
Ramsey should go we don’t need him anymore
why do we pile on these unrealisitc expectations? This article would not have been written if we lost to PSG. Why are we getting so carried away folks?
RSH Did you discuss with the writer before he wrote this article? Why do you imagine that this article was a result of the PSG game? How about the one against Atletico for we drew that one despite the loss in penalty shootout? I believe what has impressed many objective Gooners is the way Arsenal has handled the two friendly games against Atletico and PSG. The results of these games are really not important but the way our team has played. Nobody is carried away at all; it is only that you are refusing to believe that our team can improve. I don’t know if you are one of those who believe that certain things are static, that we can’t catch up because the teams which finished above us last season have reinforced their squads. This is a new season. Last season’s results are not carried over into the new season. A number of dynamics will determine the winner this season and fortunately history is not one of them.
Players will like to impress their new boss and try had to strengthen their position because under this new manger, the room fr competition is open. I c winning in our first clash at the epl
Interesting article, nice and clear points… The season will be a long and tough one. Let’s hope we start with a big bang against City,Chelsea & Liverpool.
Another reason we can win is the upcoming Afcon. With Liverpool the team most likely to be affected the most while we only have Elneny to lose
AFCON now holds in the summer so no issues for Liverpool’s lethal African contingent.
Lichtsteiner is a huge upgrade on Bellerin
Torreira is a huge upgrade on Xhaka/Ramsey and
Mavropanos is obviously a super upgrade on all our defenders.
Only powerful winger like Coman and midfield general like Kovacic or Banega are missing.
If our summer business is done, then we can offset the gaps by playing 3-5-2 formation.
Leno
Mustafi……………Mavropanos………………..Sokratis
Lichtsteiner……Torreira……Mkitaryan…….Kolasinac
Ozil
Lacazette…………………..Aubameyang
This squad is strong enough for the Epl trophy since our strengths will be in powerful defence, wing-backs, and attack. Torreira and Mkitaryan are the only midfielders who are good off the ball.
Let’s keep our optimism in check so as not to be disappointed when results don’t go our way.
The early signs are encouraging despite the ‘stagnant’ reactive defence. Socratis is an experienced head but is not the game reader Mertersacker was. Defenders like Mustafi, Socratis and Kocielny need a match reader to coordinate adequately and sniff out danger before it occurs.
Hi, have been following up with happenings here. My first comment here tho.
A happy Gunner
I’m optimistic we will do well next season because have addressed our problematic areas – goal keeping, defense, midfield.They are not top class signings but are good acquisitions and will significantly improve our team. No panic buying means the manager had planned already Unai’s appointment has raised the morale amongst players, the atmosphere from supporters is good either , so I wont be surprised if we exceed our expectations next.