In the build up to Arsenal´s second league game of the season this weekend, and with last weekend´s defeat to West Ham surely in his mind, Arsene Wenger has suggested that the fight for the Premier League trophy is likely to be even harder than usual, prompting the question whether this would help of hinder Arsenal´s chances.
In a way this question is like when some Arsenal fans complain about the way the Premier League fixtures fall and others point out that every team has to play every other one home and away at some point. But I still think that the fixture list can help some teams, although it is purely a matter of luck.
Wenger´s point, as reported by Arsenal.com, is that the increasing strength in depth of all the clubs, not just our main rivals, makes every game a tougher and potentially closer contest.
The Frenchman said, “It will certainly be a tighter and tougher league because the quality of teams in the lower half of the table has improved.
“I believe in every game… what gives you a good indication is if you look at the bench of the team you play against, and when you look at the teams in the second part of the table and you look at their benches, it indicates that you will have tough games.
“I never had many easy matches in my life but it is always getting more difficult, that’s true.”
When you look at where the Gunners have been strong in the last few years, it has mainly been in rolling over the so-called lesser teams. That was certainly case two seasons ago when we were top of the league for longer than any other team but injuries and some terrible results in the big away games killed our title hopes.
So you could say that Arsenal are more at risk from this all round improvement that Wenger spoke of. But then again, we have also improved our tactics and performances in the big games and if we are going to find it harder against the lower placed clubs, how much harder will our rivals find it?
What do you think Gooners, is there any advantage or disadvantage for Arsenal as the Premier League in general gets stronger?