I think it is safe to say that it has not really happened for Arsenal this season, so far at least. After the encouraging way that Arsenal led the Premier League table for most of the last campaign, we were hoping that a few key signings in the transfer market and a few less injuries, because of the new fitness and medical experts, would make the difference and offer Arsenal the extra level we needed to make a serious challenge for the title.
That now looks forlorn as we sit in 8th place and nine points behind the league leaders Chelsea, so what do Arsenal need to do and what should we have done in the summer?
I do think that Arsene Wenger identified one of the problems and addressed it, by signing Alexis Sanchez and Danny Welbeck to give us more attacking options and more pace up front. And this has worked to a certain extent, as both new signings have shown flashes of brilliance and suggested that they will be great additions to the squad. But Alexis is new to the BPL and is still getting used to his new team while Welbeck is learning his new role as a centre forward.
We also have new players in Debuchy and Chambers and while the Frenchman is at the peak of his powers apart, the youngster is still raw although he does look to have fantastic promise and versatility. Then we still have Walcott out and because of the World Cup in Brazil, Wenger had a disrupted and far from ideal pre-season and our best player of last year could not rediscover that form for some reason.
All this makes it feel to me like Arsenal are a team in progress rather than the finished article, which always seems to be the case. And that is highlighted by Chelsea, who added two players at the peak of their form, Fabregas and Costa, to an already strong side and they do look the finished article.
The Gunners have had two great results against Aston Villa and Galatasaray and flashes of brilliance against Man City, along with a very encouraging desire and determination not to be beaten. I am sure that Arsenal will push on after the international break and come the New Year we will have Giroud and Debuchy back. Wenger might even sign Sami Khedira if the rumours are true, which could help us have a good go at the latter stages of the Champions League.
To win the league, however, Arsenal still need a fair few improvements, so are we looking at next season? And what do you think Arsenal need to do to turn from nearly men into champions?