Will not winning the league this year will be biggest disappointment for Arsenal? by SS
For many years now, we have been used to seeing the two of biggest clubs in England, Manchester United & Chelsea in the top four. This year though, the picture is different. With Leicester & Spurs at the top and Arsenal a distant third, this year may turn out to be biggest disappointment for Arsenal & Arsene Wenger. Both Man United & Chelsea are hard to keep out of the reckoning but both these teams are in transition, so this was our best chance to win the league. For that we had to strengthen our team and scrap the deadwood. But instead we failed to sign a single world class player and the results are there to be seen. Though there is always next season, but strengthening the squad for next season will be much tougher for the following reasons….
1) Fierce competition for signing world class players
Pep to arrive at City, Mourinho most probably at Man United, Conte at Chelsea. All three will try to sign the best players available. As money is no issue for all the three clubs, they will in all probability get what they want. This leaves Arsenal in a very precarious position. Will there be any player who would chose Arsenal over these three clubs? I doubt. Only if Wenger decides to leave and we sign someone like Simeone, then things may look different. Even if things remain unchanged, there is every possibility that two of our best players, Sanchez & Ozil may leave as there is no ambition at the club to win silverware.
2) Minnows are no longer minnows
Arsenal have for long enjoyed qualification for CL by being just there in top four. Earlier there was Liverpool, now there is Man City. Arsenal have always been there thanks to other clubs who have not shown any promise or ambition. But this year the scene is very different. With Leicester at the Top followed by Spurs, the fight for Top Four will be extremely difficult. Any slip up could result in years in exile as far as the Champions League is concerned. If we look at the second half teams that have defeated us, we no longer have assured wins over the so called minnows. Not to mention these “minnows” will also have money to spend in the transfer market.
3) Competition from abroad.
Every year we faced a great competition not only from PL teams but also from Europe. This year a new competitor in the face of China has entered the spectrum. Some of the best players in Europe are signed by the Chinese Clubs and more will follow. Barca has completed the ban and will sign the best available players and with PSG always in the mix, our hopes to sign someone great have diminished in the thin air.
To sum it all, we have missed the bus this year and unless something extraordinary happens, we will keep missing it for some years to come. The successor to AW, if and whenever he comes, will be a big catalyst in the mix. Let us watch & see and hope for the best. That is the only thing we can do.
Thanks & regards
Shivprasad Salkar