Premier League: When will Arsenal deliver?
Arsenal probably has been the most frustrating team in the English Premier League over the last four seasons. Arsene Wenger’s team has immense talent and ability, but after the historic title win in 2004, when they did not lose a single match, things have not gone that well for the Gunners. The club is still yet to win its first Champions League title, and that was the reason captain Patrick Vieira left the club and went on to join Juventus. Fate, though, does love irony: Arsenal met Juventus in the semifinals of the Champions League and beat them on their way to the final the very next season. However, they ended up losing the final to Barcelona 2-1. After that, their most valuable player, Thierry Henry, also showed his disappointment and in search of silverware moved to Barcelona; he too did not have the best of times after moving away from Gunners. Still, he did manage to win the Champions League and Spanish League with Barcelona (2008-2009).
Arsene Wenger, however, did not panic and stuck with his mantra of grooming a young side. He unearthed two gems in Cesc Fabregas and Robin Van Persie. The two formed the basis of Wenger’s young side. There was pace, elegance and talent in the side but Alan Hansen’s infamous proclamation (1995) was proven right time and again: “You’ll never win anything with kids”. Five seasons have now gone by for Arsenal without any silverware, and that is the reason club captain Cesc Fabregas is being hounded by Barcelona and the Spaniard has also hinted his interest in making an exit from Arsenal.
As Arsene Wenger gets ready to start his final year under contract with the club, the question remains on everyone’s lips: When will Arsenal finally deliver?
There has been a lot of promise but no results from the young Gunners’ brigade, and even diehard fans are running out of patience and have started questioning their team. Their last moment of supreme glory was in the famous “The Invincibles” 2003-2004 season, when they won the Premier League without losing a single match. The last trophy they lifted was in 2005, when the then Arsenal captain Vieira lifted the FA Cup.
Arsene Wenger had always known that the move from Highbury to Emirates would come at a cost; so much money had been invested in the new stadium that the Frenchman had his hands tied as far as the funds were concerned.
Wenger, though, has carried on sticking with young blood, and has asked the board and the fans to give him and the team more time. The board seems to agree with him and he is expected to sign a contract extension, as he will start his final year under contract this season.
Before Chelsea rose as title contenders and won back-to-back Premier League titles in 2005 and 2006, the battle was always between Manchester United and Arsenal. The fans have now started to show their concern over the significant gap appearing between the top three: Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal. And the fact that now Tottenham Hotspur, the bitter City rivals, have also started to push the Gunners hard has made things more worrying for Arsenal.
Wenger, however, has never been a man to bow under pressure; though he did admit that his team needed some experience, he reiterated that his team has enough potential to win the title.
The upcoming season just may be the final chance for Wenger and his team; however, the Premier league title is surely still a possibility. The thing to see, though, would be whether the young team is able to last the length of the whole season, while an FA Cup would also be appreciated by the ardent Arsenal fans.
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