Premier League preview: Arsenal
Without a trophy since 2005, the pressure on Arsène Wenger to deliver silverware this season is more intense than ever before.
Arsenal uprooted from Highbury to move to the Emirates Stadium in 2006, but have yet to add a trophy to the empty cabinet. The Gunners’ supporters are hoping this is the season that everything falls neatly into place after years of flattering to deceive.
Wenger has earned a reputation for only signing players when absolutely necessary, despite obvious frailties in the squad. Right now, the big concern surrounds the goalkeeper. Manuel Almunia, Lukasz Fabianski and Vito Mannone have all come under heavy criticism over the last couple of years after a string of high-profile blunders; yet as it stands, Wenger has not found a replacement.
The wily Frenchman, who has been in charge of the Gunners since 1996, has strengthened his squad in other departments, though. Centre-back Laurent Koscielny was signed from Lorient this summer for the princely sum of £9.6million; while highly-rated Moroccan international striker Marouane Chamakh was brought in on a free transfer after he left Bordeaux.
But it’s the goalkeeper position which continues to prove problematic. The likes of Joe Hart, Mark Schwarzer and Federico Marchetti have all been linked with a move to the Emirates Stadium over recent weeks – none have come close to signing for the Premier League title contenders.
It’s hard not to think that, with the addition of a top-class goalkeeper and perhaps another central defender as back-up, Arsenal would have a squad with a genuine chance of lifting English football’s top prize next May.
While everything that needs to be said about Robin van Persie, Andrey Arshavin and Cesc Fàbregas already has, it’s the younger players who could have a major say in how Arsenal’s season pans out.
In defence, full-back Kieran Gibbs could play a more influential role for the Gunners. In midfield, Jack Wilshere is a star in the making and put in another eye-catching display in the Emirates Cup; and in attack, Carlos Vela knows that this season is likely to be his make-or-break campaign.
Having been involved in a heated tug-of-war with Barcelona for Fàbregas, Arsenal also look set to hold on to their talismanic captain for at least one more season. This will undoubtedly come as a major boost to Wenger; such is the influence of the world-class 23-year-old.
But whether or not he will be as effective this season, as he has been over the last seven, remains to be seen. Fàbregas made it crystal clear that he wanted to join the Spanish giants this summer, but Arsenal weren’t prepared to consider their formal offers. He may well have regretted signing an eight-year contract back in 2006.
With their captain still in their ranks and happy to play, Arsenal will stand a far greater chance of winning trophies than without him.
Wenger knows this, which is why he was desperate to keep him in north London. With less than a month to go before the transfer window shuts, even a huge sum of cash would have left the Arsenal boss with the unenviable task of finding a suitable replacement.
Getting off to a good start and maintaining their form throughout the entire season, avoiding their annual slip-up after Christmas, and staying injury-free will see them come close to winning the league title.
And should Wenger splash the cash and bring in a reliable ‘keeper then Arsenal have every right to be regarded as this year’s dark horses.
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