With the Premier League up and running, everyone has started giving their two cents on who will win the English title this season. With more than half of the season still to go, it is a bit too premature to make such predictions or to speculate on which
team will be lifting the prestigious trophy.
However, it’s fairly elementary to judge genuine title contenders, and right now, there are a number of teams that will probably make that list.
The likes of current and former champions Manchester City and Manchester United, in that order, are always in contention. Both teams have however made uncharacteristically mixed starts to their respective seasons.
Manchester City have failed to keep a clean sheet, while Manchester United have also been defensively questionable, and have suffered two defeats already.
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Oscar-c28720, look stronger with every passing
game.
The most interesting team of the season so far, in my opinion, has been Arsenal. The Gunners have been once again unable to hold on to star players this summer, letting go of the likes of http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Robin-van-Persie-c31380,
that too to rivals Manchester United.
Many had already written of the North London club as the Emirates become the subject of another exodus. Arsenal did sign three new players, compensating for the loss of Van Persie and adding a creative spark to their midfield. http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Lukas-Podolski-c22896 and Olivier
Giroud arrived during the summer, followed by midfield maestro Santi Cazorla.
Van Persie’s departure was however still fresh in the memory and was felt further when Arsenal failed to win their opening two games, failing to score a goal as Olivier Giroud spurned some decent chances to make his mark.
The only comfort that fans and manage Arsene Wenger could find was perhaps in the team’s defensive display. Arsenal demonstrated an uncharacteristic defensive power at the back, keeping two consecutive clean sheets and holding off bogey team Stoke at the
Britannia Stadium.
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Liverpool-c39809 at Anfield, and perhaps this is just where the team started to show its potential. Scoring two goals courtesy of new signings Podolski and Cazorla, Arsenal cruised to victory as they gave Liverpool a lesson in football
in a 0-2 score line.
This game set the momentum for their upcoming fixtures. Every player put in strong individual performances, which were on full display in the 6-1 thrashing of Southampton at home. This was followed by a hard fought come back against champions Manchester
City, where Arsenal had been the better team and dominated most of the game.
At the back, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Per-Mertesacker-c29680 has been a revelation. The German has made up for his lack of pace by putting in some excellent tackles and managing a good number of interceptions per game.
Perhaps the team’s strength at the back lies with its full-backs, with Carl Jenkinson and http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Kieran-Gibbs-c20945 putting in consistent performances. Jenkinson has come a long way since he was sent off in the famous 8-2 thrashing at Old Trafford last season, and has
shown just what he is capable of, both at defending and going forward.
Arsenal’s strength however lies in the midfield, with http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Abou-Diaby-c3453 had been impressive when he was fit, but the Frenchman has been injured once again, and his dubious fitness record may once again restrict
him from fulfilling his potential as the next http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Patrick-Vieira-c29316.
Arteta and Cazorla play like they always have been playing together. Both players have ranked up the collective best passing stats in the league, and have been the pivot on which Arsenal operate. The other thing the team has to its advantage is the host
of options and depth, which Arsenal have failed to benefit from in recent seasons.
The likes of http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Aaron-Ramsey-c3065 showing signs of his former brilliant self are positive signs for the Gunners.
With a new look team, Arsenal have gotten rid of their 'underachiever' label, and truly have the potential of taking the title right under everyone’s noses.
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