Could Next Season Be Arsenal’s Year?
The English Premier League was all but decided before this past weekend, but some believed Arsenal could keep the slimmest of hopes alive with a win over Chelsea at Emirates Stadium. The two sides ended up playing to a scoreless draw, and the league standings now depict a virtually certain league title for the Blues. Chelsea are ten points clear of both Arsenal and Manchester City with only seven matches to go.
Despite the Gunners’ failure to make up ground against a Chelsea team, that they probably were never going to catch anyway, Arsenal supporters have to feel outstanding about their team’s chances in 2015/16. Four or five months ago it looked like this would be another mediocre campaign for Arsene Wenger’s side. And yet, once the club got healthy and star players fell into a rhythm, Arsenal looked like one of the better clubs in Europe.
As Betbright’s blog pointed out in a preview of the Arsenal – Chelsea match, strikers Alexis Sanchez and Olivier Giroud have each managed fourteen goals so far this season, and Aaron Ramsey, has been a fine contributor as well. Throw in the impressive contributions of Santi Cazorla in the absence of the injured Jack Wilshere, along with occasional glimpses of brilliance from Danny Welbeck, and it’s no wonder the Gunners rattled off ten straight wins in all competitions heading into the Chelsea match. This club always had the names on paper to become more deadly offensively‚ and with relative good health and improving maturity, they have shown that on the park.
According to Bleacher Report, the form of Arsenal in 2015 so far has helped to make it a certainty that Wenger will keep his position. This may not seriously have been in doubt, but with the Gunners mired in mediocrity (at least as far as a top club with championship expectations is concerned) for a few years now, there was a contingent of Arsenal supporters calling for his job over the winter. Bleacher Report’s write-up, citing quotes from club icon Robert Pires, also focuses more on Wenger’s own motivation to continue coaching. However, it concludes that he’s sure to remain on the sidelines in 2015/16.
Considering all this‚ significantly improved form and the continuity of a manager and crop of star players that look to be staying put‚ Arsenal suddenly looks like it can be a serious contender with Chelsea and perhaps Man City for next seasons league title.
Of course, there’s the transfer market to consider, too, and a recent report in IB Times indicates Wenger’s top targets may be in the midfield (with names like Real Madrid’s Isco and James Milner of Man City popping up). That seems to be a strange focus, and the clearer need is certainly on the back-line. But while we don’t have concrete reports on transfer interest just yet, one can expect at least a few small moves toward improvement.
If the club can indeed bolster its defence over the summer, it could build on this break out year. It could also turn 2015/16 into a true pursuit of the Premier League title (the holy grail).
Posted on April 27th, 2015 by scott
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