I'm excited to start the new Arsenal thread, like I should have been allotted the ability to last year. I mean, I start the thread two years in a row and Arsenal win the FA Cup in both years. Some schlub completely ignores board rules and fucks everything up. Arsenal blows its best chance in years to win the title, and ends up with no trophies despite a miraculous second place finish.
We won't harp on that.
***
Arsene Wenger has already brought in an important piece. Granit Xhaka has been signed and announced uncharacteristically early. If you had polled Arsenal fans going into last season what Arsenal needed most, a Xhaka type player would have been a unanimous choice along with a striker. Arsenal still need that striker and a central defender, given the age of Koscielny and Mertesacker and the inconsistent performances of Gabriel. There is plenty of time to make those moves.
Regardless, Arsenal are well positioned for a strong performance this year. City look like they're going to need a full make over. Chelsea have their set of issues. United are promising potential, but not delivering results. It seems implausible that the whole of Leicester City's title winning side stays put. Quite frankly, it's hard seeing this upcoming season being less up for grabs than the last season.
Arsenal may, in fact, be the best club positioned to grab the title this year. Obviously, there needs to be more additions made, but the basis for a challenge is there. You have the best creator of chances in the league, Özil. You have an excellent wing striker in Sanchez. You have a good defensive base and goal keeper. It's that extra bit that is missing and that is what needs to be added.
Whether Arsene is allowed to deliver those missing pieces is one of the big questions of the offseason. If he can, is there any reason that Arsenal can't win the title? Or shouldn't?
I don't think so. Expect big things this year.
We won't harp on that.
***
Arsene Wenger has already brought in an important piece. Granit Xhaka has been signed and announced uncharacteristically early. If you had polled Arsenal fans going into last season what Arsenal needed most, a Xhaka type player would have been a unanimous choice along with a striker. Arsenal still need that striker and a central defender, given the age of Koscielny and Mertesacker and the inconsistent performances of Gabriel. There is plenty of time to make those moves.
Regardless, Arsenal are well positioned for a strong performance this year. City look like they're going to need a full make over. Chelsea have their set of issues. United are promising potential, but not delivering results. It seems implausible that the whole of Leicester City's title winning side stays put. Quite frankly, it's hard seeing this upcoming season being less up for grabs than the last season.
Arsenal may, in fact, be the best club positioned to grab the title this year. Obviously, there needs to be more additions made, but the basis for a challenge is there. You have the best creator of chances in the league, Özil. You have an excellent wing striker in Sanchez. You have a good defensive base and goal keeper. It's that extra bit that is missing and that is what needs to be added.
Whether Arsene is allowed to deliver those missing pieces is one of the big questions of the offseason. If he can, is there any reason that Arsenal can't win the title? Or shouldn't?
I don't think so. Expect big things this year.