Are Arsenal Strong Enough To Win Trophies? Topic of the Week

2005 was the last year Arsenal fans managed to see their team win silverware. Even without having to think hard, we all remember the match against Manchester United in which Patrick Vieira slotted home the penalty to secure us the F.A Cup. It was the same generation that went on a run of 49 unbeaten League matches, including the 2003-2004 season, when we won the league.
 
Since then "the Invincible" has started to fall apart with players like Ashley Cole, Robert Pires, Vieira, and Thierry Henry all leaving the club. Many more were to follow in the upcoming season, as Arsene Wenger had to restart the Arsenal team with a new, more youthful generation after missing out on silverware for many years.
 
A player who was on the squad in 2003 was none other than current captain Cesc Fabregas. Even though he did not play in too many games (none in the Premier League that season), he did feature more the next season with Patrick Vieira struggling with injury.

The following season after 2003-2004, we did not concede a goal throughout the Champions League right until the final, when we met with footballing giants Barcelona. Samuel Eto'o put a stop to that record. With the Champions League that year so close, yet so far, Henry was to leave for Barcelona the following summer, which sparked the Arsenal youngsters to grow in maturity and as a team.

Ever since, we've still been growing but are still not able to win any silverware. We are always close but not able to apply the finishing touches. The problem is fans now don't want to see any more semifinals or finals appearances. We want to see trophies again. We want to see an Arsenal team that can go the whole way without getting defeated at the last step.

Every season, we say, "This is the season". Just how many more seasons will we keep saying that? Arsene Wenger so far this season has kept his transfers simple, with Marouane Chamakh coming in on a free transfer to keep strikers occupied, and Laurent Koscielny coming in to replace William Gallas.

Now to the question in the title: Are Arsenal strong enough to win trophies?

To be honest with you, my brain is saying no, and my heart is saying yes. We all know you need a bit of luck to win silverware, and there are many examples out there, but teams have to make their own luck, and we have not been able to do that so far.

We represent the weakest of the top three, and that's because we are not fearless enough, and sometimes trying to be fearless and strong is different from naturally being that. Look at the likes of Chelsea, which battles hard. Even when facing difficulties last season they battled their way through, and I think the youth in Arsenal prevents us from doing, that.

We need one or two players at the age of 30+ who can lead Arsenal, toughen the young ones up, and keep the focus on winning when the going gets tough. Yes, we have leaders like Fabregas, Andrei Arshavin, and Samir Nasri, but are they mentally strong enough to tell players off when they're in the wrong and raise a voice when things get out of hand? A player like Vieira is needed on this team and losing Sol Campbell this year lowers the experience on the team.

However, with our style of football that is able to tear apart teams, I believe with some leadership Arsenal are capable of winning big. That is, if we can battle down teams like Manchester United, Chelsea, and Manchester City as well as the not-so-big teams in the League.

With regards to trophies like the Champions League crown, I believe we are strong enough to reach the semifinals; however, it will be hard, as teams across Europe are getting much stronger than before. Luck will decide whether or not we are able to go as far as the final or maybe even win it.

I believe we are capable of winning the F.A Cup this year, as players who don't feature in the starting lineup are getting as strong as those in the starting line, meaning we can compete with other teams who play their best starting 11.

This season will be the hardest season for Arsenal (as every season gets tougher); however, at this early stage we cannot decide whether we are strong enough or not.

I believe come Jan-Feb we will be able to tell if we are mentally ready for the last few games of the season, which is what cost us last season. We lost focus, and games against Spurs and Wigan blew our season away, along with the games against Manchester United and Chelsea. Everyone was saying how Arsenal had the easiest run in with 12 games to go, 12 games that could have won us the League. And in the end, the pressure to do well proved too much for us.

My Early Prediction for this season: Second in Premier League
                                                Champions League Semifinals
                                                F.A Cup Final
                                                Carling Cup Winners

I also believe it would be good for the club to start using player rotation throughout the season, so players don't over-play and get too tired for the last half of the season.

Long live Arsenal.

(Please leave your comments on how you feel about this season and if you think Arsenal are strong enough to win trophies.)