With the premier league six weeks into the new season it seems that this year the premier league could be as wide open as any other season. With things shaping up the way it has been for a while, I have looked at the so called “Big Four” clubs, along with other clubs that may be optimistically looking towards that goal, and I believe that this Arsenal team can be the best of them all.
Arsenal have had their doubters over the past few weeks, defeats to much weaker teams in Fulham and Hull City have meant that a team that should be top of the league are currently sitting in fourth spot behind league leaders Chelsea, Liverpool, and Hull, whom they lost to in an embarrassing defeat at the Emirates.
Champions League games seem to be the forte of this young Arsenal team who enjoy passing their opponents off the field, that’s all well and good in the Champions League. Premiership away days seem to be more difficult for a side that has been notoriously criticized for not being able to win ugly and tough it out in poor conditions.
Weeks Six’s efforts against a fairly strong Porto side, Portuguese champions four years in a row are not a team to be taken for granted, and a simply stunning performance as they outclassed them in a 4-0 win that really should have been six or seven.
Add a tough 1-1 away draw against a very good, up and coming Sunderland team managed by one of the brightest young managers in Europe to me was a point earned in the final minutes of the game. That to me shows resilience and the highest of efforts, Arsenal had struggled all day against Sunderland and their best seemed to be a below average effort on the day.
Having a goal wiped off the scoreboard didn’t help either. But then when Sunderland scored on 86 minutes with a stunner from Grant Ledbetter, it would have been easy for Arsenal to accept their fate and go home with nothing. But in the last seconds of the game, veteran Cesc Fabregas came in and capitalised on a Goalkeeping error by Craig Gordon. As Arsene Wenger tells us every week “They Showed Great Character.”
Even though many people have already, six games into the season written off Arsenal for the title, I believe that they can still win it. It may be pushing it, but if they can turn losses into draws, and draws into wins, and finish games off then they do have a great chance of winning the Premiership this season in my opinion.
All the talent and experience is there for a great season, the addition of Silvestre may be a stroke of genius by Arsene Wenger as he provides experience, knowledge and has experience of winning trophies, plus the fact that he could get into any team in England, its just because Ferdinand and Vidic are just that good.
A solid back four and goalkeeper. A packed midfield when fully fit, still with Rosicky and Diaby to come back from injury. A productive strike force with height, power, skill, and speed, all capable of scoring 20+ goals during the season, bar any injuries (Eduardo will be back before Christmas we are told).
So, I conclude with this, if Arsenal do not win any trophies this season then you can re-publish this article and mock me all you like, but the truth is that I will be incredibly surprised if Arsenal go a staggering fifth consecutive season without winning a major trophy.
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about 1 month ago
good article farooq. i am rather biased being a united supporter so i chose no on the poll, but in all honesty i too will be surprised if arsenal don't win something this season. i don't think they'll win the league, they just don't have the consistency to do so, but the ucl is a real possibility and perhaps the fa cup and/or the carling cup. they have too many good players not to win a trophy in my view.
about 1 month ago
arsenal won't win the league this year...they have not got a hope.
maybe the fa cup, but thats as far as i can see.
they'll finish around 20 pts behind the winners.
from about 1 month ago
dats obvious they wont win it this year they will win it next year...
from about 1 month ago
I don't know guys, in a way its good that they havn't peaked early... Its a long 38 game season and like man utd did last last year, they made up for lost ground and ended up winning it all
about 1 month ago
Hart says yes and my brain says no, im realy split, hope we do win somthing though, or the big players could go elsewear.
from about 1 month ago
Hopefully the big players stick around as they should know that this team is soo young and can be a superpower in the next few years
about 1 month ago
can't see arsenal winning the league, they play what i think is the best brand of football in england, but too often they seem to pass up the chance to have a shot, seeking to pass the ball around more. the travel your having to do in regards to the champions league seems to be disrupting your premier league campaign, but i do think you might have a chance in either the fa/league cup, especially if your younger players continue to play as well as they do. i think the future looks bright for you, but your probably 1 or 2 seasons away from mounting a serious challenge in the league
about 1 month ago
I wouldn't count them out, I think that while the EPL isn't a "wide open" league, there's plenty of good teams to make this interesting.
If they're in the Top 3 come December, I think no one would be safe in terms of betting against them.
about 1 month ago
You can never count any team out after 6 games - it's like saying Tottenham will get relegated, after getting 2 points in 6 games.
But, it's going to be an uphill battle - but we'll definitely win something this season - I've a gut feeling.
Nice article.
about 1 month ago
Honestly, i would like to see more consistency from this team. The team and squad are in place by my book. the defence needs to be sorted out though. The talent is definitely there, but do they have enough character? Man U definitely have bags of character, Chelsea have oodles of talent and Liverpool are really contenders this season. Too early to call, but if Arsenal get there head down and grind out some wins especially against the big boys, then why not?
about 1 month ago
Of course we're still in with a shout. At the finish of last season we only finished four off the pace which is not bad at all. Manchester United started poorly last year and went on to win so why not Arsenal? I'm not saying we will win the league but we will win a trophy, actually I think two, the young guys will win the Carling Cup.
about 1 month ago
Arsenal's team has a wealth of talent and seven games into the season, this definitely can't be ignored. They are very capable of winning more than one trophy this season but I think they still might have a little way to go.
I think they need to adapt to different playing styles for different games. It's entertaining to watch them try and walk the ball into the net but at the end of the day, some teams will turn up at The Emirates and park 11 men behind the ball. Arsenal will need to be able to alternate between styles when one isn't working that well.
Sometimes a different approach is required in different situations and once the squad have that versatility of play, they will stand a really good chance of getting those tough points towards winning the league. At the moment they are not quite there yet.
from about 1 month ago
Thats a good point there Ricky... Thier style is much more suited for the champions league, but this team can be physical aswell, especially when guys like Alex Song and Abou Diaby are playing.
about 1 month ago
good article however there are a several points to be made..
1stly we need a defensive midfielder..that is a must and with diabys consistent injuries i cant see him cementing a place in the starting 11..although i personally believe he would have been ideal.
2ndly rosicky's injury is a long one and he will certainly be out for majority of the season, eduardo would be 3rd choice stricker if not 4th when he does recover.
3rdly silvestre has only been bought for the experience and is doing well with the reserves, however
who will be dropped if he was to play center back? king koule or captain?!
i personally believe we are very well equiped to win the CL, we play a very fast game game, and can tear the best of defenses down.
i certainly wish that we win something this season however due to injuries and the depth of the squad like last year maybe our downfall in the league but the champions league..well thats ours for the taking!
about 1 month ago
good article.
It really is too early to tell, but I hope they do make the top 3
about 1 month ago
I think the main thing for the players currently fit to do, is to stay within 3, 4 points of the top untill we have that fully fit squad. I think Rosicky is a huge miss, Eduardo is our best finisher.. imagine the goals that he'd have scored this season? Diaby is the possible answer in the middle, I still think Yaya Toure would fit the bill perfectly... We'll be there or there abouts... I still think a Champions league win is more likely than a Premiership win..
from about 1 month ago
You don't know how badly I wanted Yaya Toure this summer, I'd never doubt Wenger, but for the right price I think Barca would have let him go.
about 1 month ago
Nice article Faarooq.
about 1 month ago
Good article, Farooq.
Last season's title race wasn't decided until the last couple of weeks and this season's appears to be shaping up to be much closer. Remember, had Arsenal beaten Sunderland last weekend, they would have gone top of the table temporarily. Despite a few bad results, they've still been able to hang around the top spot all season. I think if this team can weather the early-season hiccups, they'll be dangerous once everybody in the squad rounds into form.
about 1 month ago
they dont stand a chance, not until they get consistent and stop trying to play all their opponents off the field with every touch. they have potential but i think their games against sunderland and hull proved that teams are starting to figure them out!
about 1 month ago
I think one of the funniest things in this regard is the current table position of teams. People are basically just taking it as gospel that United will win or be runners up and that Arsenal will choke. But it looks to me like one team has doing more choking so far. Arsenal have had a solid start and many teams around the world begin the season with a few errant results. Just because Chelsea have had a dream start everyone thinks every other challenger should as well. Arsenal could still beat Chelsea in both league games, stranger things have happened. I am loathe to write off any of the stronger sides ever, because there are always upsets and bursts of form, etc. Look at Villa's start, besides the loss to Chelsea they have had a blinder and they have the makings of a great side, they could challenge for a European Champions spot this season yet no one even mentions them. It makes me laugh the amount of people who try to predict form or results based on a league that is only six rounds old. There are 32 more rounds left, I mean, come on!
from about 1 month ago
agree 100% with illya couldnt have said it better!
from about 1 month ago
Yeah definately agree with you Illya, People are writing Arsenal off but its easy to say that and target Arsenal because of what has happened over the last 4 years.
about 1 month ago
I am a Gooner myself .But i have to admit this side will not win the EPL. I don't think they have turned defeat into draws. IMO they have turned victories into draws and defeats.AND they had the easiest 6 matches. They did not meet any of the other teams of the BIG FOUR still they are in 4th place.
about 1 month ago
I definitely don't see them winning the league, Farooq, but they have the possibility of a cup run...depending on if Wenger takes it more seriously than traditionally.
Still, at the end of the day, my money stands with the belief that Arsenal will be trophy-less again this year.
We'll see!
from about 1 month ago
Wenger does take cup competitions seriously, I think you were referring to the Carling cup, a competition where the younger players play. Think about it, Cesc Fabregas, Theo Walcott, Eduardo, Adebayor, Clichy, Almunia and other have all started their careers playin for Arsenal in that specific competition and are now top class players. The experience that the younger players earn against quality opposition is priceless.
I think its too early to tell if they can win the league, but I wouldnt rule them out after 6 games.
about 1 month ago
Hi Farooq...first of all please accept my apologies for not responding earlier...Arsenal certainly look contenders to win something...like they did last season and the one before that...somehow their magic seems to have disappeared with Henry...or maybe I am not following them as I was earlier... on the other hand the current crop looks good enough to come up with a few surprises...however I'd give them another season to bond and probably next season is when we'll see them realise their full potential...I could still be wrong, I dun want to be another Alan Hansen here...
about 1 month ago
Hi Farooq, sorry haven't had a chance to browse articles yet. Personally, I don't believe this Arsenal team will win anything. Last season was wonderfully effective because Arsenal had eradicated old flaws, defensively solid, grinding out wins, and playing with a drive to win that hadn't been seen since the invincibles. Yet sadly, this season seems to have been a return to form. Defensively, we are weak from set pieces, Toure and Gallas especially seem to be suffering a hangover from the slide at the end of last season. In attack, we lack to potency and urgency to force teams into a mistake, and we are often left looking at Walcott to provide some magic to open up a game. In midfield, Denilson has started well, Fabregas doesn't look himself. The two are too similar, the lack of a defensively minded midfielder means Fabregas has to drop deeper, which takes away from his game. Remember Fabregas is most effective in an attacking role, look how well he performed dropping just behind the front man for Spain at Euro 2008. It's sad, and for Wenger this season will be a bitter pill indeed, but I just can't see them winning anything.
24 days ago
good article
Arsenal have a strong chance in the League cup and Champions leaguebut the EPL im not sure
7 days ago
They are the eternal contenders.
Arsène has achieved to put Arsenal for nine consecutive years in the European Top 16. This merit is even bigger lately, since they are playing with a kindergarten. It is funny yet true to see how you call 21-year-old midfielder Fabregas "veteran"
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