Arsenal: 6 Bold Predictions for 2013

With just one more fixture for Arsenal to play this year, it's time for Gunners fans to put 2012 behind them.

It was an emotional year that started on an extremely sour note with injury crises and a tremendous dip in form. Then came a slow revival that saw Arsenal steadily chip away at Tottenham's 10-point lead and remarkably finish in third place.

The Gunners' form has not been nearly as kind this season, with Arsene Wenger guiding his men to their worst points total into December since he became manager.

That all begs the question: What does 2013 have in store?

Can Arsenal somehow win a trophy? Does the January transfer window bear any surprises? Will Theo Walcott re-sign?

Read on to see my predictions.

Olivier Giroud Will Score 30 Goals

Olivier Giroud doesn't get the credit he deserves. With his imposing frame, ability to head the ball and powerful left foot, the Frenchman is arguably Arsenal's most important attacking player.

All this season, one feels he has just been waiting to absolutely break out. With several impressively struck goals using his head and foot, Giroud has proven his effectiveness as a striker.

And next year will be his year. Now that he is totally settled and acclimated to life in the Premier League, there is virtually nothing that can hold Giroud back from becoming one of the most feared strikers in England.

When he gets a prolonged run of starts, he will be able to hit that rich vein of form that's waiting.

Arsenal Lie Dormant During Transfer Windows

I will admit that this isn't very bold, but it will nevertheless be true during the upcoming year.

For all the talk of Arsenal's new sponsorship deal with Emirates Airlines bringing in tens of millions of pounds in additional revenues, there still has to be the initiative to spend the money.

And Arsene Wenger just does not have that. Perhaps he does and the board prevents him from doing so, but history shows that the Frenchman does not change his spending habits very often, even in times of crisis.

Arsenal are in no crisis now, but none will have any effect on transfer policy anyway. Recently, Wenger trotted out the same stale lines about only buying "exceptional" players that he does every winter. Fan beware. 

Arsenal Have the Best Defense in the League

Despite a few annoying hiccups along the way, Arsenal's defense has steadily improved this year, becoming the fourth best in the Premier League.

That is largely down to a renewed focus on basics under the tutelage of Steve Bould, and, although there are many areas yet to be improved, the Gunners are clearly heading in the right direction.

With more work on the training ground and more match practice, Arsenal's back four (plus Wojciech Szczesny) should be able to perform as well as Manchester City's.

The quality of Thomas Vermaelen and Per Mertesacker's performances recently, plus the presence of Laurent Koscielny on the bench show that that brighter future is possible.

Theo Walcott Signs a New Deal

Perhaps this is a bit of reckless optimism creeping in, but it is not out of the realm of possibility that Theo Walcott renews his contract with Arsenal.

After all, who will give him a better deal? He would demand that any club be willing to play him as a striker—and cough up a considerable amount of money to do so—despite the fact that Walcott is totally unproven and untested at the position.

Nor has he been very good during his few trials up front. Without much height and good movement, Walcott's not up to the task.

Where he really can excel is the right wing, where he always plays. Once he understands this, and understands that other clubs understand it, Walcott will be ready to put pen to paper.

The Gunners Finish 3rd

It would be somewhat ironic if—after all the fan meltdowns, club crises and evaluations—Arsenal finished right where they were last year.

Getting back to third place will be a slog because there is so much parity in the Premier League this year. Everton, Chelsea, Tottenham and even West Brom are in the mix with Arsenal for the third and fourth spots, and each has the quality to get one.

But so do the Gunners, and they always seem to find a way. Ten points below Tottenham last season, they managed to overtake their rivals. Despite their horrid start, Arsenal are just five points away from third place and are in fourth if they win their game in hand.

It will take some luck as well as the skill that the Gunners absolutely possess. But they can once again make it to the Champions League promised land.

Arsenal Will Win the FA Cup

Arsenal's best chance of breaking their almost eight-year streak of no silverware was obviously in the Capital One Cup, but now that that opportunity has been squandered, let's look at what's left.

It's equally far-fetched to assert that the Gunners can stage a title push this late in the season and that they are one of the favorites to win the Champions League.

So what does that leave? The FA Cup.

Anything can happen in cup football, where the luck of the draw means so much. Few deny that Arsenal, on their day, have the quality to beat most teams. So, with a little fortune, the Gunners would be able to take a relatively easy path to Wembley.

And how perfect would it be for Arsenal to end their trophy drought in the same competition that they last won?

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