5 Things for Arsenal Fans to Look Forward to in 2016/17 Premier League Season
With the 2015/16 season now thankfully behind them, Arsenal fans are already looking ahead to the next campaign.
Although Arsenal achieved their highest league finish in 11 years, last season was largely a painful one for the team’s followers. However, they’re now able to consign that to the past and hope for different fortunes come August.
In this piece, we name five reasons for Gunners supporters to be excited about 2016/17.
A Fresh Start
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By the end of the 2015/16 campaign, Arsenal fans were more than ready for the season to be over.
Despite the hilarity of superseding Tottenham Hotspur on the final day of the Premier League fixture list, the second half of the season had felt like a slog. Arsenal’s title challenge collapsed, and tensions between the supporters, board and manager increased.
A new season is an opportunity for a fresh start of sorts. The fans can forget about the problems of the previous campaign and approach 2016/17 with optimism.
Watching Granit Xhaka in Action
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Arsenal have just confirmed the capture of Swiss international midfielder Granit Xhaka.
That is a terrific start to Arsenal’s summer business—Xhaka will become the third-biggest signing in the club’s history and bolster a midfield hit by the loss of Mikel Arteta, Mathieu Flamini and Tomas Rosicky.
It will be fascinating to see how the deep-lying playmaker fits into the Arsenal setup. Having paid a premium price to secure one of the Bundesliga’s top talents, Arsene Wenger is sure to want to include Xhaka in his starting XI. The question is who will he choose to play alongside him?
Seeing More from Alex Iwobi
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One of the highlights of Arsenal’s 2015/16 season was the emergence of Alex Iwobi.
After impressing during the Emirates Cup in pre-season, Iwobi went on to make his breakthrough as a first-team regular in the spring.
Although a new attacking signing could see the Nigerian relegated to the substitutes' bench, he’ll still be afforded plenty of chances to impress.
After such an impressive debut season, Arsenal fans will be eager to see what he can produce next year.
Facing Enemies Old and New
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Rivalry is vital to the experience of any football fan. Next season, Arsenal will face off against a new collection of foes—some familiar, some new.
It will be interesting to watch Arsene Wenger pit his wits against Pep Guardiola and Antonio Conte in the Premier League for the first time. Furthermore, if stories from BBC Sport are to be believed, Wenger will lock horns once again with his nemesis: Jose Mourinho.
Arsenal fans probably thought they couldn’t detest the former Chelsea manager more. However, his imminent association with Manchester United, a historic rival of the Gunners, looks set to disprove that.
The Potential End of an Era
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Next season could be Arsene Wenger’s last at the helm of Arsenal. While that will certainly be a reason for some sadness, it could also present an opportunity to pay homage to a man who has dedicated two decades of service to the club.
At the moment, Wenger’s future is the source of tension between fans. However, if it were confirmed that he is set to depart, it could unite the supporters behind the Frenchman for his final campaign in charge.
Despite the differences between pockets of supporters, all Arsenal fans would surely agree it would be amazing for Wenger to walk away at the end of 2016/17 as a redeemed champion.
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