Arsenal FC: Are Gunners Only "Two Steps" Away From The Title?

Arsene Wenger has urged his side to believe in themselves and the notion that they can win a trophy this season.

He said that Arsenal finished third last season behind Manchester United and Chelsea and they had to climb two steps to lift the title.

But is it as simple as that?

 

Wide Open Competition in the Premiership

The term "Big Four" has ceased to exist and there are at least eight teams that can challenge for the four Champions League places. This season will produce great quality football, and expect the race for the title to go down to the wire.

Arsenal's title challenge was hampered by losing key players due to injuries and youngsters that were not able to handle the pressure of big games. Most of the youngsters, who were involved last season, will still be around and it is up to them to rectify their mistakes.

But it will be tougher because there will be more big games than any other season in the past. This is because Manchester City have put together a team packed with stars that is capable of challenging for the title and Tottenham will have money to invest in the transfer market because of the influx of funds from their Champions League campaign.

Aston Villa will look to improve from last season's performance, but it will be difficult for them due to loss of their manager, Martin O'Neill, just days before the start of the season. They will have to work hard to establish their credentials as a genuine contender for the Champions League spot.

It is easy to overlook Everton's credentials as a contender for the top four slots, but the Merseysiders have managed to retain their key players and will look to better what they managed last season. They were hit badly by injuries to important parts and with excellent players like Mikel Arteta, Phil Jagielka, and Steven Pienaar on their squad they are capable of beating any team on their day.

This year's dark horses will be Liverpool, who will look to preserve their status as one of the biggest clubs in Europe. After their humiliating last season, they have undergone some changes and this has given them a boost to their confidence. Their key players like Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard have committed to the club and they have brought in Joe Cole to boost their team.

Arsenal will have to be consistent in tackling their competitors and must devise an effective method to win with style on a regular basis. They will have a lot of the ball, but it’s what they do with all the possession that counts in the end.

 

How will Arsenal cope with Injuries?

Arsenal have a lot of injury-prone players and it will not come as a surprise if many players in the team are injured at some point in the season. It’s how they deal with injuries that will define their season.

Last time around, Arsenal struggled to cope with the absence of Robin Van Persie, who has not had a season bereft of injuries. They did not have any proper backup plan for the loss of van Persie and it did cost them in the end. This season, they have brought in Marouane Chamakh on a free transfer, who has been pretty good in the pre-season.

It is the similar situation with Alex Song, who doesn't have any proper experienced cover in his role. Alex Song has excelled in his defensive midfield role, but his replacements have struggled to adjust to the role. Therefore, it is imperative that he does stay fit for the majority of the season.

It is inevitable that this Arsenal side is going to be dismantled by injuries, but it is up to the players who come in to show that they are mature enough to play for a quality side like Arsenal and take their opportunities to cement their place in the lineup.

 

Has Arsene Wenger addressed the team's weaknesses?

Much to the chagrin of Arsenal fans, Wenger has not done much to address the team's concerns regarding their defensive frailties and their goalkeeping situation.

As it stands, just a week before their opening fixture, Arsenal go into the encounter against Liverpool with a goalkeeper who does not inspire the confidence of the defence and a new centre back pairing, half of which is relatively inexperienced when it comes to playing against top-notch oppositions.

Performances in pre-season friendlies should not be analysed too deeply, but it is hard to overlook the fact that this defence conceded five goals against Legia Warsaw, a team that is not well known outside Poland. The defense will be shielded by Song, who is excellent in this role but it is not sure how long he will take to recover from his injury.

Thomas Vermaelen is the leader of this defense and it is up to him to organise the team effectively. There is not enough cover for him should he get injured, which is a cause for concern. Arsenal have only got three senior defenders, one of whom has just recovered from an injury that kept him out of the team for the whole of last season.

Wenger highlighted their weak defense as the cause for their losses in the last season, but he has not taken adequate steps to strengthen it. Even though intricate passing and stylish attacking play is Arsenal's forte, having a jittery defensive unit is a cause for concern for a quality team like Arsenal.

 

Will the Young Gunners outclass their illustrious opponents?

As Wenger said a few days back, this is a team at the start of the cycle and they still have some way to go before they realise their true potential. Arsenal fans will back the team to the hilt and with Cesc Fabregas staying put in London, they will not be mad to believe that their side can lift the title.

Arsenal are short of cover in some areas, which could hamper their prospects of challenging for the title. They are still behind Chelsea and Manchester United in terms of confidence and experience, but a strong start to the season could lift the team to great heights. If their campaign is not littered with injuries to key players, then there is still hope that this team can go a long way.  

It is up to the manager to instill the belief in his squad and provide them the support. In Arsene Wenger, they have one of the best managers in the world, a man who has built this team from scratch and yearns for success with it.

Arsenal are only "two steps" away from the title, and it is up to them to believe in themselves. These youngsters must be unfazed by the daunting task in front of them and utilize the pressure to increase their individual performance levels.