Arsenal: 10 Things Gunners Fans Will Love To Watch This Season

Arsenal handed out a thrashing to Premier League's new boys Blackpool at the Emirates stadium. They were a joy to watch and supported brilliantly by the fans at the Emirates.

Arsenal were not at their best in the 1-1 draw against Liverpool at Anfield, but were back to their imperious best in their victory against Blackpool. Theo Walcott, who has faced criticism from a lot of quarters in the past, scored a stunning hat-trick en route to their 6-0 routing of the Tangerines

Arsenal have had five barren trophy-less seasons, and fans would like Arsene Wenger and his men to lift a trophy in this season. The support that Arsenal get from their supporters is overwhelming and let's just take a look at what Arsenal fans would love to see this season.

1. Change of Goalkeeper

Arsenal fans have had enough of the gaffes from Manuel Almunia and Lukasz Fabianski. Arsene Wenger and his team have monitored the situations of many goalkeepers throughout the summer.

The team conceded a number of goals, due to goalkeeping errors or lack of judgement. Almunia does not control his area well and he is shaky when gathering crosses or in general, and his decision making has not been good enough for a top notch club like Arsenal.

Arsenal have been linked to a plethora of keepers including Shay Given, Mark Schwarzer, Sebastien Frey, and Frederico Marchetti. Arsenal are said to have bid for Mark Schwarzer, but Fulham are not ready to sell their experienced keeper. Arsenal supporters will long to see a new No.1 for this season, their feelings enhanced after seeing Almunia’s suspect performance against Liverpool at Anfield.

2. Theo Walcott and Jack Wilshere Playing In the First Team

For a while now, Arsenal have more resemblance to a Ligue 1 side than a Premier League. They have an array of French talents and a sprinkling of other stars from the world. The French players are no doubt talented, but fans at Ashburton Grove would more than like to sing of England players.

Theo Walcott has been the only English player in the last three years (save those six months of Sol Campbell) to represent Arsenal, but has always remained on the fringes of the first team. It is time for him to step up and cement his place in the first team.

In the game against Blackpool, there was another young talented lad by the name of Jack Wilshere, who started the game, and even produced an assist for the coolly finished goal by Walcott. This is a season that provides both of these young Gunners with an opportunity to establish their credentials for being first team regulars.

3. Stringent Defense Conceding Considerably Less Number of Goals

Arsenal were not strong at the back in the previous season, considerably, hurting them in their bid for the title. This season will see a revamped central defense, with only Thomas Vermaelen remaining with Arsenal from the last season (of course, there is Johan Djourou, but he didn't play in the previous season). It is imperative that Arsenal concede less goals in this season.

Arsenal have signed the young Laurent Koscielny from Lorient FC, a French club, in a bid for strengthening their defense. He looks to be a cool and composed defender, who has decent aerial ability. It will be up to him to establish a strong partnership at the heart of the defense with the impressive Thomas Vermaelen.

Johan Djourou, who was injured for the last season, makes a return to top-flight football. The tall defender will look to improve and show the fans what he is capable of. He will be rusty at the start of the season, but will look to do well whenever he gets the chance.

A deal with Sevilla's Sebastien Squillaci looks to have been done with the 30-year-old in London to undergo a medical, ahead of linking up with the North London club. He will provide some much needed experience to this young team and will push for places in the Arsenal first team.

4. Robin van Persie and Company Not Getting Injured

Come every new season, the injury bug has inevitably affected them. Arsenal never really recovered from the bout of injuries (to Cesc Fabregas, Alex Song, Andrei Arshavin, William Gallas, Denilson, and Thomas Vermaelen) at the end of the season. The injury situation is expected to be no better this season, as well.

Already, Samir Nasri has been sidelined for a month and Emmanuel Frimpong, the promising young midfielder, has been ruled out for 8 to 9 months. Arsenal fans hope that they can have a relatively injury free season.

Robin van Persie is one player who has had injuries following him every seasons at Arsenal. He is a world class striker, but with a history of injury problems, he has never blossomed into the sort of player that a person of his calibre should. Nevertheless, he is an integral part of this Arsenal side and should lead the attack if fit. A fit van Persie is the key to success and Arsenal fans have high hopes of winning a trophy, should van Persie be fit for a large chunk of the season.

5. Captain Cesc Fabregas at His Imperious Best

Theo Walcott scored a hat-trick and you expect the loudest applause of the match to be when he scored that. But it was not to be. When Cesc Fabregas entered the fray, it was to a rapturous applause, the loudest of the match.

Fabregas' indecision on whether to stay at Arsenal has not caused any ripples on his relationship with the fans. They still love him and believe him to be the one who can lead the team to glory. Fabregas himself acknowledged the support from the fans and admitted he would not upset them.

The captain is one of the world's best midfielders and is the one who can inspire his team to victory. His influence on the team is exemplified by his cameo against Aston Villa, when he changed the course of the game in a mere 27 minutes.  

He is surely Arsenal's most valuable player and fans would love him to be at his imperious best, controlling the game and inspiring the young Gunners to glory. Just listen to the applause when he does score his first goal of the season.

6. Beating Manchester United and Chelsea

Arsenal had a decent season last year, but their inability to win big games cost them the title. In a run of games featuring Manchester United and Chelsea, Arsenal lost them both, making their task of challenging for the title very difficult, as they were always trailing the top two teams.

This year, they will look to win the games against Chelsea and Manchester United, which will be a huge boost to their confidence in challenging for the title. The young Gunners have been much ridiculed for their inability to outplay Manchester United and Chelsea.

The one thing that will be key to them playing well against the big two is the fitness of Robin van Persie and Cesc Fabregas. These two are the key to Arsenal's success and they have big match experience to guide the younger and more inexperienced players through this tough test.

All Arsenal fans will look forward to these encounters with renewed optimism that Arsenal can get the better of their title challengers.

7. A Consistent Andrei Arshavin

Andrei Arshavin broke the record for the highest Arsenal transfer when he was signed by Arsene Wenger in 2009. From then on, Arshavin has been an integral part of this Arsenal side.

Arshavin is an experienced, pacy midfielder, who has the ability to produce killer balls and can finish devastatingly. His talent is undeniable, but his consistency has often been under scrutiny.

When he is in the mood, he can plunder opposition defenders with his pace, movement and vision. He is one of the best midfielders, who also has a decent goal-scoring record. But, when he is not in the mood, he remains anonymous for most periods of the match and frustrates Arsenal fans.

However, he has a knack of turning up in big matches, which is exemplified by his five goals in three appearances at Anfield (the last of which was during this season, when he had a poor game). He also scored the only goal for Arsenal at Old Trafford last year. It is important that he comes to the party on more occasions than last season, which could be great for the club. 

Maroune Chamakh and Nicklas Bendtner to Thump In Headers

Arsenal have often been criticised for being too one dimensional in their approach. They keep the ball on the ground, pass the ball intricately, and try to produce some magic in this way. When the plan works, it is a joy to behold. But when it doesn't, they seem to lack alternative plans.

Last year, Nicklas Bendtner produced his best season in a Arsenal shirt. At 6' 4'', he provided an alternate Plan B to this Arsenal side. A classic example was his header against the Wolves in stoppage time. Wenger said that Bendtner provides them with a Plan-B, which could be instrumental in winning some games.

This year's new signing, Marouane Chamakh, is tall, though not as tall as Bendtner, and possesses great aerial prowess to score a lot of headers. He has a good technique with his foot, but it is his aerial ability that could be crucial to Arsenal. He can hold up balls and wait for support to arrive, which could aid attacks. He has a great technique in scoring headers, and his header against Blackpool is testament to it.

But, the most important thing to utilising this Plan-B is good crossing from the full backs and wingers. Gael Clichy and Bacary Sagna have to make overlapping runs and provide good balls to Chamakh and Bendtner.

9. Aaron Ramsey Returning to Full Fitness

Arsenal fans had tears in their eyes when the thug Ryan Shawcross broke Aaron Ramsey's leg on that fateful night at the Britannia stadium. All of their hearts went out to the young lad, who had promised so much in this season.

Ramsey signifies the modern day classy midfielder, with his pace, passing, movement, and strong tackling. It is a a shame that an upcoming player of his quality had to be injured by an X-rated tackle. Ramsey has shown he is an integral part of the Arsenal team in the future.

He has come a long way since the previous season and will look to continue his development in this season. When he does make his first appearance of the season for the Gunners, expect him to get a rapturous applause and the loudest cheers of the match.

As an Arsenal and football fan, I hope, with optimism, that Ramsey returns to full fitness and delivers what a player of his talent can. Good luck to him on his return to fitness. 

10. Arsene Wenger and Cesc Fabregas Lifting a Title

Arsene Wenger is, undeniably, one of the greatest managers in the world and it is hard to believe that his team has had a barren spell, without trophies, for five years now.

It has been a time during which Wenger has resorted to his much criticised youth policy and despite all criticism, he has retained faith in his young Gunners and it is time for them to step up and hand him a trophy. It is hard to fathom Wenger ending his stint with Arsenal without winning a major title, but the sooner it comes, the better for fans.

The most impressive player to have come out of this youth policy has been the Spanish International and Arsenal captain, Cesc Fabregas, who has been frustrated by Arsenal's lack of trophies in the recent years and will look to lead them to glory, this year.

He was linked to a move to his hometown, Barcelona, all summer, but recently quashed all rumours by committing to Arsenal for this season. This might be his last season as the captain of the Arsenal team and as his compatriot Andres Iniesta said, it would be a shame if he signs off without winning a major trophy.

Both Wenger and Fabregas are winners and will fight hard to end their long trophy drought. Arsenal fans have been patiently waiting for their next major trophy and it is time for the Gunners to reward them with at least one.