10 Things Arsenal Must do to Win the Premier League

After the opening two weeks, Arsenal haven't looked too bad. Opening day to Liverpool was a good result for a team lacking its two best players. The slaughtering of Blackpool was to be expected, and doesn't really give away any clues as to how well they will be able to play against organised defensive teams.

These are the ten things Arsenal and Arsene Wenger must do in order to win the Premier League.

Taking into Account the fact the the deal for Sebastien Squillaci is pretty much done, I will write on speculation that the deal goes through. 

Win more games on the road

Arsenal have to get the job done on the road as much as they have to at home. A formidable home record is good, but winning on the road is much more vital. 

Arsenal should look at Chelsea and Manchester's away record over the past 4 years. In 06/07, United scored 42 away points, and Chelsea 40. Arsenal scored 26. The following year, Chelsea again topped 40 points, and in 08/09 Chelsea, United and Liverpool all scored 40 points or more on the road. Arsenal haven't done that since 03/04, and we all know what happened that year.

Beat the mid-to-lower table teams

The teams whose aspirations are to make the Europa Leauge, or to stay up this season. Arsenal have to hammer them all.

Rarely would you see Chelsea drop points to promoted teams, or teams that are fighting for a place in Europe's second tier, but Arsenal draw with these teams - all the time.

Occasionally Arsenal look like they did against Blackpool and hope returns. But more often than not, they will concede a silly goal, or go 2-0 up and coast, only to have both goals cancelled out and finish with a solitary point, like last season at West Ham.

Arsenal must be ruthless like Chelsea and simply put these teams to the sword, no coasting on a 2 goal lead, 3 goals are always going to be better.

Sign a defensive midfielder

Arsenal have been yearning for a solid defensive midfielder since the departure of Patrick Vieira, and in Alex Song, I think they have found their man. 

The only problem is, there isn't anyone to cover him.

Abou Diaby is good at holding the ball and covering defensively when Arsenal dominate possession and territory. But when push comes to shove, he can't quite cut it. Against Liverpool, Mascherano and Gerrard pushed him around.

Denilson and Wilshere appear as the other alternatives, and Wilshere certainly looks as if he has the mould to cut it as a CDM, but he lacks experience. Denilson has shown time and again that he can't play as the CDM as he lacks the physical presence.

Hopefully Wenger sees this problem and fixes it soon, because if Song gets injured and there is no replacement other than the aforementioned three, then it's going to be a long season.

Give Rosicky More Game Time

It sounds simple, and if the Czech international can stay fit and uninjured, then it is. 

Arsenal have a plethora of attacking midfielders, but the choice for who starts in the centre should be simple. Song holding, Fabregas roaming back and forth, and Rosicky playing in the predominantly creative role.

He played there on Saturday, and Arsenal scored six.

This move would allow Fabregas more time and space as he is further back from the action. It would also allow him to score more screamers like the one against Milan a few years back.

Rosicky's attacking vision and prowess was on display for all against Blackpool and he didn't disappoint. If you watch the goals, he plays a vital role in the lead up to all of them, including playing the pass that lead to the penalty.

Sure the afternoon belonged to Walcott scoring his Hat-trick, but pulling the strings behind the scenes, the day belonged to Rosicky. 

Beat Manchester United and Chelsea

Last season, Manchester United and Chelsea beat Arsenal home and away. If Arsenal are going to have any chance at the title this season, they can't give their major rivals twelve points.

For years earlier, until rich boys Chelsea came knocking, Arsenal vs United was the biggest game of the season, there was so much riding on the outcome of the game. Now, Arsenal have been dominated in the last 3 seasons by united, having only beaten them once, in 9 meetings. (4 league, 1 FA Cup, 2 UCL) Arsenal have beaten Chelsea once in the last 6 meetings.

Arsenal play away to Chelsea first.

The first meeting between the sides is on the 4th October, and Arsenal are going to have to prove to themselves that they can win on the road by hammering Blackburn and Sunderland in the coming away fixtures.

Imagine the message it would send to the rest of the league, if Arsenal could go to the Bridge and put 3 past Chelsea, the Premier League's destroyer's. The side that scores goals at will.

It would be huge, and it would certainly install belief within this maturing Arsenal squad. Belief that they can win at Old Trafford.

The game is a month later on the 12th December, but the knock on effect of beating Chelsea at home would build such momentum that it becomes vital to beat them in Manchester and go strongly into the return match with Chelsea 2 weeks later (27th December).

If they can come away with 9 points from these three fixtures, then the return leg against United on the 1st of May, could well be the day the trophy heads back to North London.

Keep Cesc and RVP fit and motivated

The two most dangerous weapons in Arsenal's armoury.

Unfortunately, Van Persie has glass ankles, and Fabregas may be dreaming of Catalunya and his Spanish Brother's.

Robin is known to be a fantastic player, and last year, he was in top form prior to injuring his ankle against Italy. Wenger must be careful in the way he uses Van Persie so as to limit the chances of him copping a serious injury and being out for another five months.

Having him come on against Blackpool at 5-0 up, was just silly.

On the other hand is Cesc, and Wenger has a tough job in maintaining Fabregas' mind-frame.

Cesc must maintain the desire and hunger to win trophies for Arsenal that he has for the previous 7 years of his career, and he must not focus on what is going on in the media and in Barca. Only Wenger can make sure that happens.

Hopefully Cesc acts like the professional he is and puts his best foot forward, week in, week out.

Win the Carling Cup

It's not a major trophy, nor the most prestigious, but the most important thing at the moment is to end the trophy drought. 

Humans are creatures of habit, so Arsenal need to get into the habit of winning trophies. The Cup is over in February, and its worth the effort.

It will appease the fans after 5 long years of nothing, and it will bond this group together, to make them a stronger unit that understands each other, and together, go on to achieve great things.

This current side need to learn to win trophies, they need to feel what it's like to be champions. Otherwise they are just going to get used to disappointment and losing, and thats a bad habit to get stuck with.

Sign a goalkeeper

Arsenal have not had a ‘keeper worthy of the jersey since David Seaman stood between the sticks. And unless Wenger signs one soon, it seems that this is where Arsenal’s title bid will come to a grinding halt, unlike many of the shots that will be fired at the error prone and entirely non-commanding Manuel Almunia and Lukasz Fabianski.

Arsene Wenger needs to either, splash the cash that Fulham are asking for Schwarzer, or look to sign another keeper.

For the past 3 season's Arsenal fans have been promised that Wenger will have money to spend in the transfer market and that he will spend it this time. But he rarely breaks the bank with his spending, and funnily enough, Arsenal have made an average of £600,000 per season since 2004.

Its nice, but its no trophy. Fulham are only asking for £4million, in the past six years, Wenger has made £3.6m. Surely the club has another £400,000 lying around somewhere!

If not Schwarzer, then at least make an attempt at another keeper, Given, Akinfeev, Stekelenburg - Any!

Concede fewer than 30 goals

It may not sound like a huge deal, but its the most important thing that Arsenal can do this season.

In 03/04, Arsenal won the league conceding only 26 goals, 04/05 Chelsea won the league, conceded a mind-boggling 15 goals, 05/06 again Chelsea, 22 goals, 06/07, Man Utd, in the 3 years they won, 27,22,24.

Of course, the exception is last season when Chelsea won the league, conceding 32 goals. However, they scored a massive 103 goals, 17 more than closest rival Manchester, and 20 more than Arsenal in third.

Arsenal have been rather poor defensively in the last few years and a new Keeper and CDM would go a long way in shoring up the defence. Wenger must act quickly with only 6 days left till the close of the market.

Last season Arsenal conceded 41 goals, the last time it was under 30 was in the year they went undefeated. Coincidence? 

Not likely.

Keep the faith

Thats right, keep the faith.

No team can win without the belief in themselves, the players around them and the manager. 

So the team must band together and believe that Wenger's plan will work because if the team can put everything together, then it will.

If they can kick through and keep winning in the next few weeks leading up to the game against Chelsea at the Bridge, then the belief will slowly start to return within the squad, and if key players are fit (RVP, Cesc, Song, Vermaelen - essentially the spine) then they will have a very realistic shot at beating the reigning champions. 

A victory at the Bridge would give the players the belief that they can travel well, and then come December do the same to Manchester at Old Trafford.

New additions need to be of quality and experience, no more stars for the future, the squad is full of those. 

No more points dropped in a silly manner, hopefully a new Goalkeeper will put an end to silly goals being conceded, and give the backline the commanding presence it has needed for years.

Win the Carling Cup, the players need to know what it feels like to be a winner.

Arsenal must do these ten things in order to have any chance at winning the Title. With the League becoming more than a four-horse race, it's not going to be easy. But its time for these Gunners to fire.