With the start of the 2016-17 Premier League fast approaching, Outside90’s Adam Pallotta previews Arsenal’s preparation for the new campaign.
Arsenal look set to build on last season’s second place in the Premier League, but there are lingering question marks on whether Arsène Wenger can take his team all the way. The Gunners have had a turbulent preseason, with impressive performances marred by injury woes and a typical stubbornness to spend in the summer transfer window.
Offseason recruitment
Wenger has been frustratingly quiet during the summer transfer period, converting promising transfer speculation into a mere three signings. Swiss international Granit Xhaka was a welcomed, and much-needed, signing for £35 million from Borussia Monchengladbach. He has shown in his short time with Arsenal that he is ready to fill the Vieira-sized hole with his physicality and commitment to the tackle. Twenty-year-old Rob Holding was signed from Bolton Wanderers for £2 million and the composed England Under-21 will see minutes with both Per Mertesacker and Gabriel succumbing to injury during the preseason. Japanese striker Takuma Asano will likely be offloaded on loan as Wenger searches for an established striker to compete with Olivier Giroud.
Strengths
Arsenal boasts an imposing combination of attacking midfield options, with the talent of Aaron Ramsey, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Santi Cazorla in addition to complement superstars Mesut Özil and Alexis Sanchez. Throw in Theo Walcott and Joel Campbell, and the abundance of attacking-minded players will certainly cause opposition managers plenty of headaches.
At the ripe old age of 34, goalkeeper Petr Cech is arguably Arsenal’s most important player. His standout performances between the posts for the Gunners last season provided a silver lining to an otherwise disappointing campaign. He finished the season with 16 clean sheets, conceding less than a goal per game, and won his fourth Premier League Golden Glove award.
Wenger’s belief in youth is beginning to pay dividends, with a large crop of exciting players vying for selection after a strong preseason. Silky-smooth winger Alex Iwobi, the indefatigable Francis Coquelin, and dynamic full-back Hector Bellerin all impressed at youth level before stamping their claim over the last two seasons, and expect to see more follow suit.
Weaknesses
Since the end of the Bergkamp-Henry partnership, Wenger’s futile attempts to find an adequate striker have been tiresome. Former captain Robin Van Persie has been the most prolific goal scorer for Arsenal since then, but the long list of flops still haunts Gooners around the globe. With Frenchman Olivier Giroud the only fit, recognised out-and-out striker, Wenger will have to rely on youth or look to a thin transfer market for a solution.
Arsenal’s centre-defence stocks have taken a severe battering in recent weeks, an area where they’ve struggled to find sufficient cover in recent seasons. Wenger has ruled Laurent Koscielny unavailable for the opening rounds of the Premier League following his long-lived EURO 2016 appearance, while Per Mertesacker and Gabriel are both missing having been struck down by injury. This leaves Arsenal with very evident weaknesses and few convincing solutions.
Key Player – Mesut Özil
The German maestro is the creator in chief in the Arsenal side, and will need to replicate last season’s form if his side is any chance for the Premier League title. He finished the season with a league-high 19 assists and broke the record for the number of chances created (144). The attacking midfielder offers poise and an incredible eye for a pass. He was named Germany’s best player at EURO 2016, however, will start the season on the sidelines for Arsenal, after being handed an extended break following his international commitments.
Prediction
Arsenal is poised to take the next step this season but will need star players Özil and Sanchez to fire on all cylinders, and inspire the likes of Oxlade-Chamberlain, Ramsey, and Iwobi to greater heights. Wenger has replaced the deadwood with markedly superior and more-invigorated players, but mostly unproven. The central midfield screen of Xhaka alongside Coquelin or Elneny will help cover for a weakened centre-defence, but Arsenal are still a top-class striker away from a title-winning team.
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