2014-15 was labelled a season of progress for Arsenal – they retained the FA Cup and finished in the Premier League’s top three for the first time since 2012. However, can their squad mount a title challenge next season?
Fighting on four fronts
Of course, a title challenge would be the main aim for the Gunners in the 2015-16 season, but in modern football teams need to be capable of challenging on multiple fronts. Not only will Arsenal be required to mount a title challenge, but it would be expected that they improve in the UEFA Champions League after being eliminated from the round of 16 five years in a row.
The domestic cups must also be taken into consideration. FA Cup victories have been the bright spots of the last two campaigns, and it would be expected that the Gunners make a worthy attempt at winning the trophy for a third year in a row. Perhaps a sixth round (quarter-final) appearance would be the minimum requirement. Add the Capital One Cup into the mix, and the feats expected of North London’s red half next season forms a formidable proposition.
At a domestic level, Arsenal must aim to compete with Chelsea and Manchester City in terms of overall squad strength. Are the Gunners up to the task?
Core strength
The core positions usually required for a successful side are goalkeeper, central defence, central midfield (usually defensive and offensive roles) and striker. Arsenal already has a world-class centre-back in Koscielny and Mesut Ozil, the club’s record signing, sparkles as a central attacking midfielder. For Arsenal, this ‘core’ shows three main weaknesses and those familiar with the club can probably recite them from memory – goalkeeper, defensive midfield and striker.
In goal for the Gunners David Ospina has enjoyed a good run of form and Wojciech Szczesny made a successful return to the first team in the FA Cup final. However, the argument posed by many is that a title contender needs an undisputed number one of world-class standard. Szczesny has caused trouble off the field with his smoking indiscretions, and his inconsistent form saw him dropped in favour of the Ospina, and it looks as though the Polish international may never fulfil his early promise. In Ospina’s case, he has demonstrated remarkable consistency in the second half of the season, but he has not yet displayed the ability of a world-class shot-stopper.
An advantage for each of the goalkeepers is time. At 25 and 26 respectively, Szczesny and Ospina still have their suggested peaks in front of them and can potentially play for another decade. Also, Ospina has only spent half a season in the starting eleven and will more than likely be given next season to further prove his credentials.
In defensive midfield, the return of Francis Coquelin has no doubt been a key factor in the Gunners’ form over the second half of the season. However, there are still some lingering concerns about his ability to perform over the course of a full season and the side’s vulnerability if he becomes injured.
Statistics seem to show that Coquelin can mix it with the best ball-winners in the league, with 4.25 interceptions and 3.17 tackles every 90 minutes. Although he may not provide as much going forward, the young Frenchman acts as the perfect conduit between the defence and midfield. With midfielders like Santi Cazorla and Mesut Ozil playing alongside him, there is not much need for Coquelin to contribute to attacks. At 24 years of age, Coquelin should ideally be approaching the peak of his powers and like Ospina, Wenger will undoubtedly provide his compatriot a chance to cement his place in the first team.
In the centre forward spot, there is Olivier Giroud. The Frenchman scored 14 goals in the Premier League despite only making 21 starts, an improvement upon the 16 he scored in 36 starts in the 2013-14 season. Despite his ability to consistently find the back of the net, there is a perpetual campaign for Arsene Wenger to secure a world-class striker to propel the side to the next level. Someone in the mould of Luis Suarez or Gonzalo Higuain, a striker that can score goals in a variety of ways and contribute to the team’s attacking build-up.
When compared to the Premier League’s top four scorers for the season, Giroud appears to be a more efficient Charlie Austin. The striker lacks an extra yard of pace that would enable him to take on defenders, leaving the air as his primary area of operation. Wenger does have speedier alternatives in the form of Theo Walcott and Danny Welbeck, but at present neither has been able to launch a sustained challenge for a starting role. However, given Walcott’s performance in the final two games of the season, that may change in the new campaign. With these three players as viable options, it is difficult to see Wenger making a move for a new starting striker.
Check back tomorrow for part two of our Arsenal squad assessment, which will focus on the wide areas and squad depth.
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