3 Reasons Why Arsenal Can Win The Premier League
It has been ten years since Arsenal’s Invincibles became the first team to go an entire Premier League season unbeaten. Despite a decade having passed, it is still slightly surprising that not a single player from that squad remains at the club. The one man who does is manager Arsene Wenger, who has had to defend his side’s trophy drought since winning the FA Cup in 2005.
Ten years on from their emphatic last title win, one must wonder whether they will be able to summon the spirit of that team and get their hands on silverware once again.
Having just gone top of the table with a win over Stoke, here are three reasons why Arsenal can mount a genuine challenge for the Premier League:
They have done it before
As mentioned earlier, the Gunners have won the title before. Whilst the last time they did was in 2004 and with a different group of players, the entire setup of the club is one of title contenders, which has made failing to come close in recent seasons even more frustrating for fans.
Their rivals are in transitional periods
David Moyes, Manuel Pellegrini and Jose Mourinho all stepped into their current jobs just a few months ago, whilst the managers of dark horses Tottenham and Liverpool have only an extra year’s experience at their respective club. The retirement of Sir Alex Ferguson means Arsenal currently have the longest-serving coach in the Premier League. This may not seem like much in the ever-changing managerial landscape, but it is considerably more impressive when acknowledging that Wenger has been in his position in the top flight over 13 years longer than anyone else.
They have an exciting blend of youth and experience
Fans may have had issues with the club’s policy of developing youngsters rather than making big-money signings, but Wenger’s patience and trust in his players may be starting to pay off. The likes of Theo Walcott, Kieran Gibbs, Aaron Ramsey are now all in their prime, whilst Jack Wilshere, Carl Jenkinson and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain are set to follow as the next group of British talents. Whilst Arsenal still have fewer English players than most Premier League teams, the foreign imports they have brought in provide a wealth of experience from competing in the top flights of France, Germany and Spain.
The only thing Arsenal have managed to guarantee successively over the years is Champions League football. Whilst many pundits fear this could be the season their impressive run of qualifying ends, can the Gunners spring a surprise and go for the gold?
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