It happens every year doesn’t’ it? Around February time when Arsenal seem to be on the cusp of achieving the double or treble, it all begins to fall apart. But why has it been a recurring theme for the past ten years and what can be done to correct it?
A large proportion of Arsenal’s failings this season has been attributed to the striking department and in particular the inability at the start of the season to sign Luiz Suarez. The forty million and one pound deal has been widely hailed as an embarrassment for Arsenal. The sheer volume of goals that Suarez has managed to get this season has compounded the problem and added insult to injury. There is no doubt that Arsenal would be in a much better position with Suarez at the helm of their attack. He is the unanimous choice for the player of the year award and has propelled Liverpool from being a spent force to serious title contenders in a short space of time. However Arsenal have not been devoid of goals this season with the fourth highest in the premiership and main striker Olivier Giroud notching an impressive twenty-one so far this season. Having spent a long time at the top of the premier league it was ultimately not goals which cost Arsenal. To blame the failings of the season on the goals area of Arsenal’s game would be unwise and quite frankly incorrect.
It is no secret that Arsenal seem to rack up an immense amount of injuries every season. Last season nine hundred and ninety five days were missed in total by Arsenal players through injury and yet again they top this list this year. Various theories have eluded to why this may be the case but no definite proof has been found. Key injuries at key times have plagued Arsenal this season. Aaron Ramsey looked on course to be player of the season before a multiple of injuries have hampered his season. Arsenal have continually struggled to replace the influence that he had on the team in the opening part of the season. Theo Walcott is another big profile player, whose season has been blighted by injuries. He looked inspired upon his return to action but a fairly innocuous looking injury against local rivals Spurs has shot both Arsenal’s chances for the league and his chances of appearing in the World Cup in Brazil this summer. Ozil, Chamberlain, Podolski, Koscielny have all been injured for a prolonged period of time at some point or another this season. The lack of depth in particular areas is something that has played a part in Arsenal’s downfall this season and something that Arsene would need to address this summer. Another striker, defensive midfielder, goalkeeper, winger and cover at right back if Sagna leaves would provide Arsenal with the ammunition to compete on all fronts next season.
Another area Arsenal need to address is their record against the teams around them. They have gained five points out of a possible eighteen against title rivals Liverpool, Man City and Chelsea. It is not just this season this has happened but the shortcomings against the big teams have been synonymous for a number of years now. Maybe it is naivety on the part of Arsene Wenger to set his team up very openly against these top teams, especially away from home, maybe it is that Arsenal don’t have the quality to compete, maybe they lack leaders in their team or maybe it is a combination of all these factors which has culminated in the abysmal form. This problem needs to be assessed this summer and Arsene is no doubt the man to do this and to do it well.
With some clever rather than big spending in the summer Arsenal could go from top four ‘specialists’ to serious contenders on all fronts. With top four relatively assured and perhaps an FA Cup to boot Arsenal have by no means had a poor season. However there is always room for improvement and with a little tinkering I seriously believe that Arsenal have what it takes to finally reclaim the Premier league trophy, which has eluded them for so long.
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What do Arsenal need to do differently next season? Have your say in the comments section below |Â Photo via Ronnie Macdonald