Arsenal FC: How Can They Build From This?

After a promising start to the Premier League campaign which promised so much, Arsenal were yet again left for fight for fourth place towards the end of the campaign. Even before the start of the season, there were those who had high hopes for Arsenal. One of the main reasons for that was that this season marked the dawn of a new era for Chelsea and the two Manchester clubs. And although Arsenal didn’t have the best squad in the world, they had one thing the other three clubs didn’t, continuity.

However you saw it Arsenal started the season with unusually high hopes. Hopes that got even higher, with the club record signing of Mesut Ozil from Real Madrid. The signing of the German marked the dawn of something new for the Gunners who had gone eight years without a trophy. Although they lost their opening home game, they didn’t lost another game at the Emirates for the rest of the season.

Giroud was in amazing touch and behind him, the likes of Ramsey and Ozil were having a field day and Arsenal made the most of their attractive attacking play. While Arsenal have always been renowned for their attacking play, the partnership of Koscielny and Mertesacker blossomed into one of the best in the League and the club started keeping clean sheets as well.

At one point, Arsenal were running away with the League and then tragedy struck. Ramsey, who had been their player of the season so far got injured. Ozil suffered a blip in form and Giroud, their only world-class center forward lost his supporting acts and was left to forage alone up front. Although he didn’t get injured, leading the line on his own without any break, started to take its toll on the Frenchman, whose form also started to wane.

But, Arsenal didn’t lose hope and they still somehow managed to keep winning. But, they came into the business end of the season without several key players and it showed. After having lost just thrice until the month of January, Arsenal lost four times in the next two months and were in the middle of their worst patch of form which saw them take just 9 points from nine games from the first week of February to the first week of April.

A run that all but ended their hopes of a League title and put them in a precarious state going into the final five games. Although Arsenal finished the season on a five-game winning streak and ensured fourth place, a season which promised so much ended with a disappointing fourth place yet again. Their FA Cup win over Hull at least took some weight off their shoulders and a good summer transfer window will mean that Arsenal will be back again, challenging on all fronts next season.

Best Moment

For all of their good performances in the League, it was in the Cup competition that Arsenal put in their performance of the season. Saturday night’s win over Hull in the FA Cup final finally got the monkey off Arsene Wenger’s back and displayed the character and commitment of this Arsenal side. 2-0 down inside 10 minutes, the Gunners never lost hope and in the end were richly rewarded with an extra-time win thanks to a goal scored by who else, but their player of the season, Aaron Ramsey.

Worst moment

In season that saw yet more big game blues for Arsenal, their worst moment was also their heaviest league defeat of their campaign. Going into a crucial away clash with Chelsea, Arsenal had won just two of their previous five games. Although their morale was low going, it got even worse just minutes into the game as Chelsea came out all guns blazing and spoilt Arsene Wenger’s 1000^th game in charge of the club.

Going into the game, the Gunners had the joint-best defense in the League, but came out with a 6-0 defeat that all but ended their title aspirations. On a day that was supposed to be a celebration for Wenger, it turned out to be one of his darkest days in charge of the club, with the media and some sections of the fans, calling for his head.

Areas to improve

They needed a world class center forward to support Giroud and a replacement for the outgoing Bacary Sagna. Couple more reinforcements in both central defense and midfield would do the club no harm at all. On the back of a successful season that saw them claim their first trophy in nine years, some astute signings in both defense and attack will be the order of the day and someone like Loic Remy and Serge Aurier would be perfect for the club.

Verdict

On the back of a successful season that saw them qualify for the Champions League yet again and win their first trophy in nine years, Arsenal are certainly on the right track for next season. A couple of key signings in both defense and attack, coupled with replacements for any outgoing player will mean that the Gunners will be up there yet again challenging for the title.

Rating

7/10