At the start of last season, if you had told any Arsenal fan that the club would qualify for the Champions League yet again and finally end their trophy drought with an FA Cup win, they would have bitten your hand off. But having led the league longer than any other club, losing the title to Manchester City would surely have left a sore taste in Arsene Wenger’s mouth. Although they did end their nine-year trophy drought by winning the FA Cup, most Arsenal fans would have preferred if it was the League rather than the cup that ended it.
Whatever the case, Arsenal go into the 2014/15 season with the monkey well and truly off their back and with a renewed sense of optimism. The departure of the experienced Sagna would surely hurt, their chances, but if Arsenal do sign a replacement, and a couple of more players, then they surely stand a legitimate chance of securing the title this time around.
The two main areas of concern for Arsenal last season was their under-strength midfield and the lack of a world class winger. While Arsenal had plenty of players who can attack from central midfield, barring Mathieu Flamini they had no one to shore up the defence and sit in front of them. Arteta showed signs of getting on and the lack of a world class replacement hurt their chances. As a result of this, the Gunners were at times overrun in midfield, which left the defence exposed very easily.
Should Arsene Wenger solve this problem in central midfield, their goals conceded tally would reduce dramatically. One player Wenger has been looking at, is Southampton’s Morgan Schneiderlin. The 24-year-old Frenchman who is currently playing in the World Cup for France has impressed one and all in England ever since he moved here from Strasbourg. One of the Frenchman’s unique characteristics is ability to mop up in front of the back four, while at the same time providing a Launchpad for the attack to develop.
Schneiderlin’s technical ability coupled with his defensive awareness, make him an ideal signing for the Gunners, who are in dire of world class defensive midfielders. While it might not easy to prize him away from the Saints, if the Gunners do manage that they will solve their midfield problem in one go.
Another player who would be just as important, but in a different sense would be Alexis Sanchez. The Chilean winger was in sublime form in Brazil and is coming off the back of a superb season for Barcelona. With the Chilean one of the players likely to be shown the exit door, bringing him to the Emirates might not be such a difficult task. Some reports are already claiming that the Chilean is almost certainly on his way to Arsenal.
If those reports are indeed true, then Arsenal will have their hands on one of the most versatile forwards in the game right now. Sanchez’s ability to wriggle out of a tight corner and both creat and score goals would certain add a different dimension to Arsenal’s attack.
Last season, one of the drawbacks of their attack was that it was very central and narrow. Although both full backs tried to push forward, the lack of a world class winger meant that all attacks were invariably down the middle. If they do get their hands on Sanchez, their attack will be a lot more varied and once Theo Walcott is fit again, they can play both on either flank and attack down the wings and centrally as well.
Apart from these two additions, if they can get their hands on a solid replacement for Sagna, then the Gunners would be well on their way towards clinching their first League title since “the invincibles” season back in 2004. With a solid defence, a goal keeper who is maturing all the time, an attack that has so many skilful ballplayers and a potent striker, Arsenal could well challenge for the League yet again. And should they sign Schneiderlin, Sanchez and a replacement for Sagna, they would no doubt have squad that can convert those top four finishes, into a trophy.
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