Arsenal look ready to replicate last season ahead of their upcoming campaign and with some big name reinforcements, they look stronger than ever. If they can keep all their star players fit, then there is no stopping Arsene Wenger and his men.
The English Premier League will start in due course but the Gunners will first get a warm up match with current champions Manchester City in the Charity Shield today.
So, with that in mind, here are SIX things to expect from Arsenal this season.
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A Top Four Finish
Arsenal have always been part of the top four and this season will be no different. With Arsene Wenger going through yet another spending spree following last season’s huge splash on Mesut Ozil, the Gunners are looking even stronger.
Whether first, second, third, or fourth, Wenger will at least have to guarantee a place in the UEFA Champions League in their upcoming campaign. Anything lower than that, then a change in management may need to be considered. Straight back to training they go!
New Signings Will Shine
Matheiu Debuchy and Calum Chambers will be expected to shine as the pair will already have Premier League experience, but expectations will be even higher for their £35 million signing Alexis Sanchez. Despite the former Barcelona star not having any experience in England, his time with the La Liga giants should have already prepared him for what’s to come.
Debuchy will most probably become the club’s first choice right back, so expect him to replicate his Newcastle form from day one. Arsene Wenger has shown a lot of trust in Calum Chambers, and with the young Englishman expected to start in place of Per Mertesacker in the heart of defence, there is no room for error.
More Silverware
Arsenal recently ended their nine year trophy drought after beating Hull City 3-2 to be crowned FA Cup champions, so everyone should be expecting them to add more silverware to their cabinet. What better way to start their campaign than to come out victorious in the upcoming Charity Shield match versus the current Premier League champions Manchester City.
Whether it’s another FA Cup repeat, the Carling cup, the Premier League, or even the UEFA Champions League, Arsene Wenger will surely be targeting to win at least one of their many upcoming tournaments.
Serious Title Contenders
During the first half of last season, Arsenal were actually title favourites after starting the campaign on a very high note. However, with injuries holding back the squad, they began the second half of their Premier League run with a slow decline in form and not enough adequate cover in various positions.
This time around, with a few important additions to the squad, Arsene Wenger will surely not allow any more mishaps in this back line. Expect a title push from the Gunners in the upcoming campaign as squad depth looks to not become a problem anymore.
Ozil Will Be Back to His Best
Last season, during the tight match schedule in December, Mesut Ozil looked tired as he was not used to the busy Premier League campaign. However, with an entire season to get used to the game, we expect the German play-maker to score even more as well as create even more.
Last season we saw him net six and provide 10 in 26 league matches, but more will be expected of him as he is the main link up between the midfield and the attacks. The addition of Alexis Sanchez will give him yet another attacking outlet he can provide a killer pass to.
Competition for Places Between the Sticks
The acquisition of David Ospina means that Wojciech Szczesny’s place between the stick is no longer safe. Any mistakes or howlers that he causes could pretty much be his last appearance. With Ospina performing brilliantly for his national side, his quality is there; all he needs now is a chance to prove himself to Arsene Wenger.
This can also mean that the goalkeeping pair may be rotated between league games and cup matches as Wenger will finally have to decide on who will be his new number one. The plus side to this is that both of them will be on top of their game in hopes of retaining a spot in the Gunners starting line-up.