Can Arsenal Hang With The Big Boys?
With the Premier League opener done and dusted, Arsene Wenger and the Arsenal faithful will be looking forward to a season in which they don’t have to hear about about nine years without silverware.
Last season’s dramatic F.A Cup final win over Hull has far more significance than the elation of winning a trophy, it’s the death of a notion that Arsenal are no longer winners.
It’s the end of the belief the Gunners had become a ‘selling club’ pertained by several departures who went on to enjoy trophy-laden careers and jokes of being Manchester City’s feeder club.
The truth is, Arsenal knew they were in for a period like that. Building the Emirates was always going to be a costly venture, and there would be certain financial parameters that would need to be adhered to in order to come out the other side.
Now, the Gunners are a self-sufficient outfit who generates their own income, and don’t need to utilise tycoons or Sheiks to compete in the market.
And it’s shown. Last years’ acquisition of Mesut Ozil and this summer’s arrival of Alexis Sanchez from Real Madrid and Barcelona respectively, show the red-half of north London’s progression in the market.
That pair cost around £72m between them. If you had told an Arsenal fan two years ago that Arsene Wenger would spend that, they would laughed in your face. But, Mousier Wenger is a far more astute man than some give him credit for – as if he has to prove himself.
It would be very naive to think another manager could have guided Arsenal through this period of evolution any better. Wenger has laid the foundations for the club to grow and thrive, long after his redefining tenure comes to a close.
What does all this mean for this season? Well, the bookies would have one believe Arsenal are destined for fourth spot again. Yet a comprehensive victory over champions Manchester City in the Community Shield plus a (gritty) opening day win must raise a few eyebrows – can Arsenal hang with the big boys?
Yes, City were missing the imperious Vincent Kompany and the electric Sergio Aguero, but Arsenal were without a certain world-cup winning trio and Theo Walcott.
The nature of the Crystal Palace win must also have impressed the fans as strange as it sounds as it showed they can win ugly when needed.
Wenger is now in a position where now he only loses players on his terms, and has in turn built and created a squad fierce in quality and hunger.
If Arsenal dip into the market once more before the close of the summer window and add a striker or defensive midfielder, they’re without a doubt contenders for the Premier League title.
In essence, last season their failings were spectacularly highlighted in their meetings with the other top sides. Arsenal fans will be hoping the Community Shield victory (predicted by many) sets a very welcome precedent for the season ahead.
