Each summer when i’m in London, I’ll usually meet up with a few friends who are life long Arsenal supporters. Each time I hear the same thing from them, “this time we’ll open the wallet, Benzema or Cavani will join. This year is our year”. However, reality tells a different story. The start of this summer was hopeful: After signing Petr Cech in early summer, it seemed like Wenger and the clubs management had decided to make significant signings to create a stronger squad that could be a real contender for the Premier League.
Then things changed. Arsenal failed to sign anyone else, leaving them as the only club across all of Europe’s top leagues not to make an outfield signing. Now that the transfer window has closed and without signing a top striker like Benzema or Cavani, who will score goals week in, week out?
Until today, the only positive thing has been that the Gunners have had luck on their side – they have won 2 games until now (Newcastle and Crystal Palace) , both games were won thanks to their opponent scoring own goals. In the last game vs Newcastle, Wenger had used Walcott to replace Giroud as striker, but that really didn’t change much. The team had 2 chances and nothing more. Meanwhile, Wenger keeps insisting on using Ramsey on the right wing, which allows Cazorla to play through the center. His form last season was superb, scoring match winning goals and adding an element of surprise to Arsenals attack, with him on the right, everything seems far too predictable.
The problem for the Gunners is that the team will face multiple games in a short amount of time – they travelled to Zagreb on Wednesday, 3 days before facing Chelsea in the premier league , they will then travel to Tottenham and Leicester. “I know the same team cannot play every single game over the next three weeks. I try to keep the balance right and give a little breather to players who need it.” said Wenger. However, Looking at the teams squad and injured players, there is not many options on the bench and it is unclear how can Wenger can keep a balanced team through so many tough matches.
Another major test for Wenger and Arsenal this year will the Champions League. The gunners were kicked out in the round of 16 in the past 5 years (last year by Monaco) and this season they have had a very bad start, losing to Dynamo Zagreb 2-1 in Croatia. Wenger however, prefer to blame ‘luck’ and the ‘referees’ instead of his players performance: “It’s difficult because we had a lot of the ball and we had early chances”, Arsene said in his post-match Press conference. “We were a bit unlucky tonight. I believe the first goal was offside and then afterwards the sending off was very harsh”. Wenger also said that this first lost does not concern him that much, as long as they will win at home: Mathematically we can qualify without any problem if we can produce the performances that we want at home. We have had problems starting in every competition this season. We were slow starting the Premier League and now the Champions League. I’m confident that we can put that right in the next five games”.
Lets hope Arsene and Arsenal can turn things around!
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