Just past the halfway point in what has been one of the most unpredictable seasons since the Premier League’s inception, pundits are speculating that this could finally be Arsenal’s year. Gunners fans are daring to dream that the long wait for a league title is finally over. But will their hopes and dreams be shattered? History is not on Arsenal’s side as Arsene Wenger’s teams have a track record of crumbling under pressure it when it really counts. One thing is for certain, they must capitalise on this opportunity.
The squad
This is one of the most exciting Arsenal squads in years, and the intense, attacking football that they are playing is one of the reasons why so many people buy tickets to see the Gunners. Traditionally, they are terribly unlucky with injuries, and this season hasn’t been an exception. Star players such as Santi Cazorla, Jack Wilshere, Francis Coquelin and Alexis Sanchez have all been ruled out for prolonged periods and many were wondering how the team would manage without these key figures.
However, the Gunners have shown strength in depth and soldiered on without them, with players such as Mesut Ozil and Olivier Giroud really stepping up to the challenge and providing the goals and assists. Sanchez’s imminent return from injury can only serve to strengthen Wenger’s attacking options even further. The signing of Mohamed Elneny from FC Basel will also provide some much needed coverage in the centre of the park.
Perhaps the most important signing for Arsenal’s title hopes has been Petr Cech, who has played every league match this season. He has kept 10 clean sheets and made 75 vital saves at the time of writing, and this stalwart between the posts has made an incredible difference.
The fixtures
In the past, Arsenal’s title hopes have been dented by Wenger’s inability to pick up vital points against other title challengers. But this season could be the turning point for them, as they have already recorded wins against Manchester City, Manchester United, and Leicester City, with a draw against Tottenham Hotspur.
If they are going to go the distance this season, the key games in the latter stages will be away fixtures at Spurs, United and City. A draw in each of these ties would be acceptable, but if they can pick up at least five or six points from the three games, it would strengthen their title credentials greatly. The face off at the Etihad will take place on the second to last week of the season, and fans will be desperately hoping that Arsenal have created an unbridgeable gap between themselves and their main rivals before this game. If it turns out that this fixture is the title decider, many will be expecting the Gunners to fold under the expectation.
The rivals
Going with what the bookies are saying, this season is a two horse race between Arsenal and City, with the odds slightly in favour of the sky blues. City have been hard to predict this season. They have generally been excellent at home but have failed to get the results they need on the road. Now that Sergio Aguero is back from injury and amongst the goals, this could all be about to change. The main thing for Arsenal to do is focus on winning their own games because this could be a very tight race.
Obviously the likes of Leicester and Spurs should not be forgotten, as they have both been excellent so far this season. Perhaps the reason why the bookies aren’t considering them as serious title contenders is that their weaker squads are unlikely to keep up the pace as the season becomes hectic in the final quarter.
The history
The less optimistic of fans will be holding their breath for a while longer yet, as Wenger’s Arsenal have a history of throwing it away in the final stages, and some suggest that they don’t play as well under pressure. In 2008, Arsenal were five points clear at the top of the table towards the end of February, only for Wenger to see his men end the season in third. In the 2013/14 season, Arsenal led the league table on New Year’s Day and ended the campaign seven points behind the winners, Manchester City.
But, in both of those seasons, the competition was a lot fiercer than it is now. In a campaign where any team seems capable of beating any team, Arsenal can rely on the fact that their rivals will more than likely drop a few points towards the end of the season.
The return of Sanchez could be perfectly timed. The Chilean has shown himself to be fixture-proof when it comes to scoring goals, and he could revitalise the team and push them that little bit harder in the final stages.
All things considered, this is looking like a prime opportunity for the Gunners to lift the title, after a very long wait.
