Less than a year into his stint as Arsenal manager and it is fair to say that the Mikel Arteta era is picking up the pace and when you consider that the former midfielder has already won two pieces of silverware in such a short time, there is the reason for increased optimism at the Emirates.
As we go into the new Premier League season, Arsenal find themselves at 33/1 in the outright market according to SBR and although overall success is something which may elude them, the Gunners will be confident of at least returning to the top four at the end of next May.
Should that be the case, it will end their exile from the Champions League and signify a genuine turning of a ship that under the last days of Arsene Wenger and the length of Unai Emery’s tenure, looked somewhat rudderless.
Arsenal may not have as much money as their big six rivals, but it is fair to say that they have managed their budget well and although there have been a number of criticisms regarding the club being nothing more than a London retirement home, the capture of Willian looks rather shrewd.
The Brazilian has switched his capital allegiance to the Emirates after seven seasons at Stamford Bridge and after a stint that saw the now 32-year-old win two Premier League titles and one FA Cup. A trophy-winning experience no doubt welcomed by his new teammates.
Of course, winning trophies is something Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal have already experienced after the two recent successful trips to Wembley. and that feeling of winning a final, whatever the trophy on offer is, cannot be underestimated. Critics will point to the fact that it is only an F.A. Cup and certainly only a Community Shield, but secured the club it’s place in Europe.
While much has been made of Arsenal’s wheeling and dealing in the transfer market, tying down Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to a new contract was a big deal. It’s unlikely that there’s a club in existence whose players don’t fear our man from Gabon. Apart from Liverpool.
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Playing in Europe, albeit the Europa League, is important. Arsenal might not face big clubs unless we’re good enough to reach the latter stages but the competition itself guarantees the winners Champions League football the following season and right now, that surely has to be the club’s main aim. Chelsea, Liverpool, Everton, Man City have all strengthened their squads, Utd too but if their luck runs out, they could be in trouble. Our north London rivals are another club who’ll probably around the top six or seven.
It’s far too early to start making predictions about which club will finish where, who’ll win the league and who’ll get relegated so best leave that to the so called footballing experts on television but there’s likely to be a few surprises. Aston Villa and Everton being two.
Maybe even Arsenal.
