Football News: Arsenal Premier League season so far
Image from: thirdyearabroad.com
Results so far:
H v Liverpool 3-4
A v Leicester City 0-0
A v Watford 3-1
H v Southampton 2-1
A v Hull City 4-1
H v Chelsea 3-0
A v Burnley 1-0
After last season's slightly disappointing failure to capitalise on the usual top four's failure to perform, Arsene Wenger spent big in the summer in order to go one better this season. A slow start saw grumblings among the fans intensify, but, since then, Arsenal's form has improved and they have the look of a team with intent. The thing is, this being the Gunners, this could be just another season of looking good in patches, only to fail to follow through.
With Theo Walcott finally looking like a quick footballer, rather than a sprinter with football boots on, Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil being class, and more grit with Francis Coquelin and Granit Xhaka, Arsenal are looking more of a threat than usual. Though this does feel familiar, as, a few years ago, we had an Arsenal editor on the site, each time, before the season started, he would tell us all how this was Arsenal's year and they would win the league this season. Each season we would all disagree with his optimism. Every Christmas time he would be pointing at the league table, asking us if we had changed our mind yet, as Arsenal were right up there. Then, at the end of the season he would go quiet as the Gooners drop out of contention for anything other than a top 4 place.
Could this year be different? Wenger has certainly pushed the boat out this year, unlike previous years, no longer content to get just one expensive player for one of the three holes in the squad. This summer Arsene went and filled a couple of holes in the squad and also added Xhaka, who was just about strengthening the team, rather than to fill a gap. Added to the stability around the club, this is their best chance since, well, since last season. This time, they stand a chance even if the rest of the big clubs do not fold like last season.
A lot depends on the scouting, whether or not the new signings Shkodran Mustafi, Xhaka and Lucas Perez, that were recommended and purchased, are the right players. That is a worry, when you consider the case of Theo Walcott, who was heavily scouted before his arrival, leading to Wenger asking one of the ex-pros at Arsenal (I seem to remember it being Liam Brady, but I could be wrong on that as it was a long time ago the story was told to me) to check out the youngster he wanted to sign from Southampton. When the report came back, it told Wenger to forget him and sign the lad playing on the other wing, who was a much better player, but Wenger ignored the report and signed Walcott anyway. I am sure we can all agree what a great decision that was, as who has heard of the lad on the left he decided not to look at? Someone called Gareth Bale. Arsenal fans will be hoping similar mistakes have not been made with this summer's signings too.
Written by Tris Burke October 05 2016 09:08:58
