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Arsenal..preview..not looking good.
Rear View Mirror - Arsenal scored 27 goals in the final 15 minutes of Premiership matches last season – more than any other side.
Top scorer last season – Adebayor (24)
Significant Moves
In – Ramsey (Cardiff), Nasri (Marseille)
Out – Hleb (Barcelona), Gilberto Silva (Panathinaikos), Flamini (AC Milan), Lehmann (Stuttgart)
Win the title? – 4/1
Fire the Manager! – Arsene Wenger 50/1
Synopsis – After finishing only four points behind champions Manchester United last season and with the youngest team in the league there would appear to be a good case to be made for Arsenal taking that extra couple of steps up the table.
Particularly when you consider that they finished with eleven draws and only took six points from a possible 18 available against Liverpool, Manchester United and Chelsea.
A few draws become wins, or losses to United and Chelsea become draws or wins and the complexion of the top three changes very quickly. However, although Arsenal played some great football last season the gap between Arsenal and the top two was not accurately reflected by the final points differential.
Arsenal only conceded 31 goals last season (an improvement of four on the previous) but nowadays that is too many for a side with title aspirations. Last season United conceded 22, the year before 27, Chelsea’s championship seasons were 22 and 15, and Arsenal unbeaten season was 26.
When the chips were down the Arsenal defense was found wanting and with no changes it is doubtful that we will see an improvement in their league position this season.
In attack the drop off in goals from Adebayor (24) to the next highest highest Fabregas (8) was too great and such an over reliance on one player for goals means leans times when a dip in form hits. Nonetheless Adebayor is a solid bet for at least 15-20 Premiership goals again this season but Arsenal also needs a full season out of Van Persie, and more goals from the wide midfield positions.
They also need solid defensive cover in the centre of midfield. If Wenger can find the right player to team with Fabregas it might pay off not only in goals scored but in the goals against column as well.
Season’s narrative – Will Arsenal finally slip out of the top four or will they again prove the purveyors of gloom wrong once again?
Prediction – 3rd
Top scorer last season – Adebayor (24)
Significant Moves
In – Ramsey (Cardiff), Nasri (Marseille)
Out – Hleb (Barcelona), Gilberto Silva (Panathinaikos), Flamini (AC Milan), Lehmann (Stuttgart)
Win the title? – 4/1
Fire the Manager! – Arsene Wenger 50/1
Synopsis – After finishing only four points behind champions Manchester United last season and with the youngest team in the league there would appear to be a good case to be made for Arsenal taking that extra couple of steps up the table.
Particularly when you consider that they finished with eleven draws and only took six points from a possible 18 available against Liverpool, Manchester United and Chelsea.
A few draws become wins, or losses to United and Chelsea become draws or wins and the complexion of the top three changes very quickly. However, although Arsenal played some great football last season the gap between Arsenal and the top two was not accurately reflected by the final points differential.
Arsenal only conceded 31 goals last season (an improvement of four on the previous) but nowadays that is too many for a side with title aspirations. Last season United conceded 22, the year before 27, Chelsea’s championship seasons were 22 and 15, and Arsenal unbeaten season was 26.
When the chips were down the Arsenal defense was found wanting and with no changes it is doubtful that we will see an improvement in their league position this season.
In attack the drop off in goals from Adebayor (24) to the next highest highest Fabregas (8) was too great and such an over reliance on one player for goals means leans times when a dip in form hits. Nonetheless Adebayor is a solid bet for at least 15-20 Premiership goals again this season but Arsenal also needs a full season out of Van Persie, and more goals from the wide midfield positions.
They also need solid defensive cover in the centre of midfield. If Wenger can find the right player to team with Fabregas it might pay off not only in goals scored but in the goals against column as well.
Season’s narrative – Will Arsenal finally slip out of the top four or will they again prove the purveyors of gloom wrong once again?
Prediction – 3rd
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