Arsenal are one of the most successful football clubs of all time. They’ve won 13 league titles, 10 FA Cups, 2 League Cups, 12 Community Shield’s and a European Cup Winners Cup, yet it appears to all that their glory days are far behind them.
With no Premier League title in over 10 years and fans demanding changes be made, Arsenal are very slowly losing the accolade of being classed as “giants” in English football.
But why do I think that Arsenal are heading back to the top once more?
Here are three reasons why:
1. Change in manager
With the new appointment of Unai Emery and some good business during the summer transfer window, Arsenal are already beginning to look transformed and there’s an excitement around the club, which fans haven’t experienced for a while.
For the last eight years, all Arsenal fans have done is cry out for Arsene Wenger’s head as the club continued to lose the momentum. Unai Emery was a great appointment for Arsenal. He’s a fresh face who the fans believe in, he isn’t afraid to make changes with transfers, he knows where Arsenal’s problems lie and ever since his appointment, he’s been treating those problems.
He’s a tactical leader who will make Arsenal much more relaxed and organised defensively. Admittedly, defending isn’t Arsenal’s biggest problem at this time but if you look at every Arsenal side down the years, there was always that one world-class centre-back who could keep things tight for the Gunners such as Tony Adams or Thomas Vermaelen.
Arsenal don’t have that privilege anymore and being more organised at the back will compensate for that. You could tell last season that some players just didn’t want to play for Wenger. The man had lost the dressing room and the players certainly didn’t give it their all, at times. Under Emery, it feels like it’s a new beginning and you can be certain the players will be up for this season.
2. Summer signings
A huge problem Wenger had towards to the end of his tenure at Arsenal was that his stubbornness wouldn’t allow him to spend money. Arsenal had the money but just never spent it. It almost felt like he knew there was a problem but he was too stubborn to admit or fix it and after his departure, Emery has done some great business.
Already this summer, Arsenal have spent around £70 million and they plan on doing more business before the transfer window shuts in August. Getting these deals done before pre-season was key as it will allow the players to adapt to being in a new country and will give them time to get themselves familiar with the club before the new season. With Petr Cech making severe and costly mistakes at times last season, it seems as though the Czech will take a backseat this year to young German international Bernd Leno, who has impressed in the Bundesliga over the last few years. He’s a long-term replacement and a superb signing.
The defence has been solidified with the addition of the experienced Sokatris from Borussia Dortmund and Stephan Lichsteiner, who for many years, has been part of a Juventus defence hailed as the best in the world. Plus, the introduction of Lucas Torreira, will give Arsenal more creativity going forward and he will also be able to completely change games for Emery’s side.
3. Pierre Emerick Aubameyang
This man possesses all the tools to be the next big thing in England. He’s strong, rapidly fast, a good technical player, can score with any part of his body and is the world class goal scoring forward Arsenal have been missing since Robin Van Persie’s departure to Manchester United in 2012.
The Gabon born forward is a dark horse for next year’s Golden Boot award and after having already linked up with Henrikh Mkhitaryan back in his Borussia Dortmund days, there is no that this man will be at the front of Arsenal’s success. With 145 goals to his name in the last five years for club and country, there is no doubt that this man will continue his success from the second half of last season. He will terrify defences with his sheer size, strength, power and natural striker’s instinct. He’s Arsenals clear choice upfront next season with Alexandre Lacazette a likely sporadic striker partner and Danny Welbeck set to exit the Emirates in the coming weeks, Aubameyang is going to have a lot of time to perfect his craft up top.
