Where the 4 EPL challengers need to improve to match Chelsea next season

Chelsea coasted to the Premier League title this season

With this season coming to a close, of the big 5, none of the 4 challengers have been able to match up or catch up to champions Chelsea. Having beaten Sunderland at home, they lifted the Premier League trophy after a five-year spell without it – they are indeed deserved champions. The rest of the pack have had great disparity in their performances this season and have found it a struggle to cope up with the Blues’ results, both head-to-head and throughout the season.

Let’s examine what went wrong for the rest and find solutions as to how they can fix their issues next season.

Arsenal

It's been the same old story for Arsenal, all style but lesser substance in the league. Their slick passing and silky football might have pleased the fans but they found themselves wanting in the games they had to mix it up with the likes of Stoke City and Manchester United, especially in the first half of the season. Although they have finished the second half of the season strongly and reached the FA Cup final, the fans would have wanted more from the Gunners in the league to get their hands on the elusive Premier League title.

For the Gunners finishing the season strongly was mainly down to the regaining of fitness of all of their players towards February and March and for all their criticism, a fully fit Arsenal side is one to be reckoned with. The North London side were thought to be contenders for the Premier League title this season, however, they ended the first half of the season in fifth place.

Ravaged by injuries throughout the first half of the campaign, the Gunners lost Laurent Koscielny, Olivier Giroud, Mesut Ozil, Theo Walcott and Jack Wilshere for most part of the season while Aaron Ramsey and Mikel Arteta were out for a lesser period of time.

Areas of improvement

Midfield: For all the talent Arsenal possess, they still don’t have a recognized top class holding midfield player to sit in front of their back four and anchor their midfield. Francis Coquelin may have won plaudits for his performances anchoring the Gunners midfield while Arteta was out injured but their lack of quality in that position has been exposed by some of the tougher midfield opposition in the EPL.

Recommendation – Morgan Schneiderlin, Ilkay Gundogan

Defence: Arsenal simply need another centre back. Wenger can’t risk playing his defenders out of position. The Gunners lost Koscielny through an Achilles injury in the first half of the season and it shook up their entire back four and derailed their season.

With the glaring lack of depth and options in that position, Wenger was forced to play Calum Chambers, Nacho Monreal and Mathieu Debuchy out of position at centre back – a move which made their defence much more leaky and lost them many a game both away and at the Emirates.

Signing Gabriel Paulista in the January transfer window has given Arsenal some cover for Per Mertesacker and Laurent Koscielny so it looks unlikely that Wenger will spend his budget on a defender next season.

Recommendation – Nicolas Otamendi, Simon Kjaer, Jose Fonte, Phil Jagielka, Ashley Williams, Andrea Ranocchia

Striker: The absence of Giroud forced the Gunners to play the mmisfiringDanny Welbeck up front while Yaya Sanogo filled in as his replacement in crucial games in the Champions League. The lack of a finisher with Giroud injured cost them a lot of forward hold up play and goals from a recognized striker.

The absence of the Frenchman also cost Arsenal a target man. The bulk of Arsenal’s goals have come from Alexis Sanchez, who has lit up the Premier League with his performances. But Arsenal need to bring in at least one forward next season.

Recommendation – Alexandre Lacazette, Alberto Bueno, Gonzalo Higuain, Harry Kane

Rooney — Manchester United need to get consistent with their form

Manchester United

The Red Devils’ formation changed as many times per game as David Beckham’s hairstyle did over the years in a season of experimentation at Old Trafford. 3-4-3, 3-5-2, 4-3-3, 4-4-2? If anybody has to be called the new tinker man in the league after Rafa Benitez and Claudio Ranieri it has to be Louis van Gaal. Too much uncertainty and experimentation is what has cost United a strong challenge for the league this season.

Van Gaal didn’t have a set back four or three, a set midfield three or a set striking partnership. With the exception of David De Gea in goal, every player at United was shuffled, shifted and made to play out of position.

The new recruits Herrera, Shaw, Rojo and Blind have all been in and out of the side while the EPL’s most expensive player Angel Di Maria has had to sit on the sidelines and watch as well. The resurgence of Marouane Fellaini, the consistency of Rooney, the brilliance of De Gea and contributions from Mata are what have led United to 4th.

United fans couldn't have expected a title charge immediately in Van Gaal’s first season as the club is undergoing a serious transition and change on the pitch, in the dressing room and outside it. Replacing Ferguson and his old team is no simple task. While Moyes failed in spectacular fashion last season, Van Gaal has found a winning formula after chopping and changing for most of the season.

Areas of improvement

Defence: United lack an experienced centre back to lead the defence. After letting Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand go last season they simply failed to find a replacement. In theory Phil Jones, Chris Smalling, Johnny Evans and Marcos Rojo are a very good centre back roster to have, but they have failed to find proper fitness and form throughout the season.

Constant injuries forced Van Gaal to use reserve players Tyler Blackett and Paddy McNair, who have performed decently enough. A strong defence was the hallmark of an Alex Ferguson team but is lacking in Van Gaal’s side.

Recommendations – Mats Hummels, Simon Kjaer, Rafael Varane, Thiago Silva, Jose Fonte, Phil Jagielka, Leonardo Bonucci, Ashley Williams

Midfield: United have an array of talent in midfield, but since Van Gaal has more or less decided on a 4-3-3 he has to decide how to play his midfielders intelligently. Michael Carrick being injured was a big miss and it is no coincidence that United’s winning streak coincided with Carrick being in the XI.

But a major concern is that he is almost 34 and may just have only another season in him. United must look to replace the man soon enough with Herrera still too young and Blind used in rotation.

Recommendations – Marco Verratti, Gary Medel, Ilkay Gundogan, Miralem Pjanic, Xabi Prieto

Striker: United need a striker to score. I wouldn’t think so if Falcao didn’t leave but with his departure they need one. Despite being played out of position, Rooney is a striker and along with Robin Van Persie and thats the best striking lineup in the league.

The question is can Van Gaal get them to start scoring again? I think its only a matter of time Van Persie needs to just stay fit and regain form, Rooney needs to be played as striker or support striker. United could go in for a big name this summer to bolster up their striking options. But I see flaws in their play which are leading to lack of supply and hence lack of goals up front, something which Van Gaal needs to address.Recommendation – Mauro Icardi, Edinson Cavani, Alvaro Morata, Gonzalo Higuain, Alexandre Lacazette, Alberto Bueno

Manchester City

At the Etihad the defending champions of last season have seen their title slip away to their London rivals Chelsea. In a season which saw inconsistent performances and slipping of form the citizens have paid for not integrating into their squad the wealth of talent which they possess and using them effectively.

Despite all their troubles City have scored the most goals this season (81) Sergio Aguero won the Golden Boot, so this begs the question if they scored the most goals why couldn’t they walk away with the title: the reason is failing to win in crucial games.

Of their losses, Stoke and West Ham apart City couldn’t win against teams at the top of the table and those at the bottom. Their loss card reads Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester United, Burnley and Crystal Palace. City have failed to use their squad effectively which also suggests that perhaps their squad is too big and finding motivation for the players may seem much more difficult.

Not the most renowned tactician, Pellegrini has found it difficult to win against the bigger teams and the more organized smaller teams. With their summer acquisitions of Fernando and Mangala, City disrupted an organized defence and a well running midfield.

Areas of improvement

Defence- City need to find an able partner for Vincent Kompany. Their defence has leaked in 38 goals this season and for all their endeavour at the other end they’ve regressed from previous seasons at the back.

The addition of the unconvincing Elaquim Mangala who hasn’t proved to be the most reliable centre back has forced Demichelis to continue as Kompany’s defensive partner despite his age. But if City want to get back to winning ways it has to start by building from the back.

Recommendations- Mats Hummels, Simon Kjaer, Phil Jagielka, Ashley Williams, Andrea Ranocchia, Giorgio Chiellini

Midfield- City have amassed so many defensive midfielders that it is difficult to tell apart the Fernandos from the Fernandinhos. But all jokes aside, City need more creativity from the centre of the pitch. Yaya Toure is on the decline after a sub-par season and needs to be replaced, Frank Lampard was signed last minute but after a few cameos looks to be leaving as well.

City need to go out and buy whether young or experienced a quality central midfielder to unlock the stubborn defences and to help out and ease the pressure off David Silva. Another option could be to buy a winger or inside forward but with Nasri, Milner(who is yet to extend his contract) and Navas already in the lineup an addition could stir things up.

Recommendations - Marco Verratti, Candreva, Javier Pastore, Antoine Griezmann, Christian Eriksen

Liverpool

It has been a torrid time as Liverpool manager for Brendan Rodgers with all of his summer acquisitions misfiring. Liverpool have been nothing short of calamitous defensively, conceding 42 goals and have been laclusture up front scoring only 51, that’s 30 goals short of Manchester City’s tally.

After spending 117m in the summer and adding the likes of Lambert, Lovren, Lallana, Markovic, Emre Can, Moreno and of course Balotelli the Reds have managed to only fight for 4th place and lose out in the end to United by 7 points.

Lovren has been shambolic at the back, Lallana and Lambert have been mediocre and Balotelli has probably been the worst striker in the league. It is a very grim and sad state of affairs for a club that was gunning for the title last season.

The injury to frontman Daniel Sturridge and the lack of a goal scorer have cost the Merseysiders dearly. To add to that the form of Raheem Sterling has taken a slight dip from the previous campaign. Agreed they’ve been unlucky with injuries but Liverpool need to evaluate how they’ve played this season and look to strengthen.

Areas of improvement

Defence - Failiure to replace the departing Daniel Agger with an adept replacement. Dejan Lovren has been unconvincing and has failed to step up his game to the big time following his summer transfer. Sakho’s injury has caused Liverpool to struggle to cope defensively and have resulted in a lack of organization at the back.

They need a defender of quality or Lovren needs to step his game up. Moreno has been impressive though.

Recommendations- Nicolas Otamendi,Simon Kjaer, Rafael Varane, Thiago Silva, Phil Jagielka, Ashley Williams

Midfield - Its the last we’ll see of Steven Gerrard in a Liverpool shirt and the Captain is somebody who is irreplaceable , but somebody has to fill in the legend’s shoes. Jordan Henderson will have to step his game up to new levels from now on. Enough said about that. A winger could also be in the reckoning with more assists needed.

Recommendations- Marco Verrati, Miralem Pjanic, Candreva, Christian Eriksen, Morgan Schneiderlin, Ilkay Gundogan, Antoine Griezmann, Dusan Tadic

Striker- Balotelli out. A fresh face in. 4 goals in 28 games is nothing short of pathetic even Fernando Torres scored more for Chelsea. Liverpool haven’t replaced Luis Suarez effectively and are still reeling with the lack of quality up front. Somebody needs to score goals for Liverpool and Rodger’s teamsheet is crying out for a top top striker. A certain most definite area of strenghtening.

Recommendation- Edinson Cavani, Mauro Icardi, Alvaro Morata, Gonzalo Higuain, Bas Dost, Harry Kane, Paulo Dybala, Alexandre Lacazette, Alberto Bueno... anybody for that matter.

Edited by Staff Editor