Arsenal - 2018 Season Preview

All Arsenal fans have had to cheer about in the last ten years has been Champions League qualification and three FA Cups. To most clubs, this is a successful decade, to Arsenal this is failure. Arsenal last season were no longer a side that teams feared coming up against, they were no longer a side that you thought could challenge for the title or for a European accolade.

However, with new many Unai Emery in charge and four new signings in the door. Gunners fans will hope that the Spaniard can bring back the fear-factor associated with Arsenal or at least challenge for silverware bigger than the FA Cup.

When you look at last seasons results, where Arsenal need to improve is clear for all to see - at home only Manchester City picked up more points than Arsenal but away from home Arsenal picked up less points than Crystal Palace, Bournemouth and Burnley.

The Gunners picked up 16 points from 19 away games last season and if they'd matched Burnley's away points total, they would've retained their place in the Champions League.

Lucas Torreira (Right) is Arsenal's most expensive transfer this Summer.

The Squad

Goalkeepers

With Bernd Leno and Petr Cech as first and second choice, the team is in more than capable hands when it comes to their goalkeeping department.

Full backs

With Lichtsteiner backing-up Hector Bellerin, Arsenal are perfectly sound in their right back position. However, in my opinion, they are weakest at left back where neither Sead Kolasinac or Nacho Monreal are good enough at defending.

Centre backs

Arsenal need cover in the centre-back area desperately. They currently have four first team centre-backs and one of them is injured at least twice a season and currently is now out until November.

Centre midfield

Praise the lord! Arsenal finally have a decent defensive midfielder in Lucas Torreira, Elneny is a decent back-up but is not up to standard for the first team. Granit Xhaka, Aaron Ramsey and Mesut Ozil are fighting it out for the other two spots and it'll be interesting to see how Matteo Guendouzi fits into the team when called upon.

Forwards

It looks like Unai Emery will play with a forward three this season with Aubameyang and Mkhitaryan playing just off Lacazette. They can always rotate their formation to bring in Danny Welbeck and Alex Iwobi if they're confident of a win. However, Arsenal fans may want a little more explosive power coming off the bench.

One to watch - Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang

Best signing - Lucas Torreira

Weak link - Nacho Monreal

Players needed - 3

Expected starting line-up

Unless Unai Emery has something different lined-up to counter-attack Manchester City's system it seems fairly obvious which team Arsenal will line-up with against the Citizens. This is my predicted line-up.

Arsenal's predicted starting XI Vs Manchester City

I think Emery has so far strengthened three of the positions Arsenal were weakest last season. Offensively, Arsenal are fantastic and can rely on the front three of Aubameyang, Mkhitaryan and Lacazette to damage any defence in the league. For years Arsenal fans have been crying out for a Patrick Vieira style midfielder and they've been given Mohamed Elneny and Francis Coquelin. They just weren't good enough for a side who were supposed to be challenging for the title.

Personally, I still believe Arsenal need another centre-back. I believe Sokratis will be an amazing signing for them but I'm still not convinced on Shkodran Mustafi and with Laurent Koscielny out until at least November an injury to Sokratis would mean Arsenal are left with Mustafi and Holding as their centre-back partnership - something I'm sure no Arsenal fan wants to see ever again.

In terms of a goalkeeper, it feels like it was the right time for Arsenal to move on from Petr Cech; it was great that the Czech international claimed his 200th clean sheet at the club but he realistically isn't at the level needed for a Champions League standard goalkeeper. He will definitely do a job at 90% of the clubs around Europe but the decision to sign Bernd Leno seems to be the right one. Who knows? It might even inspire Cech into recapturing his form.

The only position that should be strengthened is the left back position; neither Monreal or Kolasinac are strong enough defensively for a top four side.

Season prediction

Final league position

Expect a slow start from Emery's men simply because their first three games are very difficult indeed. That being said, Arsenal will definitely be in and around the top four come January. I can see them mounting a title challenge but they might also pick up a few injuries which will cost them dearly if Emery can't bring in a couple more backup players.

Prediction - 4th

Cup competitions

EFL Cup - Fifth round

Arsene Wenger rarely put out a strong squad for the EFL cup and I can't imagine Unai Emery to be going go all-out for this competition. He knows the fans want more and therefore when they come against a Premier League side who go all out, they'll possibly lose out and I think that'll be in the fifth round.

FA Cup - Quarter final

Obviously, these competitions depend on the luck of the draw and I think Arsenal will scrape through against the majority of opposition. However, I do believe Emery will try and focus on winning the Europa League over the FA Cup.

Europa League - Quarter/Semi Final

Emery loves this competition, the Spaniard won it three years in a row with Sevilla before moving to PSG. The only issue with Arsenal is that I can envision a strong team coming out of the Champions League and taking them all the way, especially in the later stages of the season when legs begin to tire.

Agree with my predictions? Leave a comment with your predictions for Arsenal in the upcoming season.