Premier League 2018/19: SWOT Analysis of Arsenal

ARSENAL - THREATS

Wenger's departure

Arsene Wenger is a legendary figure at Arsenal

Arsene Wenger stepped down as Arsenal manager at the end of last season, after 22 years in charge of the London club.

Even though a new generation of football fans grew up seeing Arsene Wenger and his Arsenal teams being associated with disappointments and failures owing to the dearth of silverware in the last decade of his tenure as Arsenal coach, the Frenchman departed as the most successful manager in the club's history.

Older fans remember the glory years during the early part of Wenger's reign, which brought a plethora of titles, including the 2004 league crown which was won by 'the Invincibles', who went an entire season unbeaten in an eventual league record 49-game unbeaten run.

In today's world of rapid hiring and firing of coaches, Wenger was truly the last representative of the old guard, and left an imprint so great on the club that it might be difficult to erase.

The 68-year-old became synonymous with everything connected to Arsenal for over two decades, and history has shown us that football teams moving on from such legendary coaches or players is rarely transient, with Sir Alex Ferguson as an example at Old Trafford.

Even though most Arsenal fans wanted to see the back of Wenger owing to the stagnation the club experienced under him, his departure might even prove more problematic for the team, and the Frenchman's successors might struggle to fill in the huge shoes he left behind at the Emirates.

Transfer Inactivity and departure of some key players

One major complaint from Arsenal fans in recent years has been the lack of activity by the club in the transfer market, watching on as their rivals strengthened with top quality players, while Wenger signed unknown quantities, at the same time selling off their major players to rival clubs, and this reflected in the club's poor performances.

It is a trend which has continued this season, as the likes of Manchester United and Liverpool have spent big to bring in necessary players. Arsenal have maintained the status quo, signing four players for a total of €79m, with Stephan Lichtsteiner coming in for free from Juventus, while a couple of others have come back from their loan spell.

Some major first-team players have departed the team, with Santi Cazorla and Jack Wilshere leaving the club on a free transfer after the expiration of their contracts, while Per Mertesacker retired and there is speculation linking Aaron Ramsey with a transfer away from the Emirates.

These were all major dressing room characters, so their departure will leave a huge void in the team, and with Arsenal's lethargic activity in the transfer market thus far, they might find themselves falling further behind their rivals in the coming season.