Why Arsenal will touch silverware this year

The ninth year counting, and the Gunners have rarely come close to clinching even the least prestigious titles. It has been a tragic era for the team indeed, but a period in which the team rarely ceased to entertain and irrespective of a varied array of problems, the grit and genius of Arsene Wenger has managed to keep them competing every year in Europe’s top tourney.

The Gunners however, have begun this season with a sort of diamond shine to their proceedings. The first eight weeks of the season have seen them throw forth a rather polished performance in every game, the first Villa encounter set aside.

After observing the North London side on a consistent basis and scrutinizing them vigorously, I believe I can state a few reasons as to why Arsene Wenger’s outfit can and will get their noses close to silverware this year.

I will begin with the team’s attacking department. Olivier Giroud as we have seen began the season with a fiery aspect to his striking skills, and though he hasn’t been netting the ball as often in the last couple of weeks, his standards certainly seemed to have geared up with respect to the preceding campaign.

I see Olivier containing much more potential within, and he can be expected to offer a lot more to the team and undoubtedly be among the top netters list of the season.

The Frenchman’s approach is flooded with positive intent, and his confidence and chemistry with the side has clearly improved. If he manages to remain free of any chronic injury, he will play one of the most important roles in the side’s campaign.

The arrival of Mesut Ozil is undoubtedly the most important gift to the Gunners this year and his immediate explosions of brilliance at the Emirates and also away from home have already threatened the other teams.

His capabilities are immensely large-ranged and his inclusion to the team has not only added variety and strength to the side but done a great deal of comfort to the morale of other team-mates.

I can safely say I saw a new and invigorated Arsenal after his arrival. His ability to assist and score aplenty is special to the side because this double-trait specialty incorporated in a single player was lost in the form of Robin Van Persie a year ago.

I see Ozil being the top assister of the season and also expect quite a few goals from him both in the Premiership and in the Champions League.

Injured Cazorla and Podolski will return and really gear up the side to a new level of excellence. Awaited eagerly is the Cazorla-Ozil partnership which already feels will be something legendary.

Both the players can play at any position in midfield, the wings and the center and can be rotated at will without fearing a scar on performance.

Podolski I see to be spending more time on the bench for the next few months; however, he will be a real luxury to have considering almost all of Arsenal’s striking department veterans are peculiarly injury prone. We can expect goals from him and his return will do nothing but only strengthen and expand the team’s goal-scoring options.

Theo Walcott’s role in the side will be challenged by both Jack Wilshere and Aaron Ramsey, and this sudden burst of talent in midfield is a boon to Arsene Wenger as it will not only relax the fear of injury but also inspire and motivate these players to compete against each other which is in several ways healthy to the team.

Ramsey’s terrific goal-scoring rampage has been a feast to savour for all Arsenal fans and the way he seems to be growing, we can see him emerge as a vital main eleven player to the team by mid-season.

However, the team relies to an extent on Walcott’s pace, and he will be needed at more than seldom times during the months to follow. Expect goals from all, Jack, Aaron and Theodore.

Holding in a very heroic manner the bones of this team are Mikel Arteta and Mathieu Flamini. Flamini’s defensive heroics have really impressed, and he forms a sort of sacrum to the spine of the team. Arteta will play a little ahead of him and his contributions from just behind the attacking midfield will be consistent and of quality.

The only worry for the team is the department of defence as has been a regular problem in the last couple of years. Kieran Gibbs is doing a decent job on the left wing and Jenkinson and Sagna pretty sufficiently to the right.

The real worry is at central defence where Koscielny’s hot head and Mertesacker’s sudden blunders can injure and destroy the team’s silverware dreams. Looking at the players, there is great scope for improvement and the return of Thomas Vermaelen will bring both maturity and consistency to the central defence.

The woes of Koscielny and Mertesacker continue

The problems regarding Per and Laurent are only relative to match-day performance and with regard to skill and talent I see neither are lacking. They only need to pick up their boots and intensify the match-day displays.

Wojciech Szczesny is a good goal-keeper with moderate talent and has been consistent between the posts. We can be assured his performance will stay the same and improve as the games roll on.

You will be asking yourself, how can the above synthesized analysis of the present Arsenal team be a foundational edifice of an opinion which supports the theory of the team finding silverware this year?

It is purely relative to the team’s preceding campaigns. I see a more integrated side this year, with not just one or two players who can score goals and provide blithering moments of brilliance in a sudden manner but a team that has attained completion and maturity and can display not only brilliance but also an edifying consistency.

The Gunners always had two or three magnificent players in the side but they always lacked the completion factor. For the last three or four years, I would say more after the departure of Fabregas they’ve always felt like a team built on leftovers.

Arsene Wenger’s genius and a strong midfield managed to keep them scraping the Champion’s League every year. This year, we have an integrated North London side that fortifies itself at the Emirates and they are undoubtedly the team to watch out for. They are hungry and the grace of intent has struck their feet.

By the end of the season, the Gunners will be bringing back home a trophy or two, you can count on it.