Will Arsenal push on next season?

It took a 2nd half header in the last match of the season from apparently the best Arsenal defender, Laurent Koscielny, to ensure they’d be playing in the next season’s UEFA Champions League. A sense of déjà vu engulfed most Gooners, for the same man was responsible for securing CL football the previous season. The players celebrated as if they’d won the league, but concluding that that’s as big as their ambitions is ignorant to say the least.

These two seasons have seen the departure of our very best players in Fabregas, Nasri, Robin van Persie and Alex Song. And we’ve coped with that by showing real character and a tremendous attitude, against all odds. No one gave them a chance when they were 13 points behind Spurs (eventually managing to finish above them) last year, and the story was no different this year. But having built a very solid base, can they finally push on and mount a serious title challenge next season?

As Gary Neville, one of the better pundits the football world has, recently managed to point out, “They (Arsenal) have spent £9 million net in 10 years and maintained the level of consistency of getting in the Champions League. They’ve built a football stadium, they’re paying off their debt and they’re nearly there. If they move up now, it will look like one of the most magnificent managerial performances when you look back in history.”

He also goes on to say that Arsène knows it’s time to make that push. To finally fulfill the promise they’ve shown. To prove that their way is the right way. To prove it to their doubters, and to prove it to themselves. That success can be achieved without the influx of money from sugar-daddies. For the joy that time will bring will be unparalleled.

Arsène has already stated there would be no departures of big players this term, along with the addition of at least 3 influential ones. So the intent is pretty much clear. Stadium debts have been cleared. There’s money in the bag and ambition in the head. It’s pretty obvious he knows it’s time to bring the glory days back after having steered past a very sensitive period in the club’s history, as the man quotes himself. Big names have already started being linked with us. And for the first time, I wouldn’t be surprised if we actually sign more than one.

But the more important part is that the core of a title-winning team is already there. The centre-back pairing of Per and Laurent is strong as a rock. The midfield has the extremely nimble feet of Jack, the vision of Cazorla and the industry of Arteta. There’s also the reminiscence of Rosický, our own little Mozart. The attack has the ever improving Walcott, the young but talented Ox and the best header of the ball the club’s ever had in Giroud.

Whether Arsenal will be crowned Champions next season or not is known to none. But signs suggest they just might be. And in a league where clubs are spending more than 10 times than Arsenal, it’ll in turn be a very special achievement. Possibly bigger than managing to remain unbeaten for an entire season.