Season Preview – Arsenal: Lack of depth will prevent title challenge

2007/8 In A Nutshell Following Thierry Henry’s departure, expectations were relatively low. However, inspired by Cesc Fabregas and with Emmanuel Adebayor attaining new heights, Arsenal played a wonderful brand of football, displaying incredible technical proficiency; with ten games left, they were on course for a remarkable league triumph. Fortunes turned in a tumultous game at Birmingham, and they never recovered from a combination of a long-term injury to Eduardo and William Gallas’s histrionics following the last-gasp equaliser. There was also an agonising quarter-final defeat in the Champions League – but, following all the pre-season doom-mongering, 83 points and third place constituted an impressive campaign.

Summer Activity Yet again, Arsene Wenger is in the position of having money but being loathe to spend it. Two key men from last campaign – Alexander Hleb and Mathieu Flamini – have departed, with exciting Frenchman Samir Nasri effectively replacing Hleb. But there has yet to be a replacement for Flamini’s brilliant box-to-box endeavour of last season. Hopes are high for Aaron Ramsey, but at just 17 he is obviously unlikely to start many key matches – though he could provide game-changing dynamism from the bench.

Key Men Emphatically, this is Fabregas’s side: its make-up is designed to make the most of his exquisite passing ability and creativity, which was reaffirmed at Euro 2008. The Spaniard continues to progress, developing his consistency, fitness and tackling; now, he must look to double the five league goals he mustered last campaign. Adebayor will be crucial once again. But the man who could make the difference is Robin van Persie. Outrageously skilful, his development has been stunted through a combination of inconsistency and fitness concerns. But he possesses copious talent, and a rare combination of mesmerising close-ball control and lethal finishing.

Rising Star Theo Walcott, Ramsey and Nasri are amongst many possibilities, but now, finally, Carlos Vela will have a season at Arsenal after being parked in Spain for two years. It has been clear from when he won the Golden Boot in Mexico’s World U-17 triumph three years ago that Vela possesses a rare talent, a fusion of raw pace and immense skill. He provides an ‘x-factor’ and unknown quality of the sort that could take the Premier League by storm.

Coach Arsene Wenger’s faith in the power of youth remains undiminished. Seldom one for pragmatism, he wholeheartedly embraces a thrilling style of pass-and-move football in which all players are comfortable with the ball at their feet and there is a fierce desire to attack. But if the club endure a fourth consecutive trophyless season there will be renewed doubts over his adamant refusal to pay ‘over-the-odds’ for players. Sometimes, though, paying a few million extra can pay stunning dividends as Liverpool’s signing of Fernando Torres was testament to.

Prospects For 2008/9 The squad is a year older and a year wiser than this time last year; if they could come within four points of the title with an injury-stricken squad last season, then why not the Premier League this? The answer lies in an over-reliance on Fabregas – especially as there is uncertainty over who will partner him in central midfield – and, for all the prodigious talent in the squad, a chronic lack of depth. Add to this the perennial concerns over Manuel Almunia in goal and, whilst Arsenal have the attacking brilliance and first-choice eleven to defeat the best, the cups represent a better chance of ending that trophy droughts than the league.

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