Depending on who we get in the summer, but I think we're in good shape for the coming season. This team all have another years worth of experience behind them and we've finally sorted out our defence. If we can add a top quality striker and another couple of midfield players then we have a realistic chance of putting a title bid together. It will be interesting to see what happens with Chelsea, City and Utd. They all have new managers to come in and they're all likely to want to make changes, so it could be a transitional season for one or more of those clubs. Out of the three, Utd probably more so as post Fergie they will be facing the biggest changes. Whatever happens, we should be looking to strengthen in a couple of key areas, build on our fourth place finish and challenge for the top spot. It will be an interesting summer to say the least.
Mention the word "title" and you're likely to have opposition fans calling you deluded, but I think we are a lot closer to a title tilt than many people think. We need to add quality, doubtless. This squad in its current form is top four material but not title winning or even cup winning material. We need to strengthen in key areas but the changes are not extensive. A few tweaks here and there, i.e. a new striker is paramount. And by new striker I don't mean just any middle of the road player, we need the best. And when I say the best, I mean the best for Arsenal, that does not mean busting the bank for some overrated superstar. I think the most important thing we have to develop though, and I belief we have done it, is a winning mentality. I just want to see the attitude displayed over the last third of the season, on view for a full season. If can we can change our attitude towards games we will go a lot further mark my words. We need to perform like we did these past months, game in and game out when in all competitions and not only when we have nothing left to play for. My fear is that what we witnessed is only because we were not involved in any competitions and that therefore made it easier for us to cope with the end of season. I really and truly hope, however, that something really has changed at Arsenal and that from next season, we see a continuation of this change in attitude, which has been the biggest factor holding back Arsenal over the past few seasons. If we have really turned a corner, a title challenge may not be far off. But let's take it one step at a time. I'm trusting those powers that be, to strengthen the squad and the first team in the areas that need it most. We'll take it from there and see how we find ourselves heading into the new season.
"Buy some better players. Improve tactically, signs were there in the latter half of the season. Lets see if we build on it or revert to type. With the money the three teams have above us and the fact they are all looking to spend indicates that no matter how much we do we prob won't win the league immediately. But we can definitely start moving in the right direction." Is what I said on another thread and I think it holds. The form in the last 1/3 of the season was brilliant if we can keep up that level of intensity (and most importantly start with it) and tactical maturity throughout a season then who knows, especially with quality additions. But next season I would say a move in the right direction would be a great start, I dont expect us to win the league next season but we can start to move towards it. The signs were there at the end of the season I really hope we build on it and if we do I would be ok if we didn't win anything but I am tired of seeing regression and then a small resurgence every season. Start like you mean to go on.
A lot depends on who City, Chelsea and Utd bring in. You just know Chelsea and City are going spend, especially if Maureen comes in - and the Sheiks just don't know any other way to turn things around other than throwing cash at the problem. It will be interesting to see how Moyes approaches Utd, he'll have a transfer pot at his disposal if he needs it, but he's not used to spending big, so it could go either way, continuing his prudent approach, or suddenly let off the reins to go shopping. There's the Rooney equation too and whilst RVP had a great season, he'll be approaching 31 by the end of next season. So they might be in for another attacking player, I have a sneaky feeling that Utd are going to test the water with Gareth Bale this summer.
I was thinking with Moyes leaving Everton and probably taking time to settle in at Utd. It would be a great time to go in and bid for Fellani there is a certain level of uncertainty sat Everton and it would be worth taking a punt now. If Moyes wants him then there is no chance of us getting him.
I'm not sure we need Fellani. I'm not saying he wouldn't add something to our team, but I just don't see him in an Arsenal shirt for some reason. Also I think his transfer fee would be vastly overinflated, he's being touted as a £22-£25m player and I think he'd probably worth around £15m max
Obviously a huge amount depends on who we bring in and what kind of start they have. Also the likes of giroud podolski cazorla all have a years prem experience, monreal has had 6 months and in actual fact i think monreal's arrival has raised gibbs' games. Also it's looking likely that sagna and vermalen will be on their way out, if both are not committed to the club then they should leave as soon as possible. But yeh ideally i would like to see us bring in a striker an attacking midfielder or a defensive midfielder, a centre back and a keeper but i can't see that happening. City will definitely spend with a new manager coming in as will man utd, i expect chelsea to buy 1 or 2 players, players like hazard and oscar especially will have adapted to the prem by next season. For spurs if they can keep bale and add a top quality striker and possibly midfielder then they will be up 3rd/4th place again next season.
I'd settle for top 4 and an FA cup win, not sure the league is realistic considering how far behind we were this season
It's ambitious, but I think we need to go into the season aiming for it. But yes, I'd be happy with top 4 and a cup.
The next couple of months will be a defining period for the club.We have been told there is money to spend and that new players will be coming in.With decent players coming in I honestly believe we have a good chance of winning the league.Take RVP out of their team and i don't believe Stretford are that far ahead of us
I cant see us actually winning the league while the usual suspects are chucking endless cash around to get it. I could see us getting second if we break with tradition and start the season at the same time as all the rest of the teams instead of months later. An F A cup , Carling cup , maybe ... but they need to believe they can do it first .
Wenger and the players have to actually want to win a cup though, its been pretty obvious for a while they dont care about them anymore
I agree with the OP. We can mount a challenge for the title with a couple of key additions. I don't think we'll win it, but if we can make the eventual champions have to worry about us until at least Christmas I will be happy with the development. Also agree with the need for the right striker. Not necessarily one of the top flair players in the world, but someone who is consistent and effective against all levels. Giroud for his worth does not tend to get many goals that make a real difference to the result of a match. What we need is the striker who will get key goals, especially against the other top 4 teams. I don't care about getting a striker who will get a hatrick in a 5-0 win against relegation fodder, but want one who will get the goal in a 1-0 win at OT and hopefully be prepared to help defensively when needed, like at corners. Other than that I think its increasing strength in depth. Midfield is a bit weak on depth defensively imo. Backed up by the fact we had to play Ox there. Arteta and Ramsey have developed an effective partnership so it would be difficult to split them up. I know Ramsey is a player who divides opinion for some Arsenal fans, but I think his work rate is key. As he sits behind the main attacking players his little touches as an outlet for players under pressure is key to our attacking play and his willingness and ability to cover a lot of ground to slow down attacks allows the defence more time to get organised. If he can add more tackling and goals like he had before his injury he could become a real world class midfielder. I think Arteta is actually less important than Ramsey in our recent improvement so if we get a new DM/CM I would replace Arteta in the first 11 but its a hard call. As for defence, I think Kos is a great tackler, but its also his downfall. He does not know when to leave it to his team mates and has all too frequently charged in and taken the ball off one of his own players when they were in the better position to deal with it. There was one near the end of the season where the GK had a comfortable catch with the ball going to them and Kos just flew in and hacked it out for a corner and there were goals conceded earlier in the season because of this. He needs to add awareness to his game so imo we could buy better. Reminds me a bit of kids at primary school all chasing the ball around the pitch. We also have Wilshere and Pod having surgery this summer and they were apparently not fully fit this season. But overall I would be happier with £50m on the striker we need than getting a worse one for £25m and spreading the rest of the money around the team.
That's true - No one plays their 1st choice team in the the League Cup (or whatever its called now) so that's there for the taking for any major club and the FA Cup is starting to go down the same route. It just doesn't seem to be as important as it once was to a lot of clubs (especially those who are able to challenge for European places).
For me the positions that we need are, in order of priority: Striker DM Left sided winger I think CB is sorted as long as we hold onto Vermaelen. GK is fine, Szczesny and Fabianski are good enough. If Sagna leaves we've got Jenkinson and Bellerin as back up and LB is covered with Gibbs and Monreal. Personally I think Giroud had a decent first season, seventeen goals and ten assists. There's more to come from him, but we can't go into the season relying on him. Pod did okay too, despite being not fully fit, so we can expect more from him too and with Wilshere hopefully getting back to his best, we have a few players who should improve next season. Ultimately though, our teams over the last eight years have needed those one or two extra top quality players to turn them from a top four team into a title contending team. If we get it right this summer and add the players we need, then there's no reason why we can't mount a title bid this coming season
I think we should make some decent sized steps forward, I'm looking at about 80-83 points in the league, giving us a 3rd/2nd place finish, hopefully we can get more but these types of predictions can't be made properly until September. Hopefully we can make our way into the semi finals of the Champions League as well. Not really bothered about the FA Cup or the Carling Cup, but if relatively successful runs can be made in those competitions that aren't at the expense of our final standing in the league and in Europe then that's ok.
I want to win everything, but will settle for 3rd and better cup runs than this season's. We can't afford to go backwards, nor can we continue to stagnate trophyless in 4th spot forever. I have faith in the club & team to see to it that we do neither
I think there is a sense around this season, with Wenger's contract being up in 2014, that this could be a defining few months for the future of Arsenal football club. Obvs I want to win everything on offer but more importantly, I want to see that progress is being made and that we are not content to sit back and accept second best, or third or fourth best anymore. If we fail to win the league or any cups, but do so in a manner which suggests we are on the up and up, it at least gives us something to work towards in future campaigns. But nothing can be said until we know more of where we stand with transfer biz.
