Premier League Club by Club Preview: Arsenal

Last Season: 3rd.
Having started last season incredibly poorly and having lost Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri in the Summer Transfer Window 2011, Arsenal fans began to fear that Europa League action may face them this season, but with the smart signing of Mikel Arteta and the magnificent goal tally of Van Persie, Arsenal were able to retain their Champions League spot, whilst also finishing ahead of close rivals Tottenham (which of course is an added bonus).




Manager: Arsene Wenger


Having been in charge of Arsenal since October 1996, Arsene Wenger brings a wealth of managerial experience to this side which is somewhat lacking in the required experience of a title challenge. In recent years Wenger has had to suffer the losses of some of the players who he developed into stars from a young age. Only last summer, Wenger lost captain Cesc Fabregas to Barcelona and Samir Nasri joined many former Arsenal players at last season's Premier League champions, Manchester City. However, Wenger led his side to another season of Champions League football and will look ahead to this season with great optimism (should he retain all of his key players), having added some good players to his squad. Having been a victim to some harsh criticism from Arsenal fans last season, Wenger will know that he is under big pressure to succeed this season.

Chances Of Being Sacked: 4/10.
Wenger has become a synonymous part of Arsenal football club over the last 16 years delivering Champions League every season he has been at the club and having supposedly rejected jobs from clubs which I would see as 'bigger' than Arsenal. With this in mind I can't see the Arsenal board witnessing an opportunity which they see as a better appointment than Arsene Wenger, as this man has been known to work off very small transfer budgets and it is debatable as to whether any manager in the world would provide this consistency and develop as many magnificent young talents as the 62 year old Frechman has.

Captain: Robin Van Persie


Surely it can't happen again? 2 summer's in a row where Arsenal were to lose their club captain? I would love to assure all Arsenal fans that they can remain safe in the knowledge that last season's top scorer will remain at the club, but nobody in the world can currently do that. With Roberto Mancini recently stating that Manchester City are out of the race for the 28 year old Dutchman it seems that, should Van Persie leave Arsenal it will be to Serie A champions Juventus or Manchester United. With Sir Alex Ferguson recently saying, 'We can't get a breakthrough with Arsenal', the chances of Van Persie joining United look to have dipped a little. It has been reported by the media that Van Persie's personal preference would be to join Juventus but that still remains in the balance for me.

What Club Van Persie will join in Summer 2012 Transfer Window?
Manchester United- 1/5
Juventus- 6/1
Manchester City- 6/1

Summer 2012 Window:
IN:
Santi Cazorla (£16.5 m from Malaga)

The Spaniard was widely regarded as the best player in La Liga outside of either Barcelona or Real Madrid's squads. Cazorla was a significant part of the Malaga side which qualified for the Champions League last season for the first time in the club's history. Cazorla was offloaded by Malaga after his first season at the club as a result of Malaga's owners unwillingness to invest any further money into the club and as a result Malaga found themselves in severe need to offload key players. Having been voted Spanish Player of the Year in 2007 and having led Villareal to 2nd place in La Liga in 2008, Cazorla's quality is not in doubt and his addition will add experience of a title race to the squad.

Olivier Giroud (£13 m from Montpellier)

Having impressed last season scoring 21 goals for Montpellier (ending as the league's joint top scorer), he contributed to their shock victory of the Ligue 1 title, Olivier Giroud looks, on paper, like one of Arsene Wenger's most astute signings in recent times. However, Giroud's disappointing performance for France at Euro 2012 this summer, creates a sense of worry for me that Giroud could follow the fate of Marouane Chamakh as another flop signing of Wenger's to arrive from France up forward. With a good aerial and physical presence, Giroud seems to me as a player who doesn't fit Arsenal's short and quick passing game. Having spent a hefty sum of money for his standards, Wenger must have much more confidence in the Frenchman than I do.

Lukas Podolski (£11 m from Cologne)

With good pace, strength and a brilliant left foot Lukas Podolski looks to me like a very strong signing to add to the Arsenal squad this season. With Cazorla, Gervinho, Walcott, Chamberlain and Arshavin all vying for those 2 places on the wings this season, choosing the best 2 may be the only problem Wenger shall have in this area of the team this season. The German international conveyed vast inconsistency in the European Championships this summer but I have a feeling that Podolski will suit the Arsenal style very well this season.

OUT:
Gavin Hoyte (Free, To Dagenham)
Manuel Almunia (Released)
Joel Campbell (Loan, To Betis)
Denilson (Loan, To Sao Paulo)
Benik Afobe (Loan, To Bolton)

Steve Bould:
Having spent most of his playing career at Arsenal and having been well known for his tough defending, Steve Bould's addition as Assistant Manager, to replace long term assistant to Arsene Wenger, Pat Rice, was one which was well received by many Arsenal fans. Having managed the Arsenal youth team for recent years and leading them to the 2009 Youth Cup and back to back FA Academy Premier League titles, Steve Bould will come in to the Arsenal management team with a good reputation and desire to have a good defence in this Arsenal team. Wenger has been known as a manager who isn't spectacular at setting up defences and with a strong character in Bould beside him, we may see a drastic improvement of Arsenal's defence in the next year.
                                           Possible XI


There are many possible changes in this team for the new season, I will list some of the possible changes below.

Walcott to leave?
Theo Walcott's contract is to expire at the end of this season and rumours have linked him with Liverpool. With Brendan Rodgers playing Nathan Dyer and Scott Sinclair on the wings last season for Swansea, Theo Walcott, a very similar type of winger to the two above with his raw pace and lack of a 'footballing brain', this transfer rumour is not the most unlikely I've heard this season. Should he leave this gives an opportunity for Chamberlain to get more games and also gives Gervinho a chance to convey his ability which he seemed to be attempting to hide last season, for some unknown reason.

Barcelona to be on Song this season? 
With strong rumours of Tito Vilanova being in the search for a defensive midfielder to replace Seydou Keita, Alex Song, who fits the perfect passing style of the Barcelona midfield, whilst being able to play the holding role may be the ideal choice for the new man in charge of Barcelona. However, with rumours that Arsenal are on the verge of signing highly rated Nuri Sahin, Arsene Wenger may not be too worried if he was to lose the Cameroonian international.

Jack Wilshere to make his return.
Jack Wilshere has been extremely unlucky with injuries over the last year having been tipped as one of the key players if England were to succeed in Euro 2012 early on last season. Much to the disappointment of many general footballing fans, this wonderkid was never given the chance to convey his ability on the biggest stage of them all. Having been ruled out of the start of this season already, many people hope Wilshire can make his long awaited return to action before Christmas of this year. One major worry about his return is whether he will return, playing to the same standard as he was prior to his injury unlike his team mate, Aaron Ramsey.

A second captain to leave for trophies?
As I've already noted above, Robin Van Persie seems to be keen to depart Arsenal this summer in a pursuit of trophies. With Bendtner back from a loan spell at Sunderland and wanting to leave for 'bigger things' and Vela being linked to depart permanently on this occasion, there is a possibility that Arsenal may be down to Moroccan flop Chamakh, last summer's signing Park Chu Yong or newly signed Olivier Giroud as their striking options, unless Wenger was to pull out a magnificent signing.

Young Star: Alex Oxlade Chamberlain

Having been brought with Roy Hodgson's England squad to this summer's European Championships, Chamberlain will return with more experience of great expectation being placed on his shoulders and will also be keen to justify Hodgson's selection to bring him in the squad. At the age of just 18 Chamberlain will look to build on his incredibly bright start to his career at Arsenal. With pace, power and an end product which could be further worked upon, 'The Ox' can only improve this season as he will hope to become a more regular fixture on Arsene Wenger's team sheet this season.

Prediction: 4th.
With many teams battling for this season's Champions League spots including Chelsea, Tottenham, Newcastle and Liverpool Arsenal will look to once again secure Champions League this season. I think a lot of the success they can have this season hinges on whether they retain Van Persie, Song and Walcott and add a couple of players as options up front and in the full back areas. Should they do this, I could see Arsenal as a sneaky bet for a good title push this season. I think this season could be one to cheer for Arsenal fans, who desperately need something to cheer.

Arsenal to win the title: 12/1

(All Odds via Skybet on the 10/8/12)