Arsenal | Season 2016/17 preview

The Gunners want the title!

The Gunners hadn’t the worst campaign in their history. Arsenal became the runners-up in The Premier League last season. They reached the quarterfinals of The FA Cup and the Round of 16 in The Champions League. But, a season without a trophy is always disappointing for the fans of the team. Many of them dream of Arsene Wenger to leave his position.

On the other hand, the team is always reaching a place in the Top 4. Wenger has built a very good team, but at the end of every season The Gunners are without the Premier League trophy.

The Transfers:

There are two new signings in Arsenal’s squad. The biggest name in Wenger’s selection is Granit Xhaka. The Swiss international midfielder costed The Gunners about £33 m. The former player of Borussia Monchengladbach was the key reason for team’s great performance during the last season. He helped Monchengladbach qualify for the Champions League in a second consecutive season. Now, after showing a great performance at the Euro 2016, Xhaka has a new big challenge in front of him – winning trophies with Arsenal.

The 21-year-old Japanese attacker Takuma Asano is the other new player in Arsenal. The young forward has scored 4 goals in 14 matches this season. However, the Arsenal’s fans are again dissatisfied with Wenger’s transfer policy, because there are no trophies!

3 key players left the club. Mikel Arteta retired from football, while Tomas Rosicky and Mathieu Flamini were released. These players haven’t recently been a Wenger’s first choice, but the manager must think of a new experienced midfielder!

Key Players:

Olivier Giroud and Aaron Ramsey were simply brilliant at the Euro 2016! They helped their teams reach respectively the final and the semi-finals. The Frenchman scored 3 goals and made two assists for his nation, but couldn’t eventually lift the trophy. Ramsey set up 5 of Wales’ 10 goals in the competition (he scored 1 and delivered 4 assists).

To continue with, Alexis Sanchez won the Copa America Centenario 2016 with his nation Chile. Sanchez showed a great form. He bagged 3 goals in 6 games and lifted the trophy for the second time in just 2 years!

Jack Wilshere is finally 100% fit and is expected to have a big role in Arsenal’s matches. In addition, Mesut Ozil had a great campaign and will pull the strings in midfield for The Gunners. Petr Cech will again have a great impact on the team.

Probable Starting XI:

• 4-2-3-1: Petr Cech; Nacho Monreal, Laurent Koscielny, Gabriel Paulista, Hector Bellerin; Francis Coquelin (El Nenny), Granit Xhaka (Santi Cazorla); Alexis Sanchez, Aaron Ramsey (Jack Wilshere), Mesut Ozil; Olivier Giroud (Danny Welbeck).

The History:

The last time Arsenal won The Premier League title was in season 2003/04, when The Gunners had an incredible unbeaten season! But, since then, there have been 12 campaigns without the most precious trophy in England. That’s why many fans are angry at the manager Arsene Wenger.

However, The Gunners had successes in the cup competitions during the last decade. They won The FA Cup twice (2014, 2015) and The Community Shield on 2 occasions.

The Expectations:

The Arsenal’s fans always expect the title! But, the thing they are dreaming of is The Champions League. Arsenal always reach the knockout stage of the competition, but then the team can’t show its real face. The biggest achievement of The Gunners in the Champions League was reaching the final 10 years ago, but they eventually lost 1-2 to Barcelona, becoming runners-up.

For sure, the first Wenger’s aim is reaching a Top 4 place, but the French manager will try to bring the Premier League trophy back at The Emirates stadium!

Arsene Wenger is a legend for me. And then all of a sudden he’s on the phone and tells me he wants to sign me. He told me to come to Arsenal if I wanted to enjoy playing football, and said Arsenal is like paradise. He said I am going to win the Champions League here.Granit Xhaka