Arsenal Can Win the League – Even Without More Signings

The season is closing quickly upon us. The boys currently are sweltering in the heat of Singapore in a series of sponsor-driven friendlies meant more to get the team in shape and look at our fringe players than anything else.

Still, we ask – when are more signings coming in? We moan – we can’t compete if we don’t get 2 or 3 more signings. It’s the constant drone of never being satisfied and the “armchair” manager-nature that is the birthright of every supporter. The thing is, some can take it to an extreme and when looked at objectively, you really can’t understand what all the fuss is about.

Now, before we move on from here, I am of the mind we could do with another striker, I’d prefer one in the Sergio Aguero mold (anyone know where to find one) and I’d like another DM to rotate/compete with Coquelin. The market there is dire as Schneiderlein has gone to United for an outrageous fee and Carvalho is now out for 3 months after suffering a horrific leg injury.

So with that all in mind the hypothetical scenario we are looking at is – no more signings and Arsenal start the season with what they have. Add to that the condition that none of our players is suffering from a horrific injury. Okay, have that mental picture? So ask yourself this question – assuming we sit with what we have – can Arsenal compete for the title?

In one word – yes.

In my opinion Arsenal have addressed the biggest hole they had – the inconsistency in goal. While Ospina showed himself ‘able’ in the role of first team keeper, you always wondered whether it was just a big mirage and teams hadn’t figured out how to play him yet. Add to that the number of times he would roll on the ground with a back injury and you just wonder – is this guy ready for the Premier League?

As for Wojicech Szczesny, maturity or his lack thereof has impeded his progress. One wonders if this is his last chance to prove himself worthy of a spot even on the bench. He will have the ability to take cues from one of the best keepers in recent memory in Petr Cech.

With the keeper situation shored up, attention could be paid to adding more depth to the squad. Just as a refresher – we have 3 GK, 2 RB, 4CB (Chambers in here folks) 2LB, 9 MF (3 as deep lying/DM types – only one real serviceable one though) and 4 forwards – with 1 or 2 that be called true strikers. The fact is the team is deep and the talent pool is outstanding. Some of the best we’ve had in the last 10 years.

So why can’t Arsenal win the league with that? Some will say Coquelin isn’t really there yet in the DM role. While I give that some merit, unless you can buy a player who is clearly better than him – which fan favorite Schneiderlein wasn’t – then you’re still solid in that role. The other position of worry is striker – and while I think the annual downgrading of Olivier Giroud is unfounded and unwarranted – and Danny Welbeck and/or Theo Walcott offer options in that area – I still want me a Kun Aguero-type (what store do I get them at).

So if you can accept our depth and our talent and the improvement at goal keeper – well then – why can’t Arsenal win the league?

The real area of concern has to be the injury woes. Injuries derailed any hope of Arsenal challenging the title before the first 6 weeks of the season were over last year. When it was said and done Arsenal had a total of 1422 days lost to injuries to regular first players last season. Of that 1422, 1014 were to players we would deem as INTEGRAL to Arsenal.

Break down of player days missed for 2014/2015 Season

In the case of Mathieu Debuchy, who lost a total of 211 days to injury, we had an able deputy who grew and grew as the season went on.

However, when you consider the overlap and having, the likes of Özil, Ramsey, Giroud, Walcott, Ox, Wilshere and Welbeck out for large chunks of the season, it was never going to work.

No team, no matter how deep will be able to maintain a level of consistency with nearly a third of its team out. People were quick to laud the influence of Coquelin stabilizing the midfield as part of the reason the team turned in a stellar second-half run of the season. However, they ignore the returns of Özil, Giroud, Ramsey and Walcott.

Those players not only added something to the squad with their own talents, but their returns also expanded the focus of the opposition and made it easier for other players – like Cazorla – to play their game better.

The run in the second half was no fluke, it had everything to do with getting quality back in the squad. Yes, Francis Coquelin shoring up the midfield played a part (not as big as anyone cares to admit) but the real focus of last season’s end of year run was fit players who managed to stay fit for the last half of the year.

If the ability to stay fit and be stronger is tied to the team’s renewed focus on its training and the back room addition of key fitness coaches – then if the team can stay fit doesn’t it create the possibility that Arsenal could replicate the end of season run for a longer period of time (namely beginning the season)?

Add to that the reported newfound flexibility of Wenger to prepare more diligently for the opposition, and you can see a recipe for Arsenal to challenge for the titles.

Yes, it’s all predicated on key players’ ability to stay healthy. It’s a big IF – we all know that. But look at the pictures out of Singapore (the girls will look longer) – tell me those boys don’t look even fitter than usual. That’s a bloody strong team (on so many levels).

Like many, I still want us to bring in some other players. In the absence of that, I’d still be okay with the squad we have and am convinced that they have it within them to mount a title run.  It’s not popular thought, but as I look at the talent, it’s hard to not be impressed with this squad.

We’ve been spoilt over the last few windows. But I still hold to the principle of bringing in the right players – players that are better than what we have – for their fair value (£25m for Schneiderlein is not fair value.) Ask Liverpool and Spurs about spending on perceived value and what that brings you.