Arsenal resume their Champions League campaign tonight, with a favourable draw against Ligue 1 Monaco.
Arsene Wenger’s side have often stumbled at the last 16 stage in recent seasons, suffering from having been drawn against European super-powers the likes of Barcelona and Bayern Munich.
Gunners fans feel this season could prove their best chance to at least equal their best ever run in the competition, which saw them reach the final in 2006 – eventually going down to a 2-1 defeat to Barcelona in Paris.
Having ended their silverware drought with FA Cup success last season, Arsenal fans are desperate to see their side re-announce themselves as one of the major powers in English football with the Premier League or Champions League title.
But the Premier League looks set to be out of reach for them once again this season following a slow start, and the fear is that they will never be successful in England’s top flight under Arsene Wenger – with his last title success more than a decade ago in 2004.
Here we have identified five reasons why Arsenal won’t win the Premier League title under the current regime.
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Click on Arsene Wenger to reveal 5 reasons why Arsenal will not win the Premier League title
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They have become too predictable
Arsenal’s refusal to change their playing style away from home has proved costly time and again in recent seasons.
This season’s victory over Manchester City at the Etihad aside, Arsenal approach every away game looking to play their brand of possession football, and too often get bullied out of the game – any game against Stoke at the Britannia being a prime example.
Wenger’s stubbornness and refusal to change his approach away to the big sides have proved costly time and again, and show little sign of changing, with the City game a false dawn judging by the way in which they approached the recent trip to Tottenham – a match they lost 2-1.
Injuries are a constant feature of any season
The Gunners would have a shot at a Premier League title if they were able to get their best XI out on the pitch week in week out – something that seems incapable of happening with the club’s injury record.
Every season sees the Gunners suffer various injuries to top players, yet Wenger still refuses to accept it may have something to do with the clubs training methods.
Jack Wilshere, Aaron Ramsey, Alexis Sanchez, Theo Walcott, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Laurent Koscielny, Mathiey Debuchy and Olivier Giroud have all missed various points of this season – some for as many as four months.
And this has been the case for several seasons, and again shows no sign of changing any time soon.
Mourinho has the mental edge over Wenger
Perhaps the most bitter pill for Arsenal fans to swallow in regards to their short-comings in title challenges, is Arsene Wenger’s record against Jose Mourinho.
Chelsea have been the team to beat this season, currently sitting five points clear at the top of the table. The Blues have all the resources to be the Premier League’s major force for years to come, and Arsenal will need to topple them at some stage if they are to win a fourth title under Wenger.
Yet Mourinho is yet to lose to Wenger in 12 Premier League meetings, and seems to have the mental edge over the Frenchman. Unless that record is ended some time soon, you can only see it becoming more frustrating for Arsenal and Wenger as the years go on.
United and City are not afraid to spend
A major criticism of Arsene Wenger in recent years has been his failure to spend on big players. His failure to land a top defensive midfielder in the summer proved costly early on in the season, and could be seen as a reason as to why they have failed to launch a title challenge this term.
It is not a case of not having the money available, it is again Wenger’s stubbornness and his belief in the young players on the club’s books.
As well as having to topple Chelsea, Arsenal will have to contend with the two Manchester clubs, who have shown of late they have no fear when it comes to spending big money.
Too much over-reliance on Sanchez
Arsenal fans must dread to think how their Premier League season would have panned out had it not been for Alexis Sanchez. The Chilean has carried the Gunners often this term, whilst his recent injury problems have made them a noticeably weaker side.
Whilst Chelsea have match winners the likes of Diego Costa, Cesc Fabregas and Eden Hazard, City have Sergio Aguero, David Silva and Yaya Toure, Arsenal have have Sanchez and on some occasions Santi Cazorla to look to for consistent match-winning displays.
Sanchez has carried much of the burden this season, and will need greater support in the future if the club are ever to mount a sustained title challenge.
