The Gunners fans over by the jukebox in the Transfer Tavern are itching to play ‘We Are the Champions’ by Queen, but have been forced to hold fire for over a decade.
Arsenal haven’t won the Premier League title since the days of the Invincibles and after a 2015/16 that saw them finish second behind Leicester, the wait continues.
Arsenal arguably should have wrapped the title up last season before once again faltering as it came to the business end of the season but if they can overcome that mental fragility there’s no doubt they have the potential squad to win the Premier League.
The Gunners look in great shape when you run through their squad.
They did well to bring in Petr Cech last season and he alone makes them contenders for the title and when you add in the seemingly customary extra few players, you see an Arsenal side that looks very strong.
With this factor in mind our landlord has taken a look at the Arsenal line up, added a few tweaks and has come up with this starting XI that should win the title at last, what do you think?
Petr Cech
Cech was one of the signings of the season last year and it looks like the Gunners now have the goalkeeper required to challenge for the title.
The former Chelsea man brings a wealth of title winning experience and now with his second season at the Emirates upon him, he’ll be desperate to lift the title once more.
Arsene Wenger can rely on Petr Cech to do what he needs from a goalkeeper; he just needs the defence to follow suit.
Hector Bellerin
Bellerin is fast becoming one of the most promising full backs around and will only get better.
He races up and down the right flank, offering attacking threat but also rarely being caught out of position and the Gunners will be desperate to keep hold of him this Summer.
The Spaniard’s career is going only one way and that’s to the top so if Arsenal want a title winning defence Bellerin has to be in it.
Laurent Koscielny
The Frenchman is arguably Arsenal’s best defender and on his day he looks like one of the best around. Unfortunately for him and his team he lacks consistency and this theme runs through the team.
If he could just stamp this out and be at his top level more often than he currently is the Gunners would be very hard to beat and the title would be a real possibility, he needs to be more consistent though.
Raphael Varane
Varane has the potential to be a world class centre half but he needs playing time, like all players do, to fulfil that potential.
Currently the young Frenchman sees his chances limited by Sergio Ramos and Pepe at the Bernabeu with Real Madrid when arguably he’s just as good.
He may benefit from a move then and linking up with compatriot Laurent Koscielny would not only benefit his career but also the Gunners title chances.
Ricardo Rodriguez
Nacho Monreal performed admirably last season for Arsenal at left back but is he a title winning defender?
Rodriguez would be a real improvement on the Spaniard, he’s defensively sound, good going forward and also has a mean left foot that makes him a potent threat from that side of the pitch and from set pieces.
Arsenal haven’t had a decent top class left back since Ashley Cole but Rodriguez could be the closest the Gunners get to that.
N’Golo Kante
Kante was one of the stars of last season as Leicester swept away all before them on their way to the title.
The Frenchman came from nowhere to the Premier League but soon found himself everywhere, he really does cover every blade of grass.
He cuts out passes makes important tackles and drives his team on and for all Arsenal’s aesthetically pleasing football they still need someone like this in order to win a title.
Granit Xhaka
Xhaka is a similar player to Kante and the two in the Gunners midfield would make them a much tougher opponent to bully.
Arsenal always seem to come unstuck when the going gets a bit tough, but with Xhaka and Kante in the engine room when things become a battle they’ll now have to hard grafters in the centre of the pitch.
Xhaka will need to settle in quickly for Arsenal to win the league but there’s no reason why shouldn’t given his ability.
Santi Cazorla
Arguably Arsenal’s best player when he’s on form – an absolute joy to watch play football.
Cazorla makes the Gunners tick as he dictates the tempo with both feet.
The Spaniard will be key to any title push next season for the men from north London, and when he was unavailable last season you could tell how much they missed him.
He’s a gem of a midfielder and with Xhaka and Kante in behind he’s free to do what he does best; orchestrate Arsenal’s attack.
Mesut Ozil
The German will always create a bundle of chances and last season he started on fire.
He went off the boil though as the season reached its climax, and when Arsenal needed his creativity most he went missing.
The former Real Madrid man will always start in the Gunners side when fit but he needs to find a bit more consistency, because when he’s at his very best there’s very few players in the world that can live with him.
Alexis Sanchez
Sanchez also needs to find some more consistency.
The Chilean is world class on his day but when he doesn’t look up for it he can prove rather ineffectual.
Sanchez’s work rate combined with his talent have threatened to fire Arsenal to the title before, but he just seems to grow tired at key points in the season and this needs to be addressed.
Keep him at his best for the whole season though and the title could be on its way to the Emirates.
Alexandre Lacazette
Olivier Giroud must be the most frustrating footballer in the world to watch.
He looks like a world beater sometimes and then looks like he doesn’t know his right from his left and that’s not going to win the Gunners the title.
Arsenal need a consistent world class forward and Lacazette fits the bill.
He’s scored goals for fun at Lyon and would suit Arsenal’s playing style down to the ground as well as finally giving Arsenal a consistent threat up front.
