This was the evidence both the players and fans required to conclude that a first Premier League crown in more than a decade is within their grasp, while bookmakers slashed odds on such a scenario unfolding.
Week by week, it feels like it’s Arsenal’s title to lose – something we’ve said about Arsene Wenger and co. before. The Gunners typically finish the calendar year strongly but fall short in February when the weight of multiple competitions causes irreparable damage.
But this time feels different, purely because of the state of the opposition. Chelsea are in such disarray they’ve called again on the services of Guus Hiddink to steady the ship, while it's looking increasingly likely Louis van Gaal may suffer the same fate as Jose Mourinho if Manchester United’s results don’t improve over Christmas. Manchester City, everyone’s pre-season favourites after an extraordinary summer outlay, seem incoherent without Vincent Kompany and Liverpool look way short of a top-four challenge, let alone a title tilt. It’s a season of uncertainty, turmoil and transition, with Leicester’s astonishing rise to the league’s summit only serving to underline its wacky nature.
Arsenal, aside from north London rivals Tottenham, have been the one elite constant so far. They’ve suffered setbacks, namely a home defeat to West Ham on the opening weekend, but given their rivals’ struggles they have been mere blips rather than sizeable stumbling blocks.
Wenger and his troops have endured a barren domestic run which has cultivated just three FA Cup triumphs in a decade, but that drought could extend if they don’t grasp their one glaring opportunity for league glory this season. This term feels synonymous with Liverpool in the 2013/14 campaign, so eye-catching under Brendan Rodgers and Luis Suarez’s guidance, who spurned their significant opening to capitalize on other sides’ deficiencies and claim the title. Since then, those sides have caught up and usurped the Reds to leave them starting from square one again with Jurgen Klopp.
Arsenal cannot afford to succumb the same way.
Conventional title rivals United and Chelsea can’t be any worse next
season, while the potential arrivals of the likes of Pep Guardiola and Diego Simeone
will undoubtedly restore and develop prestige wherever they end up. A
title challenge may be beyond Tottenham this season but they are only
going in one direction under Mauricio Pochettino
and Klopp will have his own players at Liverpool to start shaping his
Anfield philosophy. Moreover, the top flight is set to become even more
competitive once the lucrative TV deal comes into fruition.
While Liverpool choked and imploded (Steven Gerrard's infamous slip against Chelsea, pictured above) so dramatically two years ago, Arsenal are better equipped to withstand the burden of expectation. Not only do they boast World Cup winners in their squad, they also have possibly the most crucial component in any title charge – a manager who has been there and done it before. Wenger may require a time machine to recollect the last occasion they turned potential into glory in the league, but that experience could prove priceless come May.
Drawing Barcelona in the Champions League is also a blessing in disguise as it’s essentially a win-win situation for the Gunners. Prevail and they will have produced one of the most momentous aggregate performances in European Cup history; fail and they can concentrate solely on the league.
The stars are aligning as the circumstances seem more conducive than ever to deliver Arsenal's long overdue top-flight crown It’s all set up for them to blow it – and it would be so typical if they did.
Week by week, it feels like it’s Arsenal’s title to lose – something we’ve said about Arsene Wenger and co. before. The Gunners typically finish the calendar year strongly but fall short in February when the weight of multiple competitions causes irreparable damage.
But this time feels different, purely because of the state of the opposition. Chelsea are in such disarray they’ve called again on the services of Guus Hiddink to steady the ship, while it's looking increasingly likely Louis van Gaal may suffer the same fate as Jose Mourinho if Manchester United’s results don’t improve over Christmas. Manchester City, everyone’s pre-season favourites after an extraordinary summer outlay, seem incoherent without Vincent Kompany and Liverpool look way short of a top-four challenge, let alone a title tilt. It’s a season of uncertainty, turmoil and transition, with Leicester’s astonishing rise to the league’s summit only serving to underline its wacky nature.
Arsenal, aside from north London rivals Tottenham, have been the one elite constant so far. They’ve suffered setbacks, namely a home defeat to West Ham on the opening weekend, but given their rivals’ struggles they have been mere blips rather than sizeable stumbling blocks.
Wenger and his troops have endured a barren domestic run which has cultivated just three FA Cup triumphs in a decade, but that drought could extend if they don’t grasp their one glaring opportunity for league glory this season. This term feels synonymous with Liverpool in the 2013/14 campaign, so eye-catching under Brendan Rodgers and Luis Suarez’s guidance, who spurned their significant opening to capitalize on other sides’ deficiencies and claim the title. Since then, those sides have caught up and usurped the Reds to leave them starting from square one again with Jurgen Klopp.
While Liverpool choked and imploded (Steven Gerrard's infamous slip against Chelsea, pictured above) so dramatically two years ago, Arsenal are better equipped to withstand the burden of expectation. Not only do they boast World Cup winners in their squad, they also have possibly the most crucial component in any title charge – a manager who has been there and done it before. Wenger may require a time machine to recollect the last occasion they turned potential into glory in the league, but that experience could prove priceless come May.
Drawing Barcelona in the Champions League is also a blessing in disguise as it’s essentially a win-win situation for the Gunners. Prevail and they will have produced one of the most momentous aggregate performances in European Cup history; fail and they can concentrate solely on the league.
The stars are aligning as the circumstances seem more conducive than ever to deliver Arsenal's long overdue top-flight crown It’s all set up for them to blow it – and it would be so typical if they did.
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