Is the current Arsenal Team strong enough to win the Barclay Premier League?

The dust has just settled down on a turbulent transfer season for Arsenal. But the questioning of the team’s ability and potential has just started to brew.

Wenger has delighted Arsenal fans worldwide with the capture of the captain of Ajax within the early weeks of the transfer window. Thomas Vermaelen may not be a household name yet but he does come with strong credentials as a captain with leadership and experience at international level. With his capture, the gunners were set for a strong assault on the title with the hole in the back plugged with a strong trio of Gallas, Toure and Vermaelen.

Then amazingly, Le Boss started dismantling the team. First, he sold Adebayor to a direct rival, Manchester City. Then, to make matters worse, he removed the rock in our defence with the sale of the last of the Invincible, King Kolo Toure. To who? To Manchester City, where a surprised Mark Hughes rubbed his hands in glee for capturing two leading players from Arsenal at half the price of a certain whinny Ronaldo. The amount paid for the two stars hardly made a dent in the vast fortune of the Middle Eastern owners.

Why has Le Boss done so? Why has he removed the African connection that he single-handedly built? Nobody knows but everyone is guessing. The more important question raised is that is this current Arsenal team strong enough to challenge for the Barclay Premier League (BPL) title? I guess this time round, even the most optimistic Gooner has to think twice before saying yes.

In the pre-season Emirates Cup, the team shown that we have strength in depth in attack. With a forward line of Robin Van Persie, Eduardo and Arshavin, well supplied by Fabregas, Rosicky and maybe a certain Jack Wilshere, Arsenal’s attack can be the best in the world when we are on song. The problem lies in defence and the defensive midfield position.

Our two full backs can be world class going forward and tracking and tackling back with speed. However, when the ball is crossed in, we do not have the height or body mass to push the opposition out. As Le Boss once pointed out, if any team plays football with us, we will beat them. The story will be different when the opposition plays shut up the store and aerial attack the base.

So, is the current Arsenal team strong enough to win the BPL? In my opinion, we need one more signing in the form of a gigantic yet mobile and experienced defensive midfielder or center back to beef up the hole in the centre. With such a signing and together with the team staying healthy throughout the season, we will make a decisive run and bring back the BPL title back to the home of football.