Strengths
Style of play – ‘The Arsenal way’ is often feted as an aesthetically pleased yet ultimately unfulfilling style that has probably let them down more than it has served them in recent years.
The side’s 4-3-3/4-2-3-1 midfield system, though, could change that – providing they buy the right players this summer. Of course, that could then change the role performed by Santi Cazorla, who had originally thought he’d signed to play as an out-and-out winger, only for Wenger to utilise his subtle craft and guile as a playmaker instead.
Cazorla has become the key man in this system as Arsenal now drop deeper to form a rigid structure, and the intelligence in this system has been crucial. When a player is caught out of position, Cazorla is intelligent enough to take up positions away from his original starting position, ensuring that the structure remains intact, and revealing his tactical discipline and importance to Arsenal’s system.
This will most likely continue next season too, the width provided by the likes of Theo Walcott and Bacary Sagna will ensure that whoever Arsenal have up front next term will have an adequate supply line to make the most of this.
Defence – There was a time, not too long ago, when Per Mertesacker and Laurent Koscielny were viewed as a liability, and new captain Thomas Vermaelen was seen as the key man at the back.
However, he now faces an almighty battle to get back into the side as the stand in duo formed a strong partnership that saw them concede just 37 goals in the leave – just three goals behind Manchester City who had the best record.
Arsene Wenger had originally teamed them up as a response to the 2-1 defeat by arch rivals Spurs back in March, and since then had taken 26 points in ten games. Over the course of the season Arsenal lost just one of the 21 matches that Mertesacker and Koscielny both started together.
Reinforcements are needed, and if they haven’t been scared off by the asking price then Swansea’s Ashley Williams will most likely be the man brought in to add some extra weight.
However, the Gunners may have to see improvement at the back at the sake of some of the younger members of the squad. Carl Jenkinson and Kieran Gibbs have both seen their paths to the first team blocked by Sagna and recent signing Nacho Monreal and their development could be hindered by the instant gratification of success, but after so long without a trophy this may be a small price to pay – they’re hardly going to become bad players overnight and the chance to learn from whoever is in front of/alongside them will also be of great benefit.