The fixtures for the 2015-16 Premier League season have been released and we have some great match-ups for the opening day of the season.
Arsenal is always an interesting prospect come the start of the season, with Gunners fans chanting their way through the beginning of the year. Unfortunately, it’s their longest running cheer, since their last title-winning season in 2004 dubbed, ‘The Invincibles Year’.
Arsenal’s first five games of the season are all very winnable, Crystal Palace and Newcastle away, and West Ham, Liverpool and Stoke at home, I can see them securing wins, regardless of the transfers either of those teams make.
I can see at least four wins and a draw in those first five games, which is 13 points. Chelsea will have a tough time starting off with Swansea, Manchester City, West Brom, Crystal Palace and Everton, which could give Arsenal the chance to lead the table heading into September.
How can Arsenal challenge for the title? First they must keep Sanchez on the wing, sell Theo Walcott and build Welbeck.
At times we saw Sanchez stationed in the centre-forward position because of the Giroud’s injury – and sometimes we saw him naturally drift into that position – but he is more effective on the wing.
Sanchez scored four goals in all competitions in the centre forward position and managed only one assist in the seven games he played their, those stats aren’t too bad. But compare that to 21 goals and 11 assists in all comps on the left or right wing, and you’ll see where he is more effective.
The wing position is more suited for assisting and chipping in with a goal as well sometimes. Sanchez averaged an assist every three games and a goal every 2.3 games in the winger position, they are great stats.
If you are keeping Sanchez on the right, where he should be, then that means you should get a striker with a little more quality and class than Olivier Giroud.
Giroud scored 14 goals this season, while that is a good number, when you compare him to Aguero (26 goals) or Kane (21 goals), the other top strikers in the Premier League last season, he is a small fish in a big pond.
You’d also want a striker that is capable of getting plenty of goals in the Champions League as well, especially if you are playing only one striker.
While he was injured with a fractured foot and only made two appearances scoring one goal last season, he featured in seven of Arsenal’s eight Champions League games and still scored only two goals.
Danny Welbeck, with proper preparation, is capable of scoring 18+ goals a season. He has also shown he can score in the Champions League, scoring a hat trick against Galatasary.
If Wenger would prefer to buy another player, then he should sell Theo Walcott. Walcott is no longer useful to Arsenal anymore after his season ending injury last season.
Contributing only ten goals and two assists over the past two seasons is a sign that Wenger should be thinking he should be getting Walcott out the door. He averaged a goal every two games and an assist every seven games, so compared to Sanchez, he is no match.
Keep Mesut Ozil in the No. 10 spot and not left wing and promote Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
Ozil was moved around the front of the park a lot last season, often being shifted to the left wing position, and even striker twice this season. It’s movements like that that make me question Arsene Wenger’s philosophy.
Ozil only amounted four goals and six assists in the Premier League last year compared to seven goals and 14 assists in his first season in London.
Last season he played the entire campaign in the No.10 spot and got more goals and more assists.
Before moving to the Gunners at Real Madrid, he got ten goals and 24 assists in all competitions and did not move from the attacking midfield spot.
Wenger has to keep Ozil in No.10 where he is able to be dynamic and put passes anywhere, including chipping in with a goal. That is how Ozil is most effective, and Wenger has to see that this season.
Of course this leaves open the left wing spot, and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is the perfect suit.
A young England player with first team experience, Oxlade-Chamberlain has scored 12 goals and gotten 19 assists in all competitions since moving to Arsenal in 2011.
Give the lad more game time and he could be banging in goals and creating them in no time, since he has averaged an assist every 4.9 games since 2011.
Wenger must also buy a faster and stronger centre-back and sell Per Mertesacker.
I don’t think winning the title with Mertesacker is possible, with or without the ball he is a liability with his pace and awkwardness on the ball.
It doesn’t suit Arsenal who play a fast paced passing game. Defensively, we have seen people able to get past him with ease with pace, for example Kun Aguero or even Wayne Rooney. We have also seen players beating him on corners, running to the near post.
Wenger has to sell Mertesacker and find a centre-back that suits his faster style of play.
Could these changes give Arsenal the edge to a title challenge next season?
Tyler Galea
Roar Rookie
Great article! I agree with the selling of Theo Walcott, although he's been in good form recently, it's atypical Theo! He usually has a below average season and then once the transfer window rolls around, he's suddenly in form again! You watch, if Wenger keeps him, in two months we will have hardly seen him in the starting elevens. I also agree with Sanchez on the wing. He was by far Arsenal's best player this season and you can see why when he gets into those attacking winger positions and controls that left or right side. If we are talking about getting rid of Giroud, my immediate response is Gonzalo Higuain. Although Welbeck has a future ahead of him, I must say I don't see him in an Arsenal kit. Both Giroud and Welbeck never really adapted to the playing style of the Arsenal midfielders like Santi Cazorla and Jack Wilshere. Ozil must stay in the CAM but it is vital for him to have a good season this coming campaign. He has had short periods of good form but no consistency and a world class player like Mesut Ozil needs consistency. One more 'okay' season could see him out of the club. Arsenal have many upcoming wingers including Ryo Miyaichi who was on loan at FC Twente this previous season, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Serge Gnabry and although he identifies as a right fullback, I can see young Spaniard Hector Bellerin on a wing. The possibility of signing German superstar Karim Bellarabi excites me as an Arsenal fan. I imagine he would be a good fit for the club. It is also important we get rid of Mertesacker. He lacks pace quite clearly and he does look awkward on the ball. As a replacement I think of the 24 year old Gabriel Paulista or even Calum Chambers who shows extreme promise.
Kaks
Roar Guru
You said that Giroud should leave and that Arsenal should bring in an Aguero type player thus relinquishing the physicality up front - Yet you agree with Swampy?
woodo
Guest
It doesn't change your chances of winning (aside from form) true, it does change the way you need to play though. Say two teams play each other in January with Team A , having had a kind run of fixtures, holding a four point gap at the top over Team B in second. Sure, A can play for the win, but with the points from the easier fixtures already accrued they can also play for the draw and avoid a six-point swing towards the chasing pack. Have we learned nothing from Jose?
144
Roar Guru
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2500870-5-key-premier-league-fixtures-for-arsenal-to-focus-on-in-201516-season/page/2
144
Roar Guru
arsenal have achance is what im saying to gain momentum, the same that Chelsea had at the start of the season, and with a stronger squad they could stay there
144
Roar Guru
Yes i agree there, look at man city aswell, tricksters like Aguero or David Silva and their pace. And they have the strength and menace of Yaya Toure and Kompany
AZ_RBB
Guest
Not sure if that's enough. Arsenal will need to have momentum going into February. From Feb onwards, Arsenal has a very easy run home. The only real challenges will be 2 visits to Manchester. Like most teams, Arsenal's season defined by how they go in that busy New Year period.
144
Roar Guru
It would give Arsenal momentum heading into November
144
Roar Guru
i understand but Walcott after his injury, doesn't look like he can keep his first team spot, Sanchez is better than him in the wing spot and Giroud, despite his lack of Europeans goals and could contribute a bit more, is better in the centre forward position. Arsenal have to promote Welbeck or buy a world class striker.
Swampy
Guest
I just don't think Giroud is an issue compared to other glaring weaknesses. He's not a failure by any means and if you replace him with an Aguero type player then Arsenal lose all their aggressive players (total one) in the front half. You cannot win the EPL or UCL without your team containing an intimidating presence. Every man and their dog sees this as Arsenal's main issue - they are wonderfully skilled but have lacked menace ever since Patrick Viera left. Chelsea are a beast of a team. They have the skills in hazard and fabregas and Oscar but they have the menace as well with Costa, JT, Matic etc. - until Wenger resolves that balance the Gooners are forever destined for 4th place
144
Roar Guru
Yeah their wage structure restricts them a bit. Winning the fa cup is great, qualifying for champions league for 18 season is amazing, but what is it all worth when they cant win. These fixtures will help them take the lead early in the year and definitely some better signings they could change that with a title in the years to come
144
Roar Guru
Arsenal are never goign to win a title with a striker like Giroud up front they could have one a title with Robin Van Persie, maybe who knows. In the way they play, the closest comparison to another player is Harry Kane. Kane scored 21 goals in the league compared to Giroud's 14. Kane did play more games.He did play seven more games than him but scored seven more goals. Giroud would only come away with maybe two goals from those seven games last season. If Arsenal want to find a player that can help them win the title, they have to find a striker that can bang in 20+ goals a season. Like Costa like Aguero. I believe with another Centre half another holding midfielder and a world class striker, they can challenge
Swampy
Guest
Why does everyone bag Giroud? I'm not an Arsenal fan but it seems to me that he scores fairly regularly and provides arsenal with a bit of aggression they severely lack. And they win more when he plays. He was injured for a fair portion of last season hence you can't compare his total goals to aguero who played 85% of the season. Pretty sure Giroud scored most goals in EPL after Xmas -- Comment from The Roar's iPhone app.
fadida
Guest
You could even argue Arsenal would rather start with Man U and Man City. Both may well be much changed sides and take a while to settle. Arsenal should be fairly unchanged and up and running quickly
fadida
Guest
Disagree. Even if you get a flyer you still need to play the rest of the sides, and the odds of winning these games doesn't change, regardless of the order
aladdin sane
Guest
With Utd and City planning to hit hard in the market, I would suggest it will be difficult for Arsenal to attract the quality players needed to overhaul Chelsea. They simply cannot compete in terms of wage structure.
AZ_RBB
Guest
Didn't think the article was just about the fixtures. Seems like it's one point which The Roar editors have decided to run with as the headline. Nevertheless, Arsenal's problems over the past decade has been its inability to play consistently throughout the season. Arsenal's seasons are too often defined by either a great start and poor finish or vice versa. Not sure if favourable fixtures will change that Arsenal could do with another CB, DM and CF. Might cost them 70-80M pounds but could make all the difference. They also need to hold onto Wilshere who I think is the most gifted technical footballer England has produced in a long time. Find a place for him in CAM and go from there.
144
Roar Guru
At the beginning of the season. Arsenal have a chance to get maybe a three or four point gap on chelsea or City or United. (unless we have anymore surprises e.g Southampton) But the first few fixtures are a chance for Arsenal to get a streak for the season. If they win those first few games and Chelsea draw some of those difficult games like City or everton. Then we could see the Arsenal on top in September which will help them alot. These fixturees give Arsenal an edge because if they win those first five games, it's just a winning advantage that will push them into a tough game against Chelsea, which means they'll be filled with confidence and could make an upset
Uncle Junior
Guest
Every team plays every opponent once at home. The fixture does not give any team an edge in the title race.
fadida
Guest
Only got as far as the headline. Unless they've changed the rules every team plays 19 games at home and 19 away. No edge for anyone....