Monday, May 16, 2011

EPL Title Decided

        On the day after Manchester celebrated locking up its record breaking nineteenth English Premier League title, Arsenal FC walked off the field at the Emirates Stadium after losing 2-1 to a weak Aston Villa team that struggled to avoid relegation this year. Different year, same story for Arsenal as they walked off dejectedly and continued their collapse at the end of the season. After setting themselves up for a title run after a strong first half of the season, the Gunners were only able to take away 11 points from their last ten matches. You can make up as many excuses as you want to explain why Arsenal hasn't won a major competition since 2004, but at the end of the day does it really matter? Yes, Arsenal has gotten a little unlucky. Yes, Arsenal develops its own talent and doesn't throw around money like Manchester United, Chelsea, Liverpool, and Manchester City. Yes, Arsenal plays a type of game that is entertaining to watch. Yes, Arsenal is a young team that is improving under Arsene Wenger's watch, and yes Arsenal has put itself in a position to win trophies. But, Arsenal has had time to win under this system, and just has not gotten the job done.
        What do they need to do to get over the hump? The answer: nothing. Arsenal has a core of young players in Denilson, Samir Nasri, Aaron Ramsey, Theo Walcott, Jack Wilshere, Nicklas Bendtner that will be able to challenge for year's to come. Every single one of these players is twenty-three or younger. Combine those guys with Fabregas, Van Persie, and Arshavin and you have a team that can compete for a Premier League Title. They just need time to develop and learn Wenger's system. Of course there are going to be doubts surrounding this team until they can get the "monkey off their back", and every summer their are rumors that captain Cesc Fabregas is going to return to his home country and the academy that raised him at Barcelona. But, even if Fabregas does leave his transfer fee would give Arsene Wenger funds to bring in several quality players. Wenger is famous for buying talent when it is cheap and selling players for a huge profit. If Arsenal can spend a little money in bringing in players to strengthen a weak defensive back four, and bring in a new goalie, then Arsenal will be fine if fans just give Wenger one or two more years to work his magic. I feel comfortable predicting that within the next three years Arsenal will be walking off the field in May celebrating a Premier League title.

19 Year Old, Center Midfielder Jack Wilshere has been tabbed as the future of Arsenal as well as the English National Team.

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