Summer 2013 at Arsenal will be remembered as one of the most dichotomous periods in the club’s recent history.

From May until the beginning of September Arsene Wenger was derided as an anachronism; here was a manager out of his depth in the modern game, overshadowed by the young pretenders at rival clubs, seemingly clueless in the transfer window and scorned upon by the press.

Cue a manic twenty-four hours and the 63 year-old is suddenly a hero again. Such is the nature of modern football. Knee-jerk reactions are no longer the preserve of fans, they are heavily present amongst the press as well.

The on-field situation largely reflects this. After losing against Aston Villa, Arsenal have won four, scored nine and conceded one. Arsenal’s crisis has turned into huge promise.

Mesut Ozil

There is no doubt that the key factor in reviving optimism at the Emirates, aside from strong results, is the signing of German international Mesut Ozil from Real Madrid. More than simply spending millions, as Arsenal fans have been dreaming for years, Wenger has brought in a top player, arguably in the top ten in the world, a genuine superstar who, at 24, is about to enter his peak.

Ozil’s quality is unquestionable. One simply has to watch a video of his seventy-four assists in three season at Real Madrid to get an idea of his vision, technique, pace, strength and passion for the beautiful game. Ozil made Cristiano Ronaldo a better player, something not many in the world could do.

Having the Gelsenkirchen-born playmaker, whom José Mourinho believes is the “best in the world” in his position, will greatly improve Arsenal. The player is bound to get the best out of Olivier Giroud, who has started the season in outstanding form after a mixed first season.

How good is the squad?

Arsenal have a very strong team, up there with the best in Europe, and can beat any side on their day. In goal there is no world-class, commanding presence, yet the three goalkeepers, Wojciech Szczesny, Emiliano Viviano and Lukasz Fabianski all provide solid, capable alternatives. Each will push the others to working harder in training, as the starting spot is by no means guaranteed, and this will greatly benefit the club.

Despite a strong defensive record at the end of last season, and a good start this season, reservations persist as to the reliability and quality at the back. Carl Jenkinson, after showing strong form last season, has not progressed significantly, and with only three recognised centre-backs, will get many opportunities, with Bacary Sagna bound to feature heavily in the middle, admittedly a position where he has excelled. Overall the defence is strong but thin.

After signing Mathieu Flamini and Ozil, the club has one of the best midfields in the Premier League. With Mikel Arteta, Jack Wilshere, Aaron Ramsey, Tomas Rosicky, and potentially even Abou Diaby on top of the new signings, there is plenty of dynamism, strength, technique, vision and most importantly, options. Several combinations are available and will each bring something different.

In attack, Olivier Giroud has shown superb quality this term, a huge improvement from last season. His hold up play is sensational, his touch is surprisingly light, his vision is impressive and his finishing, though at times still wayward, is improving game by game. Whilst he can drift in and out of matches, and his right foot is below par, there is no doubt he has what it takes to be first choice at a club challenging for titles.

Arsenal’s first eleven is as good as any in England, and with no injuries, the club could win the league. However, the failure to bring in another defender and centre-forward has left the North London side particularly vulnerable and susceptible to injury.

Confidence

Nevertheless, the players are confident that this team can finally end the drought. Several players, notably Alex Chamberlain, Theo Walcott and Ozil have stated that this year will our trophy cabinet opened once more.

Before Ozil’s arrival, Walcott stated that “even if we stay as we are now, we are a great team”, with Chamberlain echoing his view, “we really think we can take the title”. Ozil meanwhile believes that Arsenal can “definitely” win something.

Last season’s strong finish, with eight wins in an undefeated ten match spell, evidently played a great part in the new-found confidence, though it is likely that the players will have been instructed by the club to express their positivity, after all no player at a big club will state that the club will not succeed.

Strong competition

The greatest obstacle in front of Arsenal is the breadth of quality in the Premier League. The big teams have all improved significantly, save for Manchester United, and will each be difficult to beat. The League this season is arguably the most wide open in years, and, realistically, any of six teams could win.

If Liverpool or Tottenham manage to integrate their plethora of signings, it is not inconceivable that they finish first, let alone in the top four. Likewise Chelsea and Manchester City have improved. Manchester United have failed to improve their squad, but finishing so far above their rivals last season means they cannot be discounted.

Conversely, each team could struggle. Liverpool have started strongly, yet their squad still appears too reliant on certain players. Tottenham have brought in several big names, and as Wenger correctly suggested, it could take time for them to fully blend into a cohesive outfit. City have looked inconsistent under their new manager, and United look far from the ruthless outfit that efficiently swept aside the rest of the league last season. Chelsea, dull as ever under Mourinho, appear to be the most consistent.

The outcome of the Premier League this season is nigh on impossible to predict. Any of six teams could win, and, certainly, there are six teams fighting for the four Champions League spots.

In my opinion, Arsenal will finish between third and fifth. The squad is not yet equipped to sustain a year-long assault on the League, though that could change with a couple of additions in January. Ultimately, it will probably be another fourth place finish, though the team, with Ozil, Santi Cazorla, Wilshere and Walcott, will be a joy to watch.

Where will Arsenal finish this season?

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