IN THE GROVE: Title tilt
Thursday, 14th August 2014
Arsenal manager, Arsene Wenger
Published: 14 August, 2014
by STEVE BARNETT
A big season – Jack Wilshere
THE pressure is on the England man to shine and prove once and for all that he’s not the biggest potential waste of talent since Paul Gascoigne. There were suggestions in the press that the 22-year-old could be Arsenal’s next anchor man, but everyone knows Wilshere produces his best work in the final third of the pitch.
Shape up or ship out – Mesut Ozil
The novelty of snatching a big-money signing from Real Madrid last summer quickly wore off, and now the World Cup winner has to deliver. Mesmeric displays when he first arrived at the Emirates were all too quickly replaced in the winter by a sluggish, hands-in-pocket sulk. The good news is the 25-year-old is on the list of people expecting more, having reportedly told German Sport Bild: “There is room for improvement in all departments.” Be warned Mesut, the pitch can be a very small place, and we can see when you’re slacking!
Dugout dilemmas – Arsene Wenger
The ink was barely dry on Wenger’s new three-year contract when the Gunners beat Man City 3-0 at Wembley in Sunday’s Community Shield so, like the fans, the Frenchman will be very optimistic about the coming season. And for good reason as he has put together arguably the best squad he’s had since moving to north London 18 years ago. The challenge now will be to find a way to keep all the players happy, in particular those on the bench. With a genuine title challenge on the horizon the last thing he will want, come the January transfer window, are headlines about Olivier Giroud, Santi Cazorla or Joel Campbell being unsettled.
Goal for the season
Arsenal were perched on top of the Premier League tree longer than any other club last season, yet finished fourth. That’s because they kept capitulating against their title rivals, as the recent ads for BT Sport seem all too happy to remind Gooners about. Maybe this time around it will be Wenger’s side handing out the spankings.
Far from the madding crowd
Summer temperatures soared higher than ever before and the birds were singing more sweetly. What happens on the pitch has a massive impact on what happens off it, as every Arsenal fan will testify after May’s FA Cup triumph. So more of the same please.
