#360debate: Will Arsenal be able to sustain a title challenge?

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  • Delight: Community Shield winners Arsenal.

    Our #360debate today is: Will Arsenal be able to sustain a title challenge this season?  

    James Piercy, Deputy Editor, thinks YES

    “Same old Arsenal, always folding” has become as synonymous with the club under Arsene Wenger as “1-0 to the Arsenal” did in their 90s golden era under George Graham.

    Supposedly lacking the mental fortitude to commit to a full campaign or a team forever in transition and growing towards a greater goal, it’s 10 seasons since the Gunners finished above third.

    Ignoring the encouraging display against Chelsea in the Community Shield, this will be the season where the fruits of Wenger’s labour finally blossom.

    He has a settled squad with options to cope with the inevitable injury crisis that plagues Wenger’s teams every term.

    Petr Cech should prove an excellent addition in goal, not just in ability but in terms of leadership, dressing room presence and experience while David Ospina is a more than capable deputy.

    Laurent Koscielny is probably the most underrated defender in world football and Per Mertesacker has some competition with Gabriel Paulista set for a more significant role after wisely been given several months to adapt to English football.

    The emergence of Hector Bellerin at right-back with Calum Chambers also capable of playing there and in the centre plus Mathieu Debuchy now fully fit gives plenty of  cover on that side. Kieran Gibbs and Nacho Monreal are then two strong options on the left.

    Confident: Wenger.

    In midfield is where Arsenal are truly blessed with Wenger capable of fielding two excellent units compromising any four or five of: Mikel Arteta, Aaron Ramsey, Francis Coquelin, Santi Cazorla (now assured in a deeper role), Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Jack Wilshere, Mesut Ozil, Tomas Rosicky and Mathieu Flamini.

    Coquelin has also seemingly solved, in part, the need for a dynamic defensive midfielder, although the Frenchman cannot be expected to play 38+ games.

    Up front, there is still a nagging feeling a pure No 9 is needed to lift the burden on the inconsistent Olivier Giroud but Arsenal are still not short of goals with Alexis Sanchez, Theo Walcott and Danny Welbeck in support.

    A year older, wiser and with no key departures like in seasons past, this is a squad that can go the distance. 

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    Matt Monaghan, reporter, thinks NO

    The signs are promising but the outcome will be the same.

    Optimism levels are at highs not seen in a decade Arsenal will actually turn promise into a Premier League title fight. The hype has only grown after silverware was claimed in Sunday’s Community Shield victory against Chelsea.

    But the consistent and pragmatic Blues appear much-better placed to be celebrating in May, when the sport’s proper trophies are decided.

    Continuity is cause for celebration, Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech the only major addition. Despite the Czech Republic international’s undoubted pedigree, is he enough to bridge last term’s gaping 12-point gap?

    The Cech of today is not like the thoroughbred which rose to prominence in 2004, an uncertainty now etched into his game which saw Jose Mourinho refuse to blink when Thibaut Courtois was adjudged to have come of age in 2014.

    John Terry said his ex-team-mate would be worth “12 to 15 points” a season. This seems like a platitude.

    They also conceded only one less goal in 2014/15 than a Manchester United unit which was pilloried.

    This squad is growing up under boss Arsene Wenger, the days now gone which saw Samir Nasri, Cesc Fabregas and Robin van Persie lured away. But inexperience undermines them when compared to rivals Chelsea, Manchester City and Manchester United.

    Only Cech and Danny Welbeck have tasted Premier League title glory, this lack of know-how apparent in the now-traditional disappointments which are set to come in the months ahead.

    In last season’s crunch moments, disappointment usually followed. The same players crumpled against Monaco in the Champions League, were beaten seven times in the top flight and threatened to  finish fourth when limping over the line after an eight-game victorious run in the league when the pressure was off.

    Despite successive FA Cup wins, this Arsenal team are known as glorious losers for a reason.

    United legend and serial trophy winner Roy Keane has bemoaned the squad for being “more interes- ted in selfies and six-packs”. It is hard to disagree. 

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