After two consecutive FA Cup triumphs, could Arsenal be primed to add a Premier League title to its growing trophy case? TSN.ca's 2014-15 team preview looks at the year ahead with an emphasis between the pipes.
Who's In?: Petr Cech (Chelsea, ENG)
Who's Out?: Abou Diaby (Marseille, FRA), Carl Jenkinson (West Ham, ENG – loan), Lukas Podolski (Galatasaray, TUR), Yaya Sanogo (Ajax, NED – loan), Wojciech Szczesny (Roma, ITA – loan) and Serge Gnabry (West Brom, ENG - loan)
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There’s something to be said for finishing strong.
The Gunners spent much of 2014-15 mired in mediocrity – mid-to-high-table mediocrity, mind you – but Arsenal spent only four match-days between Weeks 3 and 25 in the top four.
Regardless, from Feb. 10 onward, the Gunners went 10-1-3, spending the final 13 weeks of the season in the top three. Were it not for dropped points at home in May to Swansea and Sunderland the team may even have caught City for second.
Regardless, the team secured its 19th-straight top-four finish and successfully defended its FA Cup crown. So, what’s next?
Podolski is officially gone, transferred to Turkey’s Galatasaray in July, which leaves the Gunners’ potent attack to continue punishing the League.
A full year out of Olivier Giroud and Theo Walcott will only make the attack more fearsome, balancing the team’s options with Alexis Sanchez as target men for the midfield minds of Santi Cazorla, Mesut Ozil, Aaron Ramsey and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
The team begins the season already looking cautiously to the sidelines with midfielder Jack Wilshere expected to be out for weeks with a cracked fibula. However, if the rest of the team can stay healthy, it can certainly challenge defending champs and London rivals Chelsea for the top of the table… Especially now that Arsene Wenger has beaten Jose Mourinho for once.
KEY FIXTURES
DATE | OPPONENT | HIGHLIGHT |
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Aug. 9 | vs. West Ham | Season opener |
Aug. 24 | vs. Liverpool | First Reds visit to Emirates in post-Gerrard era |
Sep. 19 | @ Chelsea | Cech returns to The Bridge; Community Shield re-match |
Oct. 4 | vs. Manchester United | First against 2014-15 fourth-place finishers |
Nov. 8 | vs. Tottenham | First North London derby |
Dec. 15 | @ Aston Villa | FA Cup Final re-match |
Dec. 19 | vs. Manchester City | First against 2014-15 second-place finishers |
Jan. 23 | vs. Chelsea | Return London derby |
Feb. 27 | @ Manchester United | Return leg vs. United |
May 7 | @ Manchester City | Tough away match in penultimate 2015-16 Match Day |