How will Arsenal fare in the new EPL season?

It is almost universally accepted that they play the most expansive and attractive brand of football in the English Premier League. However, five years have now gone by without winning a single trophy, despite manager Arsene Wenger’s promise that his team was ready to win a major trophy last season. The loyal fans await that day when there will be an expansion of the Gunners trophy case.

Critics will say that Arsenal have now all but gone backwards officially as a team, and certainly as a major force in the English premier league since 2005. That was the last year the Gunners finished in the top two of the top division despite they were 12 points behind the then champions – Chelsea. Since then they have basically flattered themselves as bona fide title contenders. During that period, they finished fourth in 2006, fourth in 2007, third in 2008, fourth in 2009, and third in 2010.

As most fans are well aware, winning the English Premier League is a tough challenge and it has certainly gotten tougher since the Gunners last won the league. In that time, although Manchester United won the league there twice and Chelsea twice, a number of rookies emerged to challenge the orthodoxy.

Enter Manchester City’s rowdy Old Trafford neighbors and the Gunners’ neighbors from hell, Spurs. Tottenham have gone from being a journeyman to a serious team under the management of Harry Redknapp, who seems to be relishing the chance to lead a club with big ambitions and relatively deep pockets.

Fancy footwork only goes so far. What Arsenal need is not a flashy striker, but some semblance of a backbone that runs through the team. A solid midfielder who can hold the fort while others around him, such as Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri, are badly needed and the option available simply isn’t enough for the highest level. Memories of Rooney and Ronaldo and then of Rooney and Nani running through midfield and defending Arsenal in the ensuing Champions League semi-finals still haunt the Emirate faithful. Alexander Hleb, a former Arsenal midfielder, recently joined Birmingham City football club on a season loan. His old team could probably use his services even more.

Arsenal’s squad for the new season consists of the following players: Manuel Almunia, Andrey Arshavin, Nicklas Bendtner, Marouane Chamakh, Gael Clichy, Pereka Neves Denilson, Vassiriki Abou Diaby, Johan Danon Djourou-Gbadjere, Emmanuel Eboue, Lukasz Fabianski, Cesc Fabregas, Laurent Koscielny, Vito Mannone, Samir Nasri, Tomas Rosicky, Bacary Sagna, Bilong Song, Dimitri Alexandre, Robin Van Persie, Thomas Vermaelen, Sebastien Squillaci.