ARSENAL WINING THE PREMIER LEAGUE MIGHT JUST BE A FANTASY

90 minutes make a match, 38 matches make a season. The kind of consistency required to keep on a winning streak throughout the entire season seems lacking for Arsenal. Squad depth, fatigue and inconsistency might greatly cost them the title. Not forgetting the increased number of games they’ll have to play in European competition if they keep up the winning streak in the Europa league. The 2022 Qatar world cup is exceptional to them since not even a handful of Arsenal players will feature in it.

Squad depth is a vital tool for a team to win the English premier league. Having to play a number of matches with the same set of players and expecting to win it in the end is almost close to impossible. Fewer teams have done it in the previous years like Leicester City in 2015/16. But still Claudio Ranieri had some players rest for a match or two and he had Ngolo Kante who is believed to play an additional 2 players in a match. Liverpool have tried it but failed. Having to play the same set of players over and over will drain them off especially when they’re needed to be at their level best throughout.

 Continuous game time brings in fatigue amongst most players which then results to inconsistency in matches. Meaning, afterwards wins won’t always be guaranteed throughout the matches yet to play in the season. So far, Arteta has been using the same set of players match after match and whenever he goes for a change, the substitute lacks the needed quality as the previous one. Lack of high-quality players also works against them towards lifting the title. A perfect exam of high squad depth filled with quality players is Manchester City who have almost 3 quality players in every position as compared to Arsenal’s almost “1” player per position if not 2 for like 3-4 positions.

Arteta’s boys might be enjoying one of the best football seasons in the club’s history, of course with an exception of the 2003/04 invincible season. A time of pure magic and outstanding performances from their French star Thierry Henry. Gabriel Jesus might just be giving the younger generation of Arsenals fans a glimpse of a prime Henry. It would take more than that to win the premier league title.

This might just prove to be another disappointing season for Arsenal.