Arsenal may never again have a better chance to win the Premier League.
The Gunners underlined their title credentials with a hard-fought win over Manchester City on Monday night, and attentions have quickly turned to what 2016 might bring.
Gooners, though, will be understandably reluctant to allow themselves to believe that this could be their year, but there is a growing body of evidence to suggest Arsene Wenger’s will finally end their title drought.
Here are six reasons why we feel Ozil, Cech and co. can bring glory to the Emirates next year.
1. History on their side
Arsene Wenger’s side will be second at Christmas following their 2-1 win against City, and that’s a very good omen for the Gunners.
That’s because the last two times Arsenal won the league (2003/04 and 2001/02), they had been in second place on the 25 of December.
In fact, five of Arsenal’s last six league titles have come from them being second at Christmas, and Gooners will be hoping history can repeat itself this time around.
2. A change in mentality
For years, Arsenal have come unstuck against the Premier League’s big boys, naively falling victim to their own cavalier approach in the key games.
But something seemed to click last season when they beat City away back in January, and Wenger’s side look to have finally worked out how to take on – and beat – their closest rivals.
This season, Arsenal have picked up 16 points from a possible 18 against the current top-seven in the league, only dropping points against Tottenham at home.
Crystal Palace 1-2 Arsenal
Leicester 2-5 Arsenal
Arsenal 3-0 Manchester United
Watford 0-3 Arsenal
Arsenal 1-1 Tottenham
Arsenal 2-1 Manchester City
Of course, the top-seven is arguably weaker than it has been in previous seasons given that this is the craziest Premier League campaign in recent memory, but the wins against United and City in particular demonstrated a newfound sense of maturity when it comes to the big games.
They’re still the only team in the league to beat Leicester, too…
3. Consistency
Arsenal are just about the only team from the Premier League’s established elite that aren’t having a below-par season.
Man City have been defeated five times this season, and no side has ever won the Premier League after suffering that many losses before Christmas.
Manchester United have gone six games without a win for the first time in 17 years, Chelsea have mounted the worst title defence in Premier League history while Liverpool’s win % under Jurgen Klopp this season is actually lower than what it was under Brendan Rodgers.
By comparison, Arsenal are four places and nine points better off than they were last season, and, given their rivals’ current travails, may not even have to do anything spectacular to secure a fourth Prem title.
Of course, if Leicester can prove they are the real deal then they will deserve everything that comes their way. But if they do fall away, Arsenal look the most likely to steal in ahead of them.
4. Ozil
What more can you say?
The German took his assist tally to 15 after bagging two more against City, and after years of under-performing (by his own high standards) he now looks like a player Arsenal can build their title challenge around.
He is undoubtedly becoming the linchpin of this side, and if he maintains this current form, Arsenal will be very hard to dislodge from the Prem’s
5. Cech
Before Cech joined Arsenal, John Terry predicted that the Czech keeper would save Arsenal around 12-15 points a season – and that’s certainly proving to be the case.
The former Chelsea man has made crucial stops against Liverpool, Norwich, Sunderland, Everton and Tottenham to name but a few, saving vital points here and there.His arrival is also bearing some strong parallels with Jens Lehmann’s, who won the league with the Gunners in his first season.
Cech is arguably Arsenal’s only big-name goalkeeper signing since the German, and there’s every chance he could emulate him this term.
6. They’re over the hump
As per usual, Arsenal were abject in November.
The Gunners picked up three times as many injuries as they did points in November, managing just two draws while six first-teamers were side-lined with various problems.
But despite that, they’re still in contention, and given that Arsenal historically come on stronger in the second half of the season, they’re now in an extremely strong position What’s more is they have the likes of Santi Cazorla, Alexis Sanchez, Francis Coquelin, Jack Wilshere and Danny Welbeck to come back, all of whom will provide timely boosts when they return.
2016 could be a very memorable year indeed…
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