Premier League 26/27: Defending Our Crown

[Barry]

It's just peak Arsenal to go into the summer transfer window needing more creativity generally and a refresh on the left wing to coming out having failed to do much there.

I don't think overall we're in bad shape and the doom and gloom is a bit much but honestly it was such an obvious weakness last season.

Reasons to be happier though;
- Could be a breakthrough season for Dowman, he'll get significantly minutes most probably
- MLS is establishing himself as first team, or near to it
- Nwaneri kept and good loan with a recall; if we struggle for creativity and he does well first half of the season with BVB then he's an option
- Tzolis had a promising start and pre-season and could replace Trossard without much of a drop off if we're lucky
- proactive move to cover Saliba with Konsa
- Bruno is a level raiser in midfield and * may * add to our creativity (not convinced he does this significantly)
- Better place with injuries generally than last season, so long as this lasts

 

[Sanchez11]

The club has shown arrogance and gambled on our rivals in transition. I want to see attacking signings next summer and not chelsea rejects.

 

[MikelHadADream]

Now the window is over, who are our biggest challengers?

I’d have said Chelsea with Alonso would have been very dangerous, but their midfield doesn’t really leave you very inspired.

Liverpool can’t win the league with those fullbacks and midfield.

It’s going to be City again, but there is a lot of change that midfield…

 

[Rex Caudillo]

Now the window is over, who are our biggest challengers?

I’d have said Chelsea with Alonso would have been very dangerous, but their midfield doesn’t really leave you very inspired.

Liverpool can’t win the league with those fullbacks and midfield.

It’s going to be City again, but there is a lot of change that midfield…

It’s absolutely City.

They have the best player in the league by some distance and still some solid defenders and midfielders.

 

[MartiSaka]

It's a toss up between Hull and Chelsea.

We're doing the morally correct thing trimming the squad but the bloat was the only reason we won last season, so without that advantage it's hard to see it

Yep Hull are favourites in my book, elite defence. It will be over by February.

 

[Wounded Healer]

If we havent lost Rogers to Chelsea it was an easy run. But now... i am not sure about another title.

 

[Sapient Hawk]

Now the window is over, who are our biggest challengers?

I’d have said Chelsea with Alonso would have been very dangerous, but their midfield doesn’t really leave you very inspired.

Liverpool can’t win the league with those fullbacks and midfield.

It’s going to be City again, but there is a lot of change that midfield…

City are without their greatest weapon, Pep himself & we beat them to the title with him at the helm.

Maresca doesn't give me any cause for concern.

 

[Topside]

The only upside I can see for us is that Ødegaard, Saka both look very fit again, the vastly underrated Merino also.

The addition of Bruno G and Konsa will help us in being able to rotate without weakening and having to use the likes of Declan Rice at right back.

MC and Chelsea look the strongest alongside us, but they operate differently and above the rules.
Still no excuses another window where we didn't strengthen our forward line!

 

[Rex Caudillo]

I do feel like that was the most fever dream transfer window I’ve ever seen for all clubs.

Chelsea, City, United, Sp**s and Liverpool all having mental windows where they just chucked money at the most random assortment of players while almost all ending the window worse than they were before.

Mass exoduses from Newcastle and Villa while teams like Everton now only have 18 first team players.

Then overseas you had Real and Atletico Madrid with some strange moves and PSG just stockpiling attackers. Only really Bayern and Barcelona I’d say had great windows.

 

[sdotzdot]

We won't win the league. Unfortunately we've opened up an avenue for Maresca and I think he will take it the way Slot did.

Very unfortunate but I think we've failed to capitalise and build on the potential we had.

 

[Artemis]

Extremely disappointed with our transfer market. The moves for Vinicius & Alvarez were really desperate, and a sign that even management knew our attack was weaker than our rivals.

Selling both Trossard and Martinelli under these circumstances was inexcusable.

Nobody with a straight face can argue that we have strengthened our attack. We haven't. I would even argue that we have degraded it, at least from a depth perspective. Just disappointing.

 

[Artemis]

We won't win the league. Unfortunately we've opened up an avenue for Maresca and I think he will take it the way Slot did.

Very unfortunate but I think we've failed to capitalise and build on the potential we had.

That late Enzo move to City was a total disgrace from Chelsea. What kind of major club sells their best midfielder at the last minute to strengthen their rivals?

City have unfortunately significantly strengthened from last year. It will be difficult to stop them. Especially since we have neglected our attack.

 

[sdotzdot]

That late Enzo move to City was a total disgrace from Chelsea. What kind of major club sells their best midfielder at the last minute to strengthen their rivals?

City have unfortunately significantly strengthened from last year. It will be difficult to stop them. Especially since we have neglected our attack.

Yep they done the right thing in replacing Rodri in numbers. All of Anderson, Bouaddi and Enzo together significantly raises the floor of their midfield which was a huge issue.

People are severely underestimating City. The league will also change this season as we have seen from the refereeing the first few games.

Set pieces are being heavily scrutinised, hence our attempt to switch our routines up to short corners, and the general level for fouls has raised, which will mean more ball on the ground play throughout the season, which suits City much more than us.

I wouldn't put us as favourites at all anymore.

 

[Topside]

Agree the transfer window should of been better.

We have a very strong squad no doubt but once again like I saw Summers 89, 91, 98, 02 and 04 years I have been at games and seen us win leagues for various reasons NEVER strengthened when title holders.

Forget the modern money and various attachments to achievements (Chelsea, MC).

The Liverpool era I saw growing up and then MU dominant era's managers that always tweaked and strengthened their squads and showed the rest of the league, we are champions for a reason.

 

[remains]

We will need better luck in injuries than last season, but I am still confident we will grind out the results to be in the race come January. Hopefully the club can add an attacker then to give us a boost in the second half of the season.

 

[rockofcashel]

We will need better luck in injuries than last season, but I am still confident we will grind out the results to be in the race come January. Hopefully the club can add an attacker then to give us a boost in the second half of the season.

The problem.. problems.. with that is..

Who is going to sell you a world class forward in January?

How much over inflated price are you going to pay for a decent, never mind world class, player in January?

What half decent forward out there, is not currently playing Champions League, so even if you buy him, you'll have a cup tied player.


I say, late bid for a free agent.. anyone willing to back me on.. Jamie Vardy

 

[grange]

Now the window is over, who are our biggest challengers?

Ourselves

 

[sdotzdot]

Now the window is over, who are our biggest challengers?

I’d have said Chelsea with Alonso would have been very dangerous, but their midfield doesn’t really leave you very inspired.

Liverpool can’t win the league with those fullbacks and midfield.

It’s going to be City again, but there is a lot of change that midfield…

I think we're in for the same we have seen for the last four seasons, a tight city and arsenal race.

Tbh it's getting boring now, but I think City are very close to us, and we're both still well above every other team in the league.

I've seen enough of Chelsea they aren't going to be anywhere close to the league trust me, will have plenty of dropped points due to their midfield and defence. Their attack is good but not good enough to compensate for that and put up a genuine title challenge against an arsenal now consistently doing it for four years.

So yeah reckon we will be seeing the status quo.

 

[Bagels]

Gunna hit so hard when we go unbeaten

 

[Red London]

A bit worried about Chelsea. Think they’re gonna potentially have a season similar to when we were surprise title contenders after signing Jesus and Zinchenko.

The difference is Chelsea have 0 Europe (we had EL which actually got Saliba injured), and we are no prime City.

Chelsea’s attack is nothing short of tantalising. They’re certainly in the dark horse category.