Whatever happens in the final weeks of the season, Arsenal have enjoyed the ride as one of the few teams to truly challenge Manchester City for the Premier League title in recent years. But there is a scenario that Mikel Arteta must have considered which could still materialise that sees the Gunners crowned champions for the first time in 19 years as the north London club dare to dream of a title triumph. With three games to go and a busy summer transfer window expected, Express Sport looks at the best-case scenario for Arteta’s men as the campaign draws to a close.
Toppling Man City
It was in their hands only six weeks ago. Arsenal had an eight-point lead over City, knowing it was in their hands, and a run of three successive draws – coupled with the 4-1 defeat at the Etihad Stadium – means Pep Guardiola’s side are in the driving seat.
But it is far from over, and if history has taught football fans anything about the Premier League, it is that title races contain several twists, and there could still be another that goes in Arsenal’s favour. What has been overlooked in City’s season finale is that as they aim to win the Treble, it will become harder for Guardiola to keep players fresh for league matches.
Arsenal are only focused on their domestic quest for success and will be putting all their efforts into winning their remaining games while City may be forced to rotate. And with only a one-point gap to separate the sides – albeit City have played a game fewer – the title is not out of their reach yet.
Winning the trophy, having finished eighth in his first two seasons, would mark a historic moment in Arteta’s managerial career.
Signing Zubimendi
Arteta will make signing a central midfielder his main priority this summer, even after bringing in Jorginho from Chelsea in January. Declan Rice and Moises Caicedo are known to be Arsenal’s top two targets, but whether West Ham or Brighton would be willing to sell the pair is another matter.
In the case of Martin Zubimendi, it’s simple: if Arsenal meet his £51m release clause this summer, Real Sociedad will be powerless to stop the Spaniard from leaving. The 24-year-old has impressed visiting scouts for the La Liga outfit this season and he has courted interest from Barcelona. But it is Arsenal who are thought to be ‘very close’ to snapping up the highly-rated midfielder.
The defensive midfielder has been compared to former La Real star Xabi Alonso and his arrival would give Arteta another strong passer in midfield, with concerns over
Offloading dead wood
Arteta has been quite obvious in pointing to the importance of having a strong squad for a title challenge. But few would argue that while Arsenal’s starting XI have been excellent this season, the jury is still out on their fringe players.
Reiss Nelson, Eddie Nketiah, Leandro Trossard and Kieran Tierney have all contributed in their own way, even if the quartet have not been regulars in the squad.
But can the same be said for Cedric Soares, Rob Holding, Albert Sambi Lokonga and Takehiro Tomiyasu? There are doubts as to whether these four players are up to the standard required for Arsenal as they enter the Champions League for the first time since 2016-17, as Arteta clears out the dead wood.
Saliba’s return
If Arsenal fans were to look at the one turning point in their season where the title slipped from their grasp, it would probably be the injury to William Saliba in their Europa League aggregate defeat to Sporting Lisbon.
Since then, the north London side have leaked goals and been guilty of defensive errors that just would not have occurred if the reliable Saliba was present in the backline. Losing the Frenchman, who had been ever-present until his injury, has been a massive blow for Arteta.
He wasn’t fit in time to return against City, but there is a chance Saliba comes back for the final games. And with no disrespect to Jakub Kiwior or Holding, Arteta would love to have the 21-year-old central defender back in his side.
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