Arsenal 2016-17 Preview and Betting Tips
It’s been 12 years since Arsenal last lifted the Premier League title. Not only did they win the title but they did it by going through the entire league campaign undefeated. Since 2003/04 though Arsenal have never put in a serious title challenge. They did finish 2nd in 2004/05 but finished 12 points behind the eventual winners Chelsea.
The 2015/16 season saw them breaking into the Top 2 after a gap of 10 years but once again were distant runners-up to Leicester City. Heading into the new season the goal for Arsenal once again will be to win the title. They have one of the best squads in the league and an experienced manager in Arsene Wenger who is in his last year of contract.
Arsenal 2016-17 Season Preview
Despite never making a serious title challenge in the Premier League over the last decade. Arsenal though have never fallen out of the top 4. Arsene Wenger did incredibly well with the limited finances he had at his disposal post their move to the Emirates Stadium. However since 2013/14 when the club was finally free from their financial debts, Wenger had the money to sign whom so ever he wants to strengthen his squad.
The likes of Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez joined the club over this period but the club disappointed to say the least over the last three seasons. Arsene Wenger enters his final year of contract as Arsenal manager and will need a very good season to stay with the club. Even if they are not to win the league, Arsenal have to put in a title challenge regardless of where among the top 4 they finish.
Arsenal open their Premier League campaign against Liverpool at home on August 14th and will need to kick off well. The Gunners will be trying to add another striker before the end of the transfer window with current number one, Oliver Giroud losing the support from the Arsenal faithful.
Squad Breakdown
Despite the cries of anguish from the Arsenal supporters, Wenger has once again gone for the youth rather than bringing in already established players. Takuma Asano, Rob Holding & Kelechi Nwakali are all players under the age of 21. Arsenal though did secure the services of Granit Xhaka who was impressive with the Swiss in Euro 2016.
He joins the Arsenal midfield which already consists of Mesut Ozil, Alexis Sanchez, Jack Wilshere and Aaron Ramsey. Arsenal have undoubtedly the most accomplished midfield in the league this season. The area Wenger needs to desperately address now is upfront.
Oliver Giroud despite the fan receptions is a very good striker even if he’s not part of the top bracket of strikers. He has been Arsenal’s top scorer in two of their three past seasons putting away more than 20 goals in both. Wenger has failed in signing both Jamie Vardy and Alexandre Lacazette but can get the latter with a much improved bid.
Another addition they need to make is a quality center back with Per Metersacker out with injury for four months. A possible signing Wenger can make in this regard will be German International Shkodran Mustafi from Valencia. The one area of the squad that Wenger can be happy about is in the goal with Peter Czech likely to carry on as the first choice keeper.
Arsenal 2016-17 Season Prediction
Arsenal will open their Premier League campaign against Liverpool and will follow it up games against Leicester, Watford, Southampton and Hull City. It’s a tricky bunch of fixtures but they’ll need to churn out the points regardless of it.
Unlike Chelsea and Liverpool who have no European obligations, Arsenal will once again try their luck in the Champions League. One has to say that Wenger’s biggest failure as a manager is not being able to guide the Gunners to a European title. We can’t see them doing it this season but will make it into the quarter-finals.
In the Premier League they’ll once again be in the title contention early on but will fall way towards the end of the season.
Verdict: – 4th Place
Player to Watch – Arsenal 2016-17
Aaron Ramsey
2013/14 was perhaps Ramsey’s best season in the Premier League. However a mid-season injury hampered his season and since then has been struggling to recapture the same form. The 2016 European Championships was key for Aaron Ramsey. Along with Gareth Bale & Joe Allen, Ramsey was instrumental in Wales’s campaign that saw them reaching the semifinals.
He was one of the best players in the tournament and arguably the best midfielder. Ramsey will be key to the Arsenal’s title chase this season and is our pick to have a great season for the Gunners.
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Betting Tips – Arsenal 2016-17
Premier League Champions – 7.50 (888 Sport)
The odds are really good for Arsenal and are the 4th favorites behind the Manchester Clubs and Chelsea to win the league. Do we think Arsenal will win the league? No!
But the odds on offer are really good and it may not be a bad gamble at the end. After all with half the squad quality of Arsenal, Leicester won it last year. So if you are confident in Arsenal, go for it.
Relegation – 1001.00 (Skybet)
Never gonna happen, No! No! No!
Top at Christmas – 7.00 (Bet 365)
Arsenal have traditionally been strong starters to a season. After minor hick-ups at the start of the season we expect Arsenal to motor on and top the table at Christmas only to fall away from the title challenge during February-March.
This is a bet i would suggest to our readers considering the fact that the Manchester Clubs and Chelsea will take time to adapt to their changes.
Top 4 Finish – 1.73 (Betfair)
They’ve done it consistently as far as i remember and they’ll do it once again this season. A sure fire bet for the readers and the odds are okay enough.
Top Scorer – Arsenal 2016-17
Alexis Sanchez – 1.91
Oliver Giroud – 2.38
Theo Walcott – 11.00
We agree with the bookies on this one. Oliver Giroud was their top scorer last season and though we expect him to get a decent tally this season as well our pick is Alexis Sanchez. The Chilean comes into the new season after helping his country to their second successive Copa American championship.
He is also the best ranked Arsenal player to win the Golden Boot with odds of around 26.00 (Coral). However we can’t see him or any Arsenal player to be among the Golden Boot chase.
Arsenal Transfers In – 2016-17
Transfers IN |
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Sl No | Position | Player | Fee – € | From |
1 | FWD | Takuma Asano | Undisclosed | Hiroshima |
2 | MF | Granit Xhaka | 45 million | Borussia Monchengladbach |
3 | MF | Kelechi Nwakali | 3.8 million | Diamond Academy |
4 | DF | Rob Holding | 2.4 million | Bolton |
Arsenal – 2015/16 Stats
Pos | Team | Played | Won | Lost | Draw | GD | Points |
2 | Arsenal | 38 | 20 | 7 | 11 | +29 | 71 |