Can Arsenal win the Premier League?

Then two came along. After years of mockery, of jokes about trophyless seasons, Arsenal has now seen the FA Cup in succession. There seems to be a change in mood and atmosphere. Arsenal is now buzzing, the Emirates stadium a place that is once more being conditioned to the habit of winning. Pre-season trophies such as the Barclays Asia Trophy and the Emirates Cup are adding to this, while just like the FA Cup, the traditional English season curtain -raiser — the Community Shield — has been won back to back.

It thus begs the question, can the Premier League title be conquered?

It is a question that invariably points towards

Jack Wilshere must be wary of becoming Wayne Rooney

There will always be that performance at the Camp Nou.

The 2010-2011 Champions League First Knockout stage. The second leg between Arsenal and Barcelona in Catalonia. Underneath the starry skies and upon the canvas of the European stage. Inside the amphitheater that forms Barcelona’s majestic football stadium. Amidst the brilliance of Lionel Messi, within the kaleidoscopic passing of Barcelona and beyond the controversy of a Robin Van Persie red card — there was Jack Wilshere.

The then 19-year old showed why many had

Arsenal’s new era must now get a sense of big game mentality

At the end of it all, Arsene Wenger seemed relieved. As he walked up the Wembley stairs to accompany his team accept the FA Cup, it seemed as if all the pressure was now off. The tie was off, presumably too strangling to still be kept on while the coat was nowhere in sight, presumably too heavy to wear. The top button on his shirt was open, the heat presumably too much.

A relief as cumulative years of pressure culminated into one defining moment. After nine years of trophyless seasons, here at last was a trophy to

Arsenal and Dortmund Light Up the Champions League

Henrikh Mkhitaryan scores the opener

Rarely is a Champions League group stage game of such overall quality and of such high significance.

That could be because of a seeding system that precludes the Champions League draw. The rationale for seeding is to keep the giants away from each other so that less superior teams get eliminated early on. It thus forms the truism of Champions League football. The more it progresses, the more exciting it becomes as big teams clash in titanic battles.

For the fan however, it forms a somewhat anti-climactic opening

Derby day delight for Arsenal

Arsenal celebrate Derby Day Victory

If calls for ‘Wenger Out’ had intensified before the first North London Derby of the season, the match itself proved to be a reincarnation of what used to happen before Arsene Wenger came in.

In the George Graham days, 1-0 to the Arsenal was a familiar score line. It proved to be once more as Tottenham Hotspurs became Arsenal’s latest victims. Arsenal’s resurgence since that opening day defeat to

Arsenal: The invisible invincibles

Arsene Wenger ***image courtesy of zimbio.com***

by Victor Karuga

Two weeks ago, Arsenal finished fourth, and rightly so, qualified for the Champions League, (much to Tottenham’s chagrin). Meanwhile, the red half of Manchester was revelling in an umpteenth 20th Premier League title. It was oh so heartbreaking to see their manager of 20-odd years, Sir Alex Ferguson retire. Glowing tributes, gushing international 

The portrait of Arsenal as Dennis Bergkamp

Arsenal Legends *** image courtesy of zimbio.com ***

A statue of Dennis Bergkamp will stand outside the Emirates stadium.

Alongside the bronze cast immortalisations of Herbert Chapman, Tony Adams and Thierry Henry, the figure of this majestic non-flying Dutchman will forever be grounded. Ultimately, it is as appropriate as it is symbolic to have Bergkamp’s statue. For a club like Arsenal, beyond the early years of English pragmatism and 1-0 to the Arsenal regime of George Graham, Bergkamp may very well epitomise evidently the new Arsenal. The Arsenal whose history changed on that day in November 1996 when Arsene Wenger walked through Highbury’s gates.

It also, inadvertedly, epitomises much

No surprises in the Champions League

[ In relation to this article also, check out the follow up article –  Who will Win the Champions League? ]

Nobody in their wildest dreams would have imagined that it would be Chelsea, not Bayern Munich that would be climbing the steps of the Allianz Arena to accept the Champions League trophy from Michel Platini. The events that had just been witnessed signalled the culmination of a dream run by the London club. As such, it was a surprise.

That surprise however will not be

Arsenal’s long wait for a Champions League may yet be even longer

Arsenal concede a third away goal to Bayern Munich * image courtesy of zimbio *

The noise was deafening as the crowd was silenced. Cheers turned into jeers as the boos filled the air.

Toni Kroos struck, Thomas Muller pounced and Mario Mandzukic, rather fortuitously, looped it in. Not even the head of Lukas Podolski could save face for a team that for most of the 90 minutes looked to have lost its head. It meant that the only ones flying at The Emirates were the Bavarians.

In his match programme notes prior to Arsenal’s Champions League Round of 16 first leg tie against Bayern Munchen, Arsene Wenger called for

English clubs in the Champions League

The most coveted trophy in European Club Football *** image courtesy of bbc ***

The tide may be shifting. Since 2004, at least one English club has reached the semi-final of the Champions League in every season since. In fact, in 2009, 3 of the 4 semi finalists were English. Only 2004 and 2010 saw them not having a finalist. In 2005, 2008 and 2012 they won it.

This has meant that England’s UEFA co-efficient has been relatively high. The UEFA co-efficient system is what determines how many clubs qualify for the Champions League from each country. England’s high co-efficient means that UEFA grants them 4 spots, the maximum that any association can have. They, along with Spain and Germany, are the only countries to have this.

That has also meant that for fans of English Premier League, the Champions League has become a matter of right. Familiarity has bred expectation.

The money it provides also means that mere qualification for it is now almost considered a trophy.