We at 32 Flags are previewing every team in the English Premier League, two teams a day until the beginning of the season. Get ready as we preview your favorite team or maybe we can help you pick a team to root for if you are undecided so far. Today, we’re covering Arsenal.
Arsenal F.C.
Founded – 1886
Last Year Position – 4th place (Champions League), won FA Cup
Transfers In (As of 8/6) – Alexis Sanchez, Mathieu Debouchy, David Ospina and Calum Chambers
Transfers Out (As of 8/6) – Nicklas Bendtner and Bacary Sagna
Projected Finish (Voted among 32 Flags staff) – 3rd place
Rivalries – North London Derby with Tottenham (9/27 and 2/7), Chelsea (10/4 and 4/25) and West Ham (12/28 and 3/14)
Famous Supporters – Queen Elizabeth, Matt Damon and Jay-Z among others
Arsenal had a tremendous start of last season even though they hardly made any moves last summer. They did get Mesuit Özil before the season but still faced a lack of depth in the beginning of the season. Regardless, Arsenal was still in 1st place and fighting with Liverpool for the top spot. Once they got into the new calendar year, Arsenal couldn’t hold up that great form and finished in their usual 4th place. It’s still Champions League and they’re doing solid financially but it’s another year of being just short in the League. One thing they did do was win the FA Cup so I think if you asked Arsenal fans how they thought of last season, they would say it was a success.
This summer, Arsene Wenger promised that Arsenal was going to spend money on transfers and they began with a bang in getting Chile’s Alexis Sanchez from Barcelona for 35 million pounds. I’m personally looking forward to seeing how Sanchez performs at Arsenal. He’s one of the best players out there but hid in the shadows from so many players at Barcelona so now he has a chance to make his own mark.
I think there’s no question Arsenal will have a great team. Like in previous years, it’s all but certain Arsenal will get top four once again but I can’t see them attacking for the top of the EPL. I don’t know how that feels because I’m not an Arsenal fan (doesn’t mean I hate Arsenal either, I’m pretty neutral), but there needs to be a moment where Arsenal fans will want more than just finishing 4th in the EPL every year. It’s like owning a brand new Corvette and never going above 45 mph. Yeah the Corvette’s nice and you get the attention for having a nice car but the Corvette is meant to go fast and it’s not doing what it’s meant to do.
If you want to compete against us and other fans, feel free to sign up for our fantasy EPL league at http://fantasy.premierleague.com/my-leagues/259028/join/?autojoin-code=1087976-259028. We will give prizes for the best team name and the winner of the league. The more people who sign up mean the better the prizes so sign up and tell your friends.
