It’s done. Chelsea did it. They won convincingly and sealed their victory with three matches still in hand. Their form this year has been far superior to any other team in the Premier League and they thoroughly deserve top honours. Congratulations to the best team of the season, but what about the rest?
Before addressing anything, some admissions: I am an Arsenal fan. Despite stereotypes, that does not mean I dislike Jose Mourinho, or Chelsea. To be clear, I celebrate the success of the team that out-played, out-classed, and out-performed almost every team they played this year.
Another admission: I don’t agree with the fray that Chelsea have been “boring”. I believe that is a cop-out. Mourinho took stock of what the team could lose and protected his impressive season with defensive football in the latter half; ensuring the ultimate prize awaited Chelsea at the end. The team responded to his ideas efficiently and brilliantly. The onus was on the rest of the league to stop them. They failed.
So What Now?
The title race is over and the Premier League is drawing to a close. With three matches to go (five for Arsenal), what is left amongst the fallen to fight for? What should the last five of the top six teams, who have abandoned their title ambitions, try to achieve?
Let’s start the role call with the team least used to this position…
The Red Devils
Manchester United have looked dismal lately. Consecutive losses to Chelsea, Everton, and shockingly at home to West Bromwich Albion, have hurt the pride of the squad. A top-four finish still looks likely, saving the club from devastating sponsorship losses, but United have faced far too many problems since Ferguson’s departure to simply overlook this as par-of-the-course form.
Even with the number one spot out of site, this shocking form rattles the foundation of Manchester United plans. As he always does, Louis Van Gaal will be plotting next season with only one thing in mind – the Premier League trophy. For the summer targets that Van Gaal needs, the next three games are absolutely critical to prove that the top honours are even possible, let alone likely… It’s not as if he doesn’t have great players already.
The ambition for all top players is to win the league. What else could lure the likes of Angel Di Maria and Radamel Falcao to join last summer but the glorious potential for victory? If confidence continues to erode as the season draws to a close, so too will the very notion of title winning ability in the side… And with it, ironically, the top-draw players needed to achieve it.
In a recent interview with Sky Sports, Cesc Fabregas illustrated this point perfectly, with 12 simple words about why he chose a Chelsea move:
“I knew that when I signed here I could fight for trophies.”
A lot is at stake for Manchester United. They desperately need to look like trophy contenders. The lasting effects of the glorious United name will only linger so long.
Yes, they looked good for a while, but now… Well, they’re looking a little ‘Moysey’. Top four aside, the all too recent past could make a lot of people very nervous if they continue losing. These last three games could be pivotal in proving that the club is still a major contender for trophies.
The Reds
The ‘top-four head’ has snapped off the body. Liverpool are left behind and Brendan Rogers has conceded a top-four finish is out of reach. A place in Europa is still not guaranteed and Rogers himself has admitted the need for top quality signings during the summer to help rebuild the team:
“Now we have to look to improve the squad and it’s always great if you can get marquee players to come in and help you. The owners will support that… It is fair to say that every single player here is playing for his future.”
The loss of Suarez proved too much for the squad this season. With him, Liverpool netted almost 50 more goals than at the same point this year. In his stead, risky forward additions Mario Balotelli and Rickie Lambert haven’t paid off. Lengthy injuries to Daniel Sturridge have magnified the troubles up front and Liverpool have looked lackluster.
The lofty heights of last season’s second-place would have wet everyone connected with the club’s appetite for winning. Unfortunately, making this seasons disappointment all the more painful. The looming loss of club legend, Steven Gerrard, in the coming summer will be difficult to cope with. He is their leader, and questions over the other leader, Rodger’s, aren’t helping. Anything less than a top-six place might force change in the latter and see a completely different Liverpool next season.
Like Manchester United, wins must come. These last three games could seal more than one persons fate at Anfield.
The Citizens
They stuffed it. They Stevie Garrard’ed it. The leaders, Chelsea, were within their grasp and they slipped. Do I sympathise with Manchester City? As ever, No.
Their performances have been as unpredictable as Leicester’s rise from the relegation zone. City have gifted Arsenal with a second-place opportunity and overall, frankly, the team looks tired.
Their less than convincing 1-0 victory over Tottenham at the weekend has ensured a top-four finish, which wasn’t even guaranteed up until recently. Terribly, if Liverpool had beat Hull, the pressure for a Champions League spot would be fever pitch right now. How could a team with such standing and quality let that happen?
The water cooler in Manchester needs to be checked.
Out of all the teams in the top six, I will be looking at their performances with the least interest. A top-four guaranteed side, money-laden and player rich, Manchester City will be as disappointed with their end of season as I will be watching it.
For a team with such high ambitions, including European honours, the fragility of the squad has raised some serious questions of its overall management. Would they like to finish strong? Yes. Will it matter to anyone other than Manuel Pellegrini? No.
OK, Arsenal and Manchester United will want to see them lose, that’s about as interesting as it will get.
Let’s move on.
Spurs
They didn’t make it. They looked good, they revealed a star striker in their ranks this season, Harry Kane, and it was all very exciting… But they didn’t make it. Top four was the target. Now, in sixth place with Southampton just one point behind, not even Europa is quite assured.
It’s another year of anguish for the Spurs fans as they had so much to be proud of, yet have so little to take away from the season.
A top-six finish is a must for them as they have the potential to build into next season effectively. They can shuffle a thing or two over the summer, build confidence, mount some wins, and achieve much more next year; providing Harry Kane’s form wasn’t just a flash in the pan…
But, for now, the victories are essential. Even if it’s just so Mauricio Pochettino won’t see his former club, Southampton, surpass him. That would hurt.
The Gunners
This is an Arsenal website. Yes, we deliberate and criticise the game with a professional impartiality that hopes to sail above the mediocre English media fracas. We take pride in journalistic standards and strive for proficiency in our craft. But hark; Read Arsenal is also responsible for toting the merits and successes of the single greatest North-London football team in our generation. To not do so would be a mar on our fine record as humble servants, indeed stewards, of the great two-year reputation that has preceded us.
Excuse me; I need to pause and recapture my breath.
With that, the following is an attempt to tout pride in the northern men; to peer excitingly into the future of their football, gaze firmly at the positive forces at work, and prescribe exactly what is achievable and necessary for the red-army in the coming weeks.
The Facts:
Wenger’s men need one victory from the remaining five Premier League fixtures to cement their top-four place for an impressive 19th consecutive season; an enviable record for any club. Second place in the league is also within reach, with rivals Manchester City three points ahead but having played two additional games.
A second FA Cup in as many years could also be around the corner as Arsenal defends the title against Aston Villa at the conclusion of the season. A victory at Wembley would see a much-needed trophy reinforce Arsenal’s winning trajectory.
The team’s strong momentum (only one league loss since 06 December 2014) and fitness form (27 players currently match-fit) makes both assignments seem very achievable.
But What’s Really At Stake?
Let’s zoom out.
Sir Alex Ferguson’s departure as Manager of Manchester United left a void in the Premier League, still felt today. His reign was unparalleled in the modern era. His team set the standard, defined quality, and marshaled the greatest players in the world to England. Without him at the helm, the door is now firmly open for any of the top clubs to claim similar dominance.
Mourinho disagrees. He argues that no club can achieve clear superiority in the near future with so much movement & investment amongst the top-four. Coupled with outside influences like competition from Spain, he might be right. However, Arsenal, with strong financial foundations, beautiful brand of football, worldwide fanbase and outright ownership of an incredible stadium, might be in a better position than most to take the reigns.
One team will naturally emerge as the ‘team to beat’ over this decade. Arsenal will be well positioned to become that super power if they continue to attract the best talent. Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez are a good start, but many more world-class signings are needed.
Club legend, Thierry Henry, brazenly threw around the figure ‘four’ as the number of top signings Arsenal would need to challenge the title next season. Exacts aside, his point is clear – Arsenal need more great players to be serious contenders. I tend to agree. Fewer injuries alone will not be enough to pip Chelsea to the prize next season. The game last weekend proved that.
Any rational Arsenal fan will appreciate the merits of victory as a precursor to obtaining (or losing) good talent. Arsenal have lost many great names to trophy-winning sides over the past decade – Robin Van Persie, Cesc Fabregas, Samir Nasri, Alexander Hleb, we all know there are more. A second place finish and an FA Cup win this season will give Wenger much needed nous to convince those in the current lineup, and the talent on his wanted list that The Emirates is once again a home of glory. Conversely, no silverware and just fourth honours (seeing Arsenal lag behind the troubled Manchester outfits) would be a major stumbling block for the perceptions of their summer transfer ambitions.
What we do know is that the money will be there. Arsenal published enhanced cash reserves of £138.8 million in their half-yearly financial figures, that’s including their record spending on players. Financially they’re up. Less debt, Emirates sponsorship, and Puma kit deals are responsible for most of the increase; giving Wenger more ammunition for spending in the transfer window. Money is certainly powerful in football, look at Roman Abramovic’s influence at Chelsea, but it’s not enough for Arsenal after such a drought.
They need wins.
Arsenal need to prove to players and agents around the world that they are formidable; that they can beat any team, on any day, and be a credible threat to the title next year. With another title-less season confirmed, having not won one since 2003-2004, third or fourth will not be any where near convincing.
Wenger also has no injury excuses to disguise a loss for anything other than what it is.
Put simply, the club needs nothing short of a strong winning result for every remaining game this season to emerge as ‘Chelsea’s Biggest Threat’ in 2015-2016 – the single most important title for any team heading into the transfer window.
And So It Will Be
The season is almost over and the victor has been declared. For the rest, the exact final order on the table has never been so important. Once the trophy formalities are set, the remaining fixtures usually fade into the mysterious void of games that no one can remember… But this year, more than ever, the ‘unimportant’ results could dictate more than we think.
Complacency could be a killer. Vigilance could be the foundation for future victory.
Don’t switch off yet, nothing has been decided.
