by Matthew Adams

Created on: May 22, 2008   Last Updated: April 05, 2010

Now that the 2008 season is fully over, we can see things in full perspective. Arsenal finished 3rd in the Premiership with 83 points, reached the qtr-finals of the Champions League and were eliminated from the FA Cup and Carling Cup by domestic rivals Manchester Utd and Tottenham Hotspur.

So it must be said, on the evidence of their Premiership season, that there are no serious deficiencies within this Arsenal team. On the last campaign their Premiership form has improved quite a bit, resulting in a higher league position and points tally. Indeed having topped the Premiership table for a few months and finishing 4 points adrift of eventual winners Manchester Utd, they were close to winning the league. Had they done so, then I do not suspect I would be writing this now.

However, they did not. In the run in, cracks began to emerge as injuries and perhaps some tiredness began to creep in. Narrow away defeats in the key games to Utd and Chelsea ultimately pushed them out of contention for the league title. Was it a fatigue factor that saw Arsenal slip after playing some great football throughout the season?

The real deficiency, perhaps, does not so much lie within the first team but the squad generally. When the injuries accumulate and squad rotation becomes necessary, Arsenal lack top-quality reinforcements. They do not quite possess the strength in depth of Chelsea and Manchester Utd, who finished the stronger over the season's long haul. In the cups, Arsenal's weakened teams were also thrashed 4-0 by Manchester Utd and 5-1 by Tottenham, a further sign of squad deficiencies.

In Europe, they had quite a good season too. For Arsenal's record in the Champions League does not compare too favorably to the likes of Manchester Utd. One final appearance and a few qtr-final appearances are their best efforts. They produced one of the outstanding displays of the season in ousting defending champions AC-Milan with a 2-0 win at the San Siro.  This was a clear sign of the team's potential. However during a difficult patch they came unstuck a touch unluckily to Liverpool, and perhaps also due to some poor defending.

Arsenal can beat anybody on their day, but if they wish to bring a trophy to the Emirates then they will really need to bolster their squad with a few top quality purchases generally, especially defenders. Some stronger defensive cover would be good.

Likewise it would be good if some slightly older players were signed than the average age of the squad, which is early 20s. A few older players would add a greater physical presence to the Arsenal line up, to complement their superb technique and passing game. Equally, a mixture of youth and experience is often a winning ticket.

Undoubtedly, Arsenal's first team have produced some of the best football in the Premiership this season. However if they want to complement this with trophies, then the management must be prepared to spend what it takes to strengthen Arsenal's squad to that of equal stature of the Premiership's top two finishers, Manchester Utd and Chelsea. The club can afford it, and need to do it if they are to finish ahead of their rivals.

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