Arsenal's first eleven is excellent and arguably the equal of any other in the league. But the flaw in their title hopes is the complete lack of decent cover in defence and the number of injury-prone players the squad contains...
The title aspirations of each member of the Big Four are reliant - to varying degrees - on good fortune in the form of avoiding injuries, but none are so reliant as Arsenal.
The Gunners boast a first-rate first team but it would be generous to describe their second team as second-rate. While the weakness of Arsene Wenger's squad is commonly perceived to be a dependency on Cesc Fabregas, it is the absence of any viable or reassuring cover behind their first-choice defence that threatens to undermine their season.
Such concerns begin at the very back following the appointment of Lukas Fabianski as Manuel Almunia's deputy in the wake of Jens Lehmann's departure. As he is inclined to do, Wenger has endorsed the youngster's credentials but the young Pole's appearances last season were notable only for their hesitancy and his failure to repel five of the six shots he faced at White Hart Lane.
Armand Traore is a promising but untried prospect behind Gael Clichy at left-back, while Justin Hoyte cannot even be considered Bacary Sagna's deputy after Wenger opted to redeploy Kolo Toure at right-back instead when the Frenchman was injured in the spring.
That decision in turn provided a reminder of Philippe Senderos' inadequacies and the season ended with Alex Song - currently at the Olympics - promoted to the role of third-choice centre-half, ahead of both Senderos and Johan Djourou. Song is a novice in the position and were either Toure or William Gallas to suffer a long-term injury, it would spell calamity for the Gunners. Having announced at the start of the summer that he would sign an experienced defender, Wenger's about-turn and refusal to fulfil his pledge (made at an end-of-season fans' meeting) is extraordinary and laced with danger.
The one type of player Wenger remains in the market for is a defensive midfielder - hardly surprising considering he has sold three in little more than six months - but, at the time of writing, the Frenchman is poised to begin the season with only Denilson (too similar), Abou Diaby (too inconsistent, too injury prone) and Aaron Ramsey (too young) as candidates to partner Cesc Fabregas.
A generous fixture list means that Wenger can wait until August 31 before revealing his solution but it is essential that a midfielder with greater defensive nous is acquired. Denilson and Ramsey are both creative players while Diaby is a poor tackler more accustomed to playing as a winger. Without the purchase of a midfielder capable of fulfilling a deep-lying role it is difficult to see how Wenger could consider re-introducing a 4-5-1 for the Champions League and difficult away encounters in the league.
Yet while they are weak in defence and in the centre of midfield, the Gunners are arguably stronger now elsewhere than 12 months ago. Theo Walcott has finally begun to fulfil his potential and will rectify Wenger's misguided belief that Emmanuel Eboue could flourish as a right-sided midfielder, while Samir Nasri is a rare example of Wenger buying a young player who can immediately slot into Arsenal's starting eleven. Even if he justifies only a fraction of the hype, Nasri should be able to provide more than the six-assists-and-three-goals Alex Hleb.
Naturally, Arsenal begin the season with injury concerns, but although Tomas Rosicky will not return before September at least there is reason to hope that a proper solution to his never-ending injury trouble has been sought. Eduardo's return is further away but in the meantime Carlos Vela has the opportunity to display his talent after being recalled from a lengthy loan stint in Spain and gaining a work permit. The Mexican, who joined Arsenal as long ago as November 2005, is highly regarded and Wenger has declared he will be used as a striker rather than on the wing. No doubt he had Robin van Persie's tendency to spend longer on the treatment table than the pitch when he considered how best to exploit the 19-year-old's overdue arrival at the Emirates.
All Bases Covered? How The Arsenal Squad Measures Up
Goalkeeper:Manuel Almunia, Lukas Fabianski.
Right-Back: Bacary Sagna, Justin Hoyte.
Left-Back: Gael Clichy, Armand Traore.
Centre-Half: William Gallas, Alex Song, Johan Djourou.
Centre-Half: Kolo Toure, Philippe Senderos.
Right-Midfield: Theo Walcott, Emmanuel Eboue.
Centre-Midfield: Cesc Fabregas, Denilson.
Centre-Midfield: Abou Diaby, Aaron Ramsey.
Left-Midfield: Samir Nasri, Tomas Rosicky.
Striker: Robin Van Persie, Carlos Vela, Eduardo.
Striker: Emmanuel Adebayor, Nicklas Bendtner.
Pete Gill
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