Since Arsenal last won a trophy (the FA Cup in 2005) the club has gone close on several occasions, but as they say, close but no cigar. Over the last few seasons each trophy charge by the Gunners has typically ended with the team slipping at the last hurdle due to pressure and lack of quality. The team´s mental strength has been questioned regularly over the years, as has Arsene Wenger´s.
However, as we have been saying on these pages, there is a difference in the Arsenal players this season, and in the way the team is approaching the campaign. There is definitely a renewed mental strength present (in fact the team has always finished the season strongly, but the critics ignore this). So the question becomes if Arsenal´s mental strength has improved (it has) then why are the team still in a similar position as the one they find themselves in at this time of the year most seasons (out of the Champions League and trailing in the Premier League)?
Well, according to Arsene Wenger it is because of unfavorable injuries. Speaking to The Guardian the Frenchman said.
“If you look at our overall injury list going into such a decisive part of the season, we have no Wilshere, Ozil, Ramsey and we went to Bayern without Gibbs and Monreal.
“It’s very difficult to find an obvious reason why.”
Yes, all teams do have injuries, but Arsenal´s seem to happen to key players at critical parts of the season. Aaron Ramsey was a driving force to the Gunners reaching the top of the league earlier in the campaign, but now the Welsh midfielder has been missing for months. Theo Walcott returned from injury and was in the goals, so much so that Wenger held off buying a striker in January. Unfortunately Walcott got injured and now sits out the season.
Add these two long term absentees to consistent niggles to the likes of Kieran Gibbs and Jack Wilshere then it is easy to see why the team is faltering of late. However, with a better squad and a stronger mentality, Arsenal is now poised to win the FA Cup, anything less would be a disaster.
So if you are looking for some reason as to why the Premier League charge is stuttering then look no further than the injury table.