We are in the middle of March and Arsenal actually stand a good chance on progressing into the quarter final stage of an European competition!
Sure, it is not the Champions League, but Arsenal’s surprisingly efficient performance at San Siro last week has given them a great chance to eliminate one of the favourites for the Europa League this year.
Assuming all goes well tonight for Arsenal, the Gunners will stand a real chance of progressing deep into the competition, and may even be some people’s favourites to win the competition.
Here are five reasons why Arsenal can win the Europa league this season!
ELIMINATING AC MILAN WILL BE A MASSIVE BOOST
It cannot be understated how important last week’s win at Milan was for the Gunners, as they entered the match on the back of four successive defeats.
Hardly anyone gave Arsenal a chance against a resurgent Milan side, as people were expecting Wenger’s men to get a hiding at the San Siro.
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But Arsenal defied the odds, and scored two unanswered goals against the Italian side, to put one foot firmly in the quarter-finals.
If all goes well at the Emirates tonight, Arsenal would have eliminated one of their biggest rivals for the trophy, which can only be a massive shot in the arm for the Gunners.
MKHITARYAN AND LACAZETTE WILL STRENGTHEN THE SIDE
Henrikh Mkhitaryan’s first half display at Milan last week endeared him to the Arsenal fans, as the Armenian’s opening goal gave Arsenal the lift they desperately needed.
Mkhi has six assists and two goals since joining the club in January, already proving to be more effective Alexis Sanchez was for the six months of the season.
The Armenian was a star for United en route to their Europa League triumph last season, something Wenger hopes he can repeat for them this time around.
With Lacazette also returning from a knee injury, the Gooners will be strengthened heading into the latter stages of the competition, adding more firepower and quality to their squad.
ARSENAL AND ATLETICO MADRID MAY BE THE FAVOURITES
With Napoli getting eliminated in the previous round, and Dortmund facing an uphill task to qualify tonight, Arsenal could suddenly become the second favourites for the title this year.
Atletico Madrid remain strong favourites for the title, but if Arsenal avoid them in the next couple of rounds, they could fancy their chances against Simeone’s side in the final.
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Arsenal have had a good record in cup finals over the years, as three FA Cups in four years clearly show a side that raises it’s game for the big occasion.
A final between these two sides could be one hell of match by the way!
ALL EGGS ARE FIRMLY IN THE EUROPA LEAGUE BASKET
Finishing in the top four looks like a pipe dream for Arsene Wenger now, which means Arsenal’s best route to Champions League qualification is by winning the Europa League.
Arsenal can now rest and rotate players in the Premier League, as they know that it is highly likely that they will finish out of the top four this season.
With not much danger of slipping further down the table, Wenger will know that Arsenal’s season will now firmly depend on their progression in the Europa league.
Ironical that Arsene Wenger will now need to do a Jose Mourinho to salvage his season and possibly even his job at Arsenal.
ARSENAL TEND TO DEFY THE ODDS EVERY SEASON
Won’t it just be like Arsenal to go on and win the Europa League?
Arsenal have seemingly gone past their annual Feb-March crisis, and look like they are going to start their predictable late season flourish this season, with the only difference being that they replaced the FA Cup with the Europa League.
While he no longer is the world class manager that he was some years back, Arsene Wenger knows how to get his team to click and beat the odds in cup competitions.
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Last season is a case in point, as a seemingly poor Arsenal beat Manchester City and league champions Chelsea in the semi-final and final respectively, to lift the FA Cup, as Wenger probably saved his job with that triumph.
Things look similar this year as well, as anything but the Europa league trophy could see Wenger finally ousted from Arsenal’s managerial position.
Arsene knows that he has lost the trust of the fans, and will need to win them back quickly if he wants to serve the final year of his contract.
Time for the old dog to use his patented trick once again!
