Can new look Arsenal avoid last season’s capitulations?

For Arsene Wenger the current transfer window has been nothing short of a triumph. 12 months ago supporters were making their frustrations known after a period in which the club failed to secure a single big name target culminated in a devastating home defeat to Aston Villa.

This time around there can be no complaints as Wenger secured the signature of Alexis Sanchez weeks ahead of the upcoming season as well as adding David Ospina, Matthieu Debuchy and Calum Chambers to the squad.

The days of Arsenal watching helplessly as their most marketable assets were snapped up by more affluent clubs appear to be over but while the squad has undeniably been strengthened fans will be wondering; will Arsenal be strong enough?

A fourth place finish and an FA cup win were enough to define the 2013/14 season as a success but the margins were thin and disaster was narrowly averted courtesy of a penalty shoot out win over Wigan, Aaron Ramsey’s extra time winner against Hull and  Everton dropping points in theEPL run in.

Jul 26, 2014; Harrison, NJ, USA; Arsenal keeper Damien Martinez makes a save in the 2nd half at Red Bull Arena. Mandatory Credit: Aristide Economopoulos – The Star-Ledger

The most traumatic memories for Arsenal fans will be the brutal away defeats to Chelsea, Manchester City and Liverpool when the team seemingly surrendered without a whimper.

Arsenal failed to register a single victory over Chelsea, Manchester City or Manchester United despite the latter team enduring its most frustrating season in recent memory and, while Wenger’s side were remarkably consistent against the less illustrious sides, the way they consistently came up short against top level opposition remains a serious concern.

On their day Arsenal are world beaters and there were periods last season when they outplayed the likes of Bayern Munich but against the top clubs in Europe these moments were too far and few between. The collapses, by contrast, occurred with alarming regularity as Wenger’s side sometimes seemed to lack leadership, character and quite simply strength.

Manchester City have Yaya Toure in the heart of their team, perhaps the most powerful and consistent central midfielder in the world,  while Jose Mourinho splashed out a cool  £21 million to bring Nemanja Matic back to the club last January and the Serbian added a similar sort of steel to the centre of Chelsea’s side.

Strength was the quality most conspicuously lacking from Arsenal during those calamitous capitulations. The likes of Jack Wilshere and Mikel Arteta were reduced to shrugging their shoulders and looking to their team mates wondering exactly how things had managed to go quite so dramatically and disastrously wrong.

Injuries played their part with Aaron Ramsey and Theo Walcott missing months of the season and Mezut Ozil and Wilshere both spending more than their fair share of time on the sidelines but the lack of strength, particularly in the heart of the midfield, was evident and it is not an issue which Wenger has made any effort to address.

Matthieu Flamini, when selected, provides some much needed bite while Ramsey is improving at a remarkable rate and Wilshere seems to be perpetually on the edge of establishing himself as a world class midfielder Meanwhile Arteta, who is likely to be awarded the captaincy this season, remains a consistent albeit not entirely emphatic presence.

The early indications were extremely positive as Arsenal cruised past a second string Manchester City side in yesterday’s Charity Shield but in truth the reigning EPL champions were extremely accommodating opponents who seemed to be taking the game about as seriously as any meaningless pre season friendly.

Arsenal’s link up play was encouraging  as the team scored three outstanding goals with Ramsey shining in the advanced midfield role and Alexis Sanchez catching the eye during a 45 minute cameo. Wenger will also be happy to have seen Olivier Giroud getting on the scoresheet with a second half wonder goal but he must also know that tougher tests await.

The manager has not strayed far from the existing blue print with his summer spending with the significant signings consisting of an exciting attacker (Sanchez), an unproven youngster (Chambers) and Debuchy who brings some experience to the back four but is effectively a like for like replacement for the out of contract Bacary Sagna.

Supporters have been crying out for the addition of a touch tackling central midfielder but as the closure of the transfer window draws near it is becoming increasingly clear that such a signing is not on the horizon with the absence of the under rated Flamini from yesterday’s line up suggesting Wenger is still focused on creativity and passing ability rather than power or strength.

Last season Arsenal looked like a side on the bring of becoming world beaters and they have been significantly strengthened by this spate of new signings but what Wenger has not done is splash out on the type of midfielder who can provide a towering presence in the middle of the park, the sort of character who will stand up and be counted when confidence is low and the players around him are losing their heads.

The question is are Arsenal now strong enough? If the side concedes a goal in a crucial away game will the players stand up and be counted? Or will they collectively crumble as was the case on traumatic recent outings to Stamford Bridge, Anfield and The City of Manchester Stadium?

He’s a manager who has never been afraid to fly in the face of popular public opinion and we will soon find out whether Wenger’s  side has the fortitude to go from perennial Champion’s League qualifiers to genuine EPL contenders. Last season the players went missing too many times, they will need to show they are made of sterner stuff this time around if Arsenal are to claim a first league title in over a decade.