%20rotate(-8.06)%22%2F%3E%0A%20%20%3Cpolygon%20class%3D%22cls-1%22%20points%3D%22336.19%20136.81%20330.16%2094.25%20326.06%2071.19%20326.44%2071.13%20335.22%2093.54%20352.29%20134.52%20373.95%20131.46%20362.7%2052.01%20350.02%2053.8%20356.05%2096.36%20360.15%20119.42%20359.77%20119.48%20350.99%2097.08%20333.91%2056.09%20312.25%2059.15%20323.51%20138.6%20336.19%20136.81%22%2F%3E%0A%20%20%3Cpolygon%20class%3D%22cls-1%22%20points%3D%22402.91%2059.3%20412.36%20126.02%20427.17%20123.92%20417.72%2057.21%20431.59%2055.24%20429.79%2042.51%20387.23%2048.53%20389.04%2061.27%20402.91%2059.3%22%2F%3E%0A%20%20%3Cpolygon%20class%3D%22cls-1%22%20points%3D%22463.51%20118.77%20458.69%2084.71%20474.68%2082.44%20479.51%20116.5%20494.36%20114.4%20483.11%2034.95%20468.26%2037.06%20472.96%2070.25%20456.96%2072.52%20452.26%2039.32%20437.4%2041.43%20448.65%20120.88%20463.51%20118.77%22%2F%3E%0A%20%20%3Cpolygon%20class%3D%22cls-1%22%20points%3D%22540.5%20107.87%20538.77%2095.68%20518.91%2098.49%20515.77%2076.29%20535.63%2073.47%20533.93%2061.5%20514.07%2064.32%20511.11%2043.42%20530.98%2040.61%20529.25%2028.42%20494.53%2033.34%20505.78%20112.78%20540.5%20107.87%22%2F%3E%0A%20%20%3Cpolygon%20class%3D%22cls-1%22%20points%3D%22299.03%20155.17%20301.29%20171.58%20542.78%20138.39%20540.5%20121.97%20299.03%20155.17%22%2F%3E%0A%3C%2Fsvg%3E)
Arsenal: Laurent Koscielny Confidence Unfounded
Laurent Koscielny has stated that Arsenal will challenge for the title this season after a frustrating start. His comments, though, seem rather unfounded.
Having self-belief is a key attribute of every top sportsman and top sports teams. Having the confidence in your ability is something that all winners share. Arsenal are a team that have often been criticised for their mentality and a poor start of the season is only adding to such critiques.
Related Story: Arsenal Vs. Leicester City: 5 Things We Learned
Winning the Premier League is the clear aim of this coming year – though you wouldn’t be blamed for doubting whether that actually is the club’s ambition or not. After a frustrating start with only one point from the opening two games, their title credentials have come under question.
More from Pain in the Arsenal
- 3 observations from Arsenal’s victory at Goodison Park
- 3 standout players from 1-0 victory over Everton
- 3 positives & negatives from Goodison Park victory
- Arsenal vs PSV preview: Prediction, team news & lineups
- 3 talking points from Arsenal’s victory at Goodison Park
Amid such doubts and questions, Arsene Wenger’s management, especially in the transfer window, is being heavily scrutinised. Now, though, he is being supported by Saturday’s captain Laurent Koscielny, who spoke of the desire to challenge for the title this season:
"“We are Arsenal – we fight for the title. Every game we play we want to win the game. This season will be very difficult because of the top clubs spending a lot of money on transfers, it’s unbelievable. But sometimes the collective can be better than individual players. So we want to keep our philosophy and play football.”"
The confidence behind Koscielny’s comments is inspiring. However, you have to ask why he such belief in the team when the results, both on the pitch and off it, seem to point towards yet another underwhelming season. The Gunners have started the season poorly, with only one point from the first two games, and now already five points behind their Manchester rivals. Certainly, it is too early to declare the Premier League race over, but it does seem remissive of Koscielny to be so defiant in such depressing circumstances.
Next: 10 Issues With Leaked FIFA 17 Ratings
It may be comforting to hear, but it seems a tad naive after recent performances. Let’s hope that Koscielny is right.