Arsenal: Eddie Howe ‘close to competing’ claim not completely ridiculous

Eddie Howe has claimed that Arsenal are not ‘far away’ from competing for the title. While that may sound ridiculous, it is not completely unhinged.

How far are Arsenal away from challenging for the Premier League title? That was the question that hung over the Unai Emery reign. The answer was a lot closer than what his team produced. In the end, that was why he was sacked.

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Now under Mikel Arteta, that same question will again define his tenure, and the disparity between the team’s performances and results and the prior expectations of the club will determine whether he remains in the job or not.

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And for Bournemouth head coach Eddie Howe, who will lead his team against Arsenal on Monday night in the fourth round of the FA Cup, they are a lot closer than many would have you believe:

"“I don’t think they are far away. There is a lot overreaction in many different phases to different teams’ form. I think it just takes one good season. Obviously there needs to be an upturn in consistent results. But I think they have a very good manager, they’ve got very good players – I think they have had very good managers historically. Sometimes you just need things to click into place. But I think a lot of the top sides are in that moment where they are rebuilding to sustain a challenge. I think Arsenal would be one of those teams.”"

This may seem curiously and unfoundedly ambitious, but actually, when looking at the state of the team and club seriously, it is not completely outrageous.

First and foremost, Arteta has displayed terrific coaching acumen. He is improving the collective processes of the team and the individual qualities of the players. As Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool and Mauricio Pochettino at Spurs proved, a good coach can improve a team to a level that sees them challenge for the title. In Arteta, the Gunners might well have one.

Moreover, there is the basis of a very capable squad. Two goalscorers, a potentially elite winger, two young, blossoming central midfielders, a plethora of young stars coming through into the first team, and some excellent full-backs, when fit. With the right investment in the summer, Arsenal could feasibly form a very good squad.

Modern football sees change happen rapidly. With the influx of heavy investment and development of intelligent coaching and tactical awareness, the absence of which is disastrous to a club, teams develop and fracture quicker than ever before. And while this season has been a calamitous one for the north London outfit, the foundations of a capable team are there.

Does that mean they will challenge Liverpool and Manchester City next season? No. Almost definitely not. But they are a lot closer than people may realise.