Football 
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Horse Racing Not winning the Premier League will be a slight disappointment for Arsenal
Former Arsenal and Manchester United star Mikael Silvestre had a chat with us about the Gunners’ title charge, Granit Xhaka’s goal scoring boots drying up as well as Folarin Balogun, the Arsenal loanee who’s been tearing up the goal-scoring charts in Ligue 1.
In this article:
- Not winning the Premier League will be a slight disappointment for Arsenal
- Arsenal’s weaknesses this season are not too concerning
- Folarin Balogun can shine at Arsenal
- Granit Xhaka’s goal-scoring form can return with the way Arsenal play
Not winning the Premier League will be a slight disappointment for Arsenal
The five-time PL winner commented on Arsenal’s title charge, saying that not winning it all will be a disappointment as they have shown a lot of consistency, which had always been a question mark around them.
“It will be a slight disappointment if they don’t win the title because they have shown strengths, quality and consistency.”
“The main question about Arsenal has been about their consistency. There were two Arsenal teams. The home team and the away team. They can now travel to away games and impose their football and ideas whilst getting results.”
“If they can’t do that towards the end of the season that would be a disappointment because they’re top and have been top for a long time.”
Still, Silvestre maintains that this will be a season of positives for Arsenal no matter what, considering how young the squad is. He believes that the plan is to have sustained success for the next two to four years and not immediate success.
“But when you look at the squad and how young it is, the plan is not now or never. The plan is now and for two, three and four years ahead.”
“It wouldn’t be a complete failure because I’m sure they will learn and come back stronger next season.”
Arsenal’s weaknesses this season are not too concerning
When quizzed about the Gunners’ weaknesses this season, the Frenchman noticed that they’re the same as with any team playing out from the back.
“It’s the same struggles that every team that tries to play out from the back has.”
“It is risky sometimes. It’s not atypical of just Arsenal. It applies to all teams that play out from the goalkeepers.”
He also mentioned that he’s seen lapses in concentration but that is expected from the youngest team in the league.
“Sometimes there have been lapses in concentration from players. The team is quite young so that’s what you get but there’s nothing else that concerns me.”
Folarin Balogun can shine at Arsenal
Arsenal loanee Folarin Balogun is topping the Ligue 1 scoring charts, tied for the top spot alongside Jonathan David of Lille and Kylian Mbappe of PSG with 15 goals each.
Silvestre believes that the current Reims forward can shine at his parent club and he’s seen enough to back that belief.
“Balogun can come back to Arsenal and shine at the club. I’m sure of it. I’ve seen enough this year in Ligue 1.”
“I know the Premier League is one step higher but he’s the leading goalscorer in Ligue 1 and it’s not an accident.”
Silvestre adds that if Arsenal want to compete for the league title next season, having one more striker to compete with Gabriel Jesus and Eddie Nketiah is a needed luxury.
“He’s reading things well and getting better and better. I think he has a future at Arsenal and could be competing with Eddie Nketiah and Gabriel Jesus.”
“If Arsenal want to be competing for trophies one more striker would be a good luxury. Next season I would keep him.”
Granit Xhaka’s goal-scoring form can return with the way Arsenal play
Swiss midfielder Granit Xhaka started the 2022-23 season in fine form, scoring three goals and setting up another five. Those numbers, however, have dried up recently but Silvestre doesn’t see it as an area of concern, saying that this was an aspect we had not seen from Xhaka.
“It wasn’t something that we haven’t seen from him before.”
The former France international also thinks that looking at the way Arsenal play, Xhaka can go on another goalscoring run.
“At one point he was scoring week in week out and I think he can go on another goalscoring run and have an impact.”
“He’s got experience and the way Arsenal are playing it can come back.”
