Jack Wilshere believes Arsenal are capable of winning the league title this season, but admits he and his team-mates must get off to a good start.
The Gunners made a slow start to the 2014/15 Premier League campaign, winning just two of their opening eight matches meaning they were always playing catch-up with their rivals. Arsene Wenger’s side gradually improved as the season wore on, and they ended up collecting maximum points in 18 of their final 26 fixtures to pip Manchester United to third place.
If they are to launch a lasting bid to wrestle the crown from the clutches of Chelsea and win a first title since 2004, it is imperative that the Emirates Stadium club continue their good form of the business end of last term. And if they manage to achieve this, then their England international midfielder Wilshere sees no reason why they can’t go all the way and become champions.
“We didn’t start the season well last year but the way we finished it… if we had played the whole season like that then we could have been champions,” he told the club’s official website. “If we continue our form from the end of last season when we dominated games with our possession, and we won the ball back in better positions high up the pitch, then we’ve got a real chance.”
Meanwhile, there is good news for the Gunners ahead of the new season after both Theo Walcott and Santi Cazorla signed new contracts. The England forward had entered the final 12 months of his previous deal earlier this summer but has now penned a four-year agreement, whilst the Spaniard enjoyed his best campaign for the club last term and has earned a two-year extension.
“Both are top quality players who are hugely important and influential to our squad,” Wenger told the official club website. “As well as their huge contributions on the pitch, they both have a great deal of experience and are very popular off the pitch. We’re very pleased with them both signing contract extensions, as it provides our squad with further stability of quality.”
