Austere mood gives Arsenal hope (Feature)

By Jonathan Wilson Aug 11, 2010, 11:56 GMT

London - Something extraordinary happened on Sunday.

Traditionally the Community Shield is a time for teams to showcase their big summer signings, but when Manchester United and Chelsea took the field, neither starting line-up featured a single new player.

This is the new financial reality of the Premier League: even the two sides who have dominated the last six years have preferred to stick largely to what they had, and all the talk is of downsizing and of club's producing their own players through their academy.

Manchester City, of course, continue to spend like money's going out of fashion, but the new mood should give great encouragement to Arsenal, who have run a tight financial ship and have been developing their own talent for years.

'What changed in England last year is that everybody could drop points, it was the first season that really happened,' Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said. 'So it will be more open this year.

'You expect Manchester City, who invest a huge amount of money, to be one of the contenders as well.

'Tottenham (can challenge) if they can confirm what they produced last year, Aston Villa as well. You could have six or seven teams because Everton for me has a strong squad too.

Arsenal have spent this summer, not extravagantly, but in a way that will directly strengthen their side.

Last season, Arsenal laboured for six months without Robin van Persie, and were unfortunate that his obvious replacement, Nicklas Bendtner, also had injury problems, while Eduardo had never recovered from his broken leg.

Yet despite that, and despite losing twice to both United and Chelsea, they were well in contention when Cesc Fabregas broke his leg against Barcelona in March.

This season, Arsenal have brought in another centre-forward, which should at least mean we never see poor Andrei Arshavin having to operate as an out-and-out striker again.

But Marouane Chamakh, signed from Bordeaux, does not just offer an extra body; he gives Arsenal a new option. He is powerful, muscular and good in the air; suddenly Arsenal will be a threat from crosses.

Centre-back was also an issue, and the signing of the largely unproven Laurent Koscielny from Lorient is at least a step to dealing with the problem.

Manager Arsene Wenger has hinted that he may bring in another centre-back before the transfer window closes, and his side could perhaps do with a new goalkeeper and a holding midfielder, but Arsenal are stronger this season than they were last.

Even more importantly, they have seen off Barcelona's pursuit of Cesc Fabregas, which is perhaps a sign of things to come; with the new era of fiscal caution, Arsenal perhaps will be able to develop talent without the threat of it running off to a higher bidder.

City aside, there simply are no higher bidders any more.

Wenger always said his policy of prudence would be vindicated, and perhaps this is the season when he will reap the harvest.

After all, any side that can field a front six of Alex Song and Abou Diaby holding in midfield, with Fabregas making the play, and a front three of Arshavin, Chamakh and Van Persie - while leaving Denilson, Jack Wilshere, Samir Nasri, Tomas Rosicky, Bendtner and Theo Walcott on the bench has to be feared.

''I believe we have a good chance,' Wenger said. 'The most important thing is that we have that belief.'

At this stage it looks justified.