Tis’ the season to be jolly, and while millions of people around the world are scrambling for last-minute presents, we look at what gift would be on the wishlist of every Big Six club in the Premier League ahead of 2022.
▶ Arsenal – A Striker
View this post on Instagram
The biggest story around Arsenal at the moment is the continued absence of Pierre Emerick Aubameyang from the matchday squad after being stripped of the captaincy by Mikel Arteta. The Gabon striker has struggled in front of goal this season – netting just four times in the league – and the number one thing on Arsenal’s wishlist in 2022 should be a striker. With Aubameyang ostracized and Lacazette and Nketiah out of contract in the summer, the Gunners desperately need a new talisman to lead the line.
Names that have been linked with Arsenal include Fiorentina’s Dusan Vlahovic, Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Jonathan David, but my recommendation would be Brentford striker Ivan Toney. Although Toney has hardly set the Premier League alight with his goals, his combination of athleticism, technical ability and aerial dominance is exactly what Arsenal need to reach the next level.
▶ Tottenham – Harry Kane to sign a contract extension
View this post on Instagram
The major elephant in the room surrounding Tottenham this season is the future of Harry Kane. It is no secret that the English captain desperately wants out of North London and was massively disappointed after his move to Manchester City last summer was blocked by chairman Daniel Levy.
Tottenham could afford to play hardball with Kane and Manchester City because they had the leverage in the negotiations with the striker’s contract running on till 2024. However, as we approach the summer of 2022, Kane only has two years left on his deal, and it could be the only window where they can get the maximum value in return for the player.
To avoid this situation completely, Tottenham will hope they can sell Kane the dream once again, convincing him to stay and thrive under one of the best managers in world football – Antonio Conte – and sign a new contract.
▶ Liverpool – An injury-free season
View this post on Instagram
There is a reason why Jurgen Klopp is the most vociferous voice in the media when it comes to fixture congestion and protecting the players in the Premier League. Liverpool have one of the strongest first XI’s in Europe, but the quality of their squad depth is nowhere near the likes of Chelsea and Manchester City.
Last season was a perfect example of how a few injuries – Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez and Joel Matip – can completely debilitate their entire season, with Liverpool forced to play Rhys Williams and Glenn Phillips in defence. Similarly, the drop off between Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane to Takumi Minamino and Alex Oxlade Chamberlain in the front three is stark, and the perfect gift for Liverpool and Jurgen Klopp in 2022 is an injury-free season for their star players.
▶ Chelsea – A fit and firing Romelu Lukaku
View this post on Instagram
While Chelsea are undoubtedly the third-best team in the country this campaign, there is still one major stumbling block stopping them from challenging for the title this season. The Blues have created only 33.4 xG in 18 games this season, while their title rivals Liverpool and Manchester City have created 43.2 and 45.4 xG, respectively.
The primary reason why Chelsea haven’t been as effective as their competitors in front of goal has been their lack of a focal point in attack throughout the first half of the season. Chelsea signed Romelu Lukaku for a club-record fee of £100 million from Inter last summer to solve their attacking woes, but the Belgian has taken some time to adapt to Tuchel’s system and has struggled with injury issues.
Lukaku has started only seven Chelsea games in the first half of the campaign, and if the Blues wish to be serious title contenders, the 27-year-old will need to recreate the form he showed in his two years in Italy.
▶ Manchester City – The Champions League
View this post on Instagram
The one title that has eluded Pep Guardiola and Manchester City throughout their decade of dominance has been the Champions League. The Cityzens failed to get past the quarter-finals in the Catalan’s first four years in Manchester before falling at the final hurdle last season against Chelsea.
While City undoubtedly have the best squad in Europe, they have been their own worst enemy when the lights shine brightest in the Champions League, with Guardiola often criticised for overthinking the big games. Guardiola infamously played Ilkay Gundogan instead of Rodri in the holding midfield role in last year’s final in Porto, a gambit that backfired as it left the team vulnerable during transitions.
City have dominated domestically throughout the Catalan’s time at the club, and the only thing left on the wishlist is to be crowned the champions of Europe.
▶ Manchester United – A Central Midfielder
View this post on Instagram
Manchester United have assembled one of the most expensive squads in the history of world football, but the club are still suffering from the consequences of having an imbalanced side which has one fatal flaw. Unlike every top team in Europe, United don’t have a reliable central midfield partnership. Apart from Scott McTominay, United don’t have a single player that can be trusted in a double pivot, a glaring weakness that cost Ole Gunnar Solskjaer his job.
Nemanja Matic no longer has the athleticism, Paul Pogba doesn’t have the discipline, and Fred doesn’t offer the technical security needed on the ball. Although the Brazilian has enjoyed a mini-renaissance under Ralf Rangnick, the Red Devils need to acquire a top-level central midfielder in 2022 to compete for the top trophies. Declan Rice is the obvious solution to their midfield woes, but other viable options include Aurelien Tchouameni, Yves Bissouma or Boubacar Kamara.
Shivaan Shah