The PL season finished with Arsenal’s surprise FA Cup Victory #13 – a record — and 7th for Wenger – also a record.
And a new season has started with Arsenal’s similarly surprising Community Shield win also versus Chelsea and Conte.
So, how did I do with my predictions from last year?
9 of 14/64%
1. CORRECT: Arsenal’s year to win the PL was the prior season and they truly missed it.
2. CORRECT: Leicester did escape relegation, but was far from acting like the Champions they were in 2016-17. Last year was a time warp. They also did go out in the next round of the Champions League.
3. CORRECT: Wenger did re-up for two more years. I have to believe that he will seek to have a good-great season defined as a Top 4 Finish at minimum.
4. CORRECT: Arsenal did not finish in the Top 4. My estimate of a 5th was correct and beating the Dark Special Knight up North. Another reason for Arsene not to walk away. Arsenal will be back before he leaves as noted above.
5. CORRECT: Kante was the PFA Player-of-the-Year: Vardy and Mahrez should really have left Leicester, but the real spark plug was Kante who contributed so much to Chelsea’s success. Had he stayed and one of these other two left, Leicester would have been far higher in the final tables.
6a. CORRECT: Chelsea did win the PL.
6b. WRONG: But not the FA Cup – happy to be wrong!
7. 1 of 3 CORRECT: City was not 2nd but 3rd; Tottenham was 2nd; and Liverpool pipped Arsenal for 4th.
8. CORRECT: Sorry Jose.
9. WRONG: Sanchez has not left. I’ll assume he stays although the transfer window has yet to shut. The hope has to be that with Alexis, Lacazette and a great season, Sanchez will sign a new contract, else it’s off the Man City and Pep.
10.CORRECT: I estimated Ozil at 50:50. He likes Wenger who has supported and defended him. At the end of the day, he did stay which was previously stated.