Breakdown, Preview and Predictions for Arsenal's 2012-13 Season

The 2012-13 edition of the Arsenal squad will be very different from last season's team, but the Gunners are still one of the top sides in the English Premier League.

Few managers in the Premiership have the unequivocal backing of their club, and Arsene Wenger would have to do something drastic to be put on the hot seat. He has never allowed Arsenal to drop below fourth place. 

However, the Gunners have finished either third or fourth in the past seven seasons, and supporters are clamoring for a season where the team seriously threatens for a title. Arsenal's ability to do this after losing Robin van Persie will discussed, as they are up next in my EPL preview series.

Here is all the information surround the Gunners' upcoming season.  

Key Additions

Santi Cazorla

Cazorla is a fantastic midfielder who can attack from either wing or up the middle. He is remarkably skilled and possesses a rocket-powered shot.

He scored nine goals and had five assists last season for Malaga, and the 27-year-old should be able to improve upon those statistics in London. He will be playing alongside other talented attackers and will certainly be earning the £16 million Arsene Wenger paid for him. 

Olivier Giroud

After coming over from Montpellier for £12 million, Giroud will be asked to help replace Robin van Persie. This will not be easy, and the striker will not be able to equal the accomplishments of the departed skipper.

Still, Giroud had 21 goals and nine assists this past season in Ligue 1. He is a powerful and efficient striker, and he will be a productive player up top. 

Key Departures

Robin van Persie

The Dutch striker scored as many goals as Arsenal's next six leading scorers combined.

He recorded 30 goals and nine assists last season, which accounted for more than half of the team's scoring strikers. He was obviously the focal point of the attack and also captained the side.

Arsene Wenger held on to all of the club's other key players, but replacing van Persie may not be so easy. With his departure, the Gunners will have to employ starkly different tactics.

The silver lining is that the van Persie transfer debacle has finally been resolved. There is no more uncertainty regarding his future, although his departure may cast doubt on Arsenal's upcoming campaign. 

The full Arsenal schedule can be found via the team's website. Here are the must-see matches.

Vs. Chelsea, Saturday, September 29

The Gunners will face a brutal schedule in September, as they must travel to play both Liverpool and Manchester City before finishing out the month at home against Chelsea.

Regardless of what happens in the other matches, Arsenal can move forward with momentum by taking down the Blues.

There is uncertainty as to how the team will get on without Robin van Persie and how all the new players will fit in. With three tough matches in the second month of the season, many questions will have been answered after the contest against Chelsea is over.

At Manchester United, Saturday, November 3

The dominant storyline in this match will be van Persie's first time facing his old club, but this rivalry did not need any added drama to make this contest exciting.

Last season, Arsenal supporters were sent into a panic when the team lost 8-2 to Manchester United early last season. The next meeting was more respectable, but the Gunners still lost 2-1.

Arsenal will have plenty to prove in this match. The team will be looking to prove it is still equally dangerous without van Persie and that it can take three points from England's biggest club. 

At Tottenham, Saturday, March 2

The North London derby is never devoid of emotion, and both of these teams will put forth spirited efforts.

This is the point in the season where the race for a Champions League spot will start to heat up. Both of these clubs will be in contention for a place in the top-four, or already in possession of one.

This will add to the rivalry, and the second leg of this matchup is certain to be thrilling for spectators. 

Alexandre Song

Without Robin van Persie, Song is arguably Arsenal's best player. He is a fierce player who sits deep in the center of the midfield and allows the Gunners to dominate possession.

He is an excellent ball-winner and an intelligent passer. Despite being a defensive midfielder, he is also a dangerous passer in the attack and recorded 11 assists last season.

Unfortunately, he may have impressed too much last season, and Barcelona has taken interest. It would be another massive blow to the squad if he leaves. 

Santi Cazorla

Cazorla will be counted on to provide a creative spark from the midfield. He is completely capable of sitting behind the strikers or moving out wide if the situation calls for it.

Among the new signings, Cazorla will have the largest impact, although Olivier Giroud and Lukas Podolski will play important roles, as they must pick up the scoring slack after van Persie's departure.

Still, Arsene Wenger will not rely as heavily on his center forward this season, and he will employ both players in a featured striking role. Cazorla's versatility will ensure that he is in the lineup nearly every match, and his creativity will be vital to the attack. 

Thomas Vermaelen 

Vermaelen has struggled with injuries in the past, but he is a fantastic defender when he is on the pitch.

He is able to capably play both in the center or on the outside, and he is a fantastic passer for a back-line player. When playing at center half, he forms a strong duo with Laurent Koscielny.

Vermaelen is the more talented player among the two center backs and is remarkably capable when going forward. His excellent play in the back, as well as his six goals last season, showed why he is an important part of Arsenal's success. 

Possession

Arsenal has long been praised for its style of play in a league that has not always featured the most attractive football.

Arsene Wenger has had his club using modern, possession-based tactics throughout his tenure. Last season, this allowed the Gunners to lead the Premier League by keeping the ball for 59.6 percent of their matches. 

With a strong midfield and intelligent players like Alexandre Song, Mikel Arteta and Santi Cazorla sure to spend plenty of time with the ball at their feet, Arsenal is likely to lead the EPL is possession statistics again this season.

The team's ability to knock the ball around is a large part of what has kept them in the top four since the 1996-97 season, and it will continue to contribute to its success going forward.

Attacking Quickly

Last season, Arsenal was able to get up the pitch quickly and score goals in before the defense was set.  The team recorded nine goals in fast-break situations, which was more than any other team in the Premiership.

The team is able to do this because often every player on the pitch is an excellent passer. Both Laurent Koscielny and Thomas Vermaelen completed 85 percent of their passes, while Per Metersacker found a target on 89 percent of his attempts this past season. This allowed the ball to move from the defense to the midfield accurately. 

The midfielders then had their eyes up the field, as Arsenal averaged eight through balls per match, which tied Manchester City for the most in the EPL. 

However, the man tasked with finishing many of these opportunities was Robin van Persie, and someone else will have to hit the net when the team breaks forward.

Note: all statistics courtesy of Whoscored.com.

Goalkeeping

Arsenal have lacked a top-class goalkeeper since Jens Lehmann was on top of his game. Wojciech Szczesny has the talent to be a fantastic player, but the 22-year-old has not yet fulfilled his potential.

Lack of experience has led to lapses in concentration and poor decisions at times for Szczesny, but he also flashed the ability to make spectacular saves. 

An example of a lackluster performance came in a 3-3 tie against Norwich in the second-to-last match of the season. The young keeper allowed three goals on just four shots on target, as noted by FourFourTwo.com.

Consistency is the most important quality in a goalkeeper, and it is something that Szczesny has struggled with. He is undoubtedly talented, but he must continue to limit his mistakes. 

Having to Replace Robin van Persie

The biggest concern about Arsenal's upcoming campaign is how they will move on without van Persie. 

It is no secret that the team desperately relied on him last season. He drew remarkable amounts of attention, but still managed to score goals and make key passes to his teammates.

None of the players who have been brought in will be able to make up for the Dutchman's void by themselves, and it will take every player increasing his production to keep the team playing at a similar level.

Tactics will be tweaked, and attacking players will take on more responsibility. How these players respond to the pressure will dictate how the season goes for the Gunners.  

Wins: 20

Losses: 7

Draws: 11

Points: 71

Place: 4th

Robin van Persie's departure will not cause Arsenal's form to seriously decline. It will, however, keep them from improving. The team will once again remain in the top four, but fail to make a push towards the top of the table.

In Europe, the Gunners will have few problems advancing past the group stage, but they will struggle to make a deep Champions League run. Another exit in the Round of 16 is all too likely, although a fortunate draw could see them go as far as the quarterfinals.

Arsene Wenger is one of the finest managers on the planet. His leadership will ensure that Arsenal continues to appear in the Champions League and the Gunners are still a top-four team.

However, the Gunners do not have a squad that will be winning hardware this season, and the dust will keep collecting in the team's trophy case.