The biggest task facing Mikel Arteta this summer will be to change the mood music at the Emirates.
If you had asked most Arsenal fans before the start of the season - and again after starting the 2021/22 campaign with three Premier League straight defeats - if they would be happy with fifth place, they would have bitten your hand off. But having got themselves into fourth place and within touching distance of the Champions League, then it finished in disappointment after the end-of-season defeats at Tottenham and Newcastle.
That is the frustration. Fourth was there for the taking, it would have been a game changer… and Arsenal blew it. That says much about the depth of squad, leadership and experience which are all issues which must be addressed this summer.
Yes, Arsenal can look at particular issues. None more so than the start of the season. It is not particularly well known but at 3.30pm on Friday, August 13 (note the date) the Arsenal squad sat in their hotel room before their trip to Brentford that night, unsure whether the game would go ahead.
There had been a Covid outbreak, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette were missing, rookie Folarin Balogun started up front and Arsenal lost 2-0. It’s not an excuse but a fact and they went on to lose to Chelsea and Manchester City with more players missing.
Later in the season, that game would have been called off. But it was the season-opener, Covid postponements were not on the agenda and yet when you think about calling off the North London derby, maybe Arsenal had some credit in the bank when it came to a decision.
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At that early stage after three defeats, Arteta’s future looked rather shaky, fans were getting restless and that is why Arsenal’s turnaround deserves a lot of respect. In January, Arsenal had a sliding doors moment. Really go for the Champions League or carry on with the “project” which included trimming the squad, getting rid of fringe players and rebuilding.
They let so many go in January with Aubameyang, Pablo Mari, Ainsley Maitland-Niles, Calum Chambers and Sead Kolasinac among those out the door. That was a gamble. And even though they tried for a striker, it left them short and they ran out of players and legs at the end of the season and that is a major reason why they blew up at the end. Players like Thomas Partey and Kieran Tierney played a lot of games and got injured.
Arsenal didn’t have European football as a distraction but they still finished the season tired because the likes of Bukayo Saka was a must-pick. They couldn’t rest him. Emile Smith Rowe looked absolutely broken by the end, Ben White got a hamstring injury. Look at the subs’ bench. It was often filled by kids and there was not the depth there and that is why Arsenal just ran out of gas.
But still they very deliberately gave Arteta a new contract before the end of the season. It may seem rather hasty and a rushed decision as he had a year left. But they like him, want him to succeed and wanted to send a message to potential signings that he’s their man.
They have pulled out all the stops to keep Eddie Nketiah. He is now set to stay which means they will need one forward rather than two with Gabriel Jesus and Dominic Calvert-Lewin among the candidates. Arteta also likes Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins. Jesus is still the most likely.
They have been long term admirers of Leicester ’s Youri Tielemans. That has been well signposted, Arsenal have put in a lot of groundwork but whether he now gets a better offer from a Champions League club remains to be seen. It will be quality rather than quantity for Arsenal this summer. Juventus are keen on Brazilian defender Gabriel but Arsenal definitely do not want to lose him. Especially as they wanted a left sided centre half as cover anyway. William Saliba’s loan at Marseille is up so he is an option.
There are still a few to be cleared up with Lucas Torreira set to go, a permanent deal of Matteo Guendouzi has been agreed with Marseille while Maitland-Niles is coming back from Roma but could be allowed to go. Bern Leno will surely look to move. But the squad - and the wage bill - has been overhauled dramatically and the long term future looks brighter. The club and owners deserve credit for digging deep and backing the manager with signings and new deals.
However, can Arsenal juggle the Europa League on Thursday nights, getting back into the top four and trying to win silverware again? Antonio Conte has done a remarkable job at Tottenham. They now have a different outlook thanks to Champions League football and Arsenal might have missed a “now or never” moment.
If they had finished fourth then no-one would be doubting Arsenal’s direction. No-one at the Emirates doubts that Arteta is the right man and is moving in the right direction. But having blown a chance to get into the Champions League, it’s back to trusting the process even if expectation levels have gone up. Unless they show progress this season (which is very much the target and on the agenda), fans might be forgiven for having their doubts.
