What happened this season to put Arsenal Football Club in the category of “underachievers?”
There have been matches of pure brilliance when we think the lads have finally caught on to what Mikel Arteta has been preaching. Then there are those matches when the lads look lost, bewildered, unattached, dismal.
The Gunners are 46 games into this campaign. They have 24 wins, 7 draw and 15 defeats. In the Premier League, their record is 12-6-12, while in domestic cups games, 4-0-2.
Hopefully, we are looking at a top ten finish in the Premier League, and maybe, just maybe, could there be a chance to achieve the ultimate prize in the Europa League?
So, what has happened this season to get Arsenal to this point?
Here’s my opinion…take it or leave it.
Once the season began to take a turn south in November and December, Arteta and his staff should have put more of an emphasis on playing Arsenal’s youth on the front line. Maybe the results would have been the same (we’ll never know), but at least we would have seen more consistency in their attitude, drive and determination. Our current group, lead by Aubameyang and Lacazaette, seem to turn it on and off like a water faucet in the kitchen sink. The Gunners have lost too many matches by turning it on too late, or not at all. Maybe, a front line comprised of more youth would have provided some better results, and a springboard to Arsenal’s future.
Gabriel Martinelli, Eddie Nketiah, Falorin Balogun and Reiss Nelson, where have they been this season? We have only seen glimpses of them on the pitch. With the emergence of Bukayo Saka and Emile Smith Rowe, and of course, the addition of Martin Odegaard to the fold, Arsenal supporters have had a small taste of what youthful exuberance can bring to a football club.
Also, I think some of our more “veteran” players have lost their desire to play for Arteta and this club. Maybe it’s the tactics they don’t like, or maybe they feel they aren’t getting enough attention from the boss. Or, maybe some of Arsenal’s players have been treating the Gunners as a “retreat.” If that’s the case, according to Arteta, they will be axed. I don’t know the entire “behind the scenes” story of Arsenal’s blight, but what I do know is that we have a front line that hasn’t made the goal contributions they should have made this season. There are too many instances when clear chances for goal became clear chances for disaster.
I say, it’s not too late to build on the youthful side of this club for the remainder of the season.
Alexandre Lacazette is sure to leave in the summer, and maybe Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang should as well. Both have made invaluable contributions to this club, however, we have some potential waiting in the wings who would love the chance to earn their Arsenal stripes.
Cheers.
Gunnewr1953
The 2024/2025 Premier League schedule will officially be released on June 18th at 9 am BT.
I think a massive problem was offloading one 350k a week player for another. We simply could not afford the first, it didn’t work out. So professional CEO’s, Directors, Managers, etc should learn from their mistakes. Oh no not Arsenal, with an Owner who does not care, A sporting director with little experience, a manager with no experience, and a captain who cares more about cars and his Barnet. We carry on as we have since the owner took over. I have said it for years now, people blamed Wenger, then they blamed Emery, now they blame arteta. How many more are we going to put up with? Stop supporting this American cash cow if you want your club back! If not keep throwing money his way and complaining how shit we are.
Arsenal is unachievable misary to us fans they are playing as if they are on training not as on a game fond of back passing no hunger to tear the defence of their opponent exposing their goal post