Summary:
- Arsenal finished another strong season without a title, despite securing second place and Champions League qualification.
- Mikel Arteta calls for squad reinforcements amid confirmed departures and looming contract decisions.
- Josh Kroenke promises investment, while pundits say it’s time Arsenal move from contenders to champions.
Patrice Evra’s “They are like Netflix… you’re always waiting for the next season” dig at Arsenal might’ve stung, but it wasn’t far off.
Once again, Arsenal have had a strong campaign, only to fall short of the top prize. Sunday’s 1-0 win over Newcastle marked a bittersweet farewell to the Emirates for this season with many of those expected to be out with an injury making a full recovery for the game.
A Champions League place is locked in, second place is almost certain, but the Premier League title remains out of reach.
Josh Kroenke: “We Plan to Invest”
Ahead of the game, co-chairman Josh Kroenke wrote in the matchday programme:
We all want to win it… we plan to invest to get behind winning and doing better next season.
That sentiment was echoed in the post-match ceremony when Mikel Arteta addressed the crowd:
Take this dream with enthusiasm. There’s much more to come.
The path forward isn’t just about one or two big signings, as Arsenal are facing a wider rebuild. Kieran Tierney and Jorginho played their likely final home games, while Raheem Sterling and Neto will return to their parent clubs.
Arteta admitted:
We need players because the squad is really short… we are losing four or five players.
There are questions over others too, as Thomas Partey’s future is unclear (as he has a well known clout over his head), Zinchenko has fallen out of favour, and Leandro Trossard enters the final year of his deal.
All this means the club’s recruitment team has its work cut out.
Gary Neville: “It’s Not Easy to Find World-Class Players”
However, it’s not just about quantity. As Gary Neville put it:
It’s not easy to find world-class players… but they have to find them because if they don’t, they’ll be letting the club down.
Names like Viktor Gyökeres and Benjamin Šeško have been floated, while Athletic Club’s Nico Williams is also of interest.
Arteta, meanwhile, defended the team’s progress.
Make sure we still value the incredible things this team is doing… if we don’t do that, that’s a dangerous thing to do.
He highlighted how Arsenal have avoided collapse despite enduring 27 injuries this season, a stat only rivalled by Spurs and United, both far lower in the table.
The pressure is on now. “What they can’t do… is be a team that hasn’t won,” Neville warned. With Arteta and Kroenke aligned on summer plans, the coming months will determine whether Arsenal can turn potential into silverware.
Arteta summed it up best:
The plan is done… we have to be very smart with the decisions we take.
Will Arsenal be able to make the next step up next season in the Premier League or will they always be the nearly men? Get the latest odds ahead of the new season with selected top offshore bookmakers