Arsenal Recent History and Success
Nearly two decades ago now, at the start of the 2003-04 English Premier League season, Arsenal were in a tug of war for English domestic success with long-term rivals Manchester United, and a Chelsea side whilst successful beforehand, now beginning to reach new heights, and become a consistent challenger for the EPL title. Manchester United had won the league the year prior, and Chelsea was expected to again launch an assault on Arsenal and Manchester United’s stranglehold atop of the league. Expectation and the perpetual pressure that comes from such a cutthroat owner in Roman Abramovich may have proven too much for Chelsea, and United weren’t the same side as the year prior, but Arsenal stormed to league success in a canter. In a league of their own, as they went the entire season undefeated, it was the first time the lofty feat had been achieved since Preston North End in the 1888/89 season.
“Make a note of the date! May the 15th, 2004. History has been made! One of the greatest achievements since English football began! Arsenal have gone through an entire league campaign without losing. The first time it’s happened for over 100 years”
Arsenal’s invincibility echoing in the annals of eternity, so much so that it almost beggars belief what they’ve been through since.
It represented a landmark accomplishment by one of, if not the greatest premiership seasons ever in top-flight history. One could be forgiven for thinking Arsenal’s glory days were destined to last long into the future with this side boasting the likes of Thierry Henry, Dennis Bergkamp, Ashley Cole, Patrick Vieira, Sol Campbell, and Robert Pires along with the emerging likes of Cesc Fabregas and Gael Clichy.
Last season and the current day
At this point in the season last year, Arsenal’s performances were meek. Thirteenth place on the ladder exemplified their inept performances from a dispirited side, with just sixteen goals from sixteen matches and six wins. Arteta’s intent was clear in the recent summer transfer window, brandishing off big-money signings early on in the summer. Fans however felt there was cause for concern, with eyebrows raised over the yet unproven Ben White, Sambi Lokonga, Nuno Tavares, and Aaron Ramsdale with a little more excitement shown for Takehiro Tomiyasu and Martin Odegaard. Three games into the 2021/22 campaign and three losses later left a lot of fans feeling their concerns were vindicated, and the disparity in class represented a seemingly seismic shift needed at the once heralded club. Fans and pundits alike forgot the opposition in those early games with losses to Chelsea and Manchester City, both vying for the league title and a few levels ahead of Arsenal at the present moment.
Fast forward to today where some 21 games later (and despite zero English premier titles later in their last 17 seasons, and an 18th on the horizon with a league charge seemingly insurmountable) Arsenal’s future does, however, look bright once more. Albeit with a drop in form the last month during the frantic festive season, Arsenal still remain a genuine threat for that last Champions League qualification spot.
Boasting the equal second-most home wins, they trail just league leaders Manchester City as the Emirates stadium is slowly becoming a fortress for the Gunners once more. And it was indeed against the much-fancied Manchester City on New Years Day that Arsenal looked to stamp their authority with a new style of play against the league runaway leaders. Only two closely followed brain explosions from Granit Xhaka, and then Gabriel, with a Martinelli sitter sandwiched in between stopping the Gunners from wrestling the title race ascendency away from City, and giving Liverpool and Chelsea reason to fight tooth and nail once more.
Why they can qualify for the Champions League
If you’re a football fan reading this, you would know the importance of those lucrative champions league spots each season. Not only does it represent monetary funding to the tune of 18.6 million euros just for making the group stages, helping to bolster a teams squad. Those funds can be put to great use, as the lure of European midweek football more often than not attracts the world’s best talent over a team not competing in Europe’s premier club competition.
It’s paramount Arsenal approach their top-four ambitions as imperative with an appearance in the prestigious competition last coming in the 2016-17 season, and the clubs recent lack of quality, winter transfer window signings despite ambitious intentions.
The emergence and continued form of Hale End products and young Gooners in the form of Smith-Rowe, Saka, Martinelli, Ramsdale, and co, continue to impress and inspire. This catapulted Arsenal into top-four contention with most people predicting before the season started Europa League qualification as a success. The benefits from their stadium largely being paid off are paying dividends with the clubs capabilities to spend to attract the required talent greatly expanded now.
The manager Arteta has revolutionised the way Arsenal play, getting them to play out from the back, often extending and stretching sides with their side to side football that then opens up the channels and can be used to exploit sides with the turn of pace from Martinelli, Saka, and Smith-Rowe posing all sorts of threats for oppositions. In addition, Arteta is not afraid to tell Stan Kroenke the money he requires to acquire players needed to drive their squad to new levels.
With no European football to compete in this season, it hands them a key advantage over Manchester United, but Tottenham too possesses this advantage. The astute defensive acquisitions of Ramsdale, White, Tomiyasu, and Gabriel have all bolstered and added steel to a previously loose, and shaky Arsenal defense, handing them decisive attributes to close out games.
Why they will struggle to qualify for the Champions League
After a dismal winter transfer window where they failed to bring in any players of real note, and sold plenty, albeit players deemed surplus to requirements their squad is even more lean and reliant on youth than for the first half of the season.
Their diminutive size may be deceiving as they now pack plenty of punch and exemplify a fighting character, this size can, and is still exploited by the best sides. Against Chelsea and Liverpool in particular, Arsenal’s attacking and stretching football using the full width of the pitch was totally nullified as both sides bullied Arsenal into submission.
A lack of a real outfield leader does not aid their quest to wrestle back the momentum in games like this, with Ramsdale in goal unable to rally his troops the same way an outfield player can. It calls for Kieran Tierney and Gabriel to stand up as key, consistent performers within this squad, noted for their footballing prowess, and toughness. So, whilst seemingly unfazed by this, Arsenal lacks a statement win against a big side or even a win against a big side. Possibly due to a lack of players that can take a game by the scruff of the neck against the elite.
Their mentality continues to come under question, or more so the inability of key players to keep calm under adversity rather than a collective team fighting spirit. Xhaka’s status as a leader of this club is under serious examination with his temperament punishing his own side on repeated occasion. Gabriel’s send-off against Man City also helped to transpire the events that saw three unaffordable points dropped.
The Verdict
Reinforcements are needed at CDM and in the form of a striker. Youri Tielemans, and Patrik Schick come to mind, with it previously being stated that too much faith has been shown in Xhaka, and Lacazette which may prove costly. Xhaka has to go in my opinion, showing once more against Norwich, and Manchester City how much of a hot head he is, and how he can get sent off or change any game for the worse at any moment with the slightest antagonization from the opposition.
They currently sit in sixth but with a one and two-game advantage over Manchester United and West Ham respectively. Win those games and attention turns to a North London derby to catch up on against Tottenham, at the Tottenham Hotspur stadium which may decide that crucial last spot these sides are all vying for.
For now, though, their squad continues to excite, and with the premier league their sole focus for the rest of the season, I’m giving Arsenal every chance to make the top four. If Arteta can continue to get this much out of such a young and growing squad, coupled with the reinforcement capabilities after a potential top-four finish this season, it looms as a possible new era for Arsenal to rise to the top once more. Miss out on the top four, though, and Arsenal could be swimming in mediocrity for years to come.
Will Arsenal finish the season in the top four? Let us know in the comments.
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