GoonerBear
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- Oct 28, 2020
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- Arsenal
This is why I think Europa is where we deserve to be as a club and a squad this season. This isn't knee jerk or making excuses after we finish 5th, I've said this fairly consistently on my posts.I don't think you can underestimate the positive effects of only playing once a week. It makes a massive difference nowadays in terms of recovery and actually planning for the weekend. We seen it with Chelsea under Conte and lower/mid-table teams getting into Europe and having great seasons before crashing down the table the next season due to the effects of playing in Europe.
The problem will be two-fold for Arteta in the summer. He's streamlined his squad so much to the point where it's struggling with fatigue/freshness playing once a week, he got rid of like 6 players in January alone and you can claim that these players may not have contributed much but I'm sure they would have helped with being in Europe next year. You will have to replace those players in the summer to contend with European football whilst also trying to strengthen the first team to compete for the top four. The striker alone is going to take a large chunk out of the budget, and I'd imagine Nketiah will leave now as well as Xhaka, two more players who will need replacing.
I don't see where Arsenal are going to get the resources from to essentially draft in 6-8 players to help them compete at the top end of the table and in Europe. I'd imagine they will bring in 3-5 players and they will struggle massively in the league next year.
4th would be great for the money and the players it might help you attract, but like you say our squad doesn't have the quality to compete on those 2 fronts consistently I think.
Europa should let you mix things up more, especially in the group stages, so let's you play more of the fringe players & the youngsters in the squad, so should provide a platform for the likes of Saliba (if he stays), Sambi, Patino etc to get some much needed game time. These guys need more games to develop, otherwise they'll just stagnate. Europa & League Cup first half of the season allows you to do that. In saying that, depending on who leaves, we might not make 6-8 signings, I still expect the club to make 4 or 5 signings.
And I'm not arrogant enough to think the Europa League is beneath us. Not being in Europe at all this season, & watching journeys of the likes of Rangers & Frankfurt, has made me realise its still a good competition, & has the prize of Champions League at the end of it as well.