Definitely. You can't even say they were in a real title race as justification for their season. As soon as it became an actual race they wilted.When it's all said and done and you factor in some context (starting positions, number of matches played, competitions competed in/for, injuries, fatigue, actually winning something)....i'd take ours.
Its obvious where you stand regarding ETH. You want to see what you want to see or dont want to see.Anyone can win a cup on their day. Birmingham City won it once. Wigan won the FA Cup. Any supporter of the big teams normally calls the league cup a mickey mouse trophy.
Last season was an anomaly and we've returned to being about as good as we were under Jose and Ole, so have we really been a success or made any progress?
And people might point to ETH and the job he's doing but for most of the games this season, his style wasn't apparent at all. We barely pressed, we scored goals in moments just like we were 'moments FC' under Jose/Ole and we were so naive away from home that our record was appalling and we collapsed against teams just like we've always done since SAF left.
I can understand Arsenal fans seeing it differently, of course. Arteta had some pressure to produce and i think they'd have just taken top 4 at the start of the season, having narrowly missed out to Spurs last season, but also taking Newcastle's newfound wealth into account and potentially a united side who could only improve on last years comedy. But yeah, we competed on more fronts, with a less settled squad/manager and suffered key injuries (not saying Arsenal didn't but they were backed to strengthen in January as well - where we had to make due with 2 loan signings) - after all the Ronaldo drama to begin with.Definitely. You can't even say they were in a real title race as justification for their season. As soon as it became an actual race they wilted.
We had deep cup runs, domestic trophy and CL qualification coming off an absolute disaster of a season.
We finished 3rd, 8 points clear of 5th and 4 clear of 4th. You may have missed that.Nobody cares about the mickey mouse League Cup, we all know it even if it was nice to win.
We finished fourth, just, after extended periods of looking like we were going to feck it up. In the process we got tonked 7-0 by our biggest rivals and then to boot our nearest and dearest beat us 6-3 away from home and beat us easily in another cup final. The 7-0 is the abiding memory of the season for me.
We were nowhere near title winning form and for large periods played tumescent football too. Our away form was absolutely abysmal and when we lost, we usually got absolutely battered. The manner in which we collapsed against Sevilla showed us that we haven't changed a bit.
We all want to win the league and get closer to City but who got the closest? Arsenal.
Say what you want but we used to mock Arsenal for being top-4 merchants and occasionally winning a cup whilst we were challenging for the title, even the years we didn't win it. We've just had one of those seasons.
They've had comfortably the better season.
If Arsenal keep playing like they did for the last 19 games they wont even finish top 4 next season. If they had played like that the whole season then Arteta would have been sacked by now.Just look at the outlook of the two respective clubs. Our fans think our managers done a miracle and now needs 2 strikers, a goalkeeper, 2 CMs, a back up CB and a RB to compete again next season.
Arsenal just need to keep improving the players they already have with about 1/3 of the additions to get better.
I'm not sure about the miracle but he did one hell of a job with all the circumstances. Not that you'll say it.Just look at the outlook of the two respective clubs. Our fans think our managers done a miracle and now needs 2 strikers, a goalkeeper, 2 CMs, a back up CB and a RB to compete again next season.
Arsenal just need to keep improving the players they already have with about 1/3 of the additions to get better.
Another way to look at it is they maxed out their potential with a complete side and 0 distractions and were 5th in the 2nd half of the season, while we had more points than them in the last 19 games while also playing like 10 games more during that time, winning a cup, despite having 2 massive holes in our starting 11, and it being ten hags first season. You tell me who has a greater scope and earlier path to improvement. For me it's MUCH easier to improve when it's a managers 2nd season, when it's unlikely you have as much fixture congestion again, and when you just have to "do better than wout weghorst" up top. And given we had more actual points than them in the 2nd half of the season anyway despite this? Yeah easy one for me. This was the year where the stars all aligned for them, with distractions for others, world cup in the middle where they weren't affected as much in terms of congestion, where they had by far the fewest amount of lineup changes over the season... And they still lost all hope for the title with about 5-6 games to spare.Just look at the outlook of the two respective clubs. Our fans think our managers done a miracle and now needs 2 strikers, a goalkeeper, 2 CMs, a back up CB and a RB to compete again next season.
Arsenal just need to keep improving the players they already have with about 1/3 of the additions to get better.
THIS.We played 62 games and won 42. (68% win ratio)
Arsenal played 49 games and won 32. (65% win ratio)
We played alot more games. Had better win ratios. Qualified for CL and won a cup. If Arsenal played as many games, injury and fatigue would have hit them hard. I'll argue we have a much better season.
Probably not but that's because I don't rate Arteta. But I can't deny, what they've done with their squad is pretty much close to ideal in terms of making sure they'll be competitive for years to come.I'm not sure about the miracle but he did one hell of a job with all the circumstances. Not that you'll say it.
We'll see how Arsenal will fare next season. Do you think they'll be in another title fight?
You're right about that part, age of the core. But we'll see what will happen next year with CL football in the mix.Probably not but that's because I don't rate Arteta. But I can't deny, what they've done with their squad is pretty much close to ideal in terms of making sure they'll be competitive for years to come.
Saka (21)
Martinelli (21)
Ødegaard (24)
Saliba (22)
Is a great crop of young players. Then they've got another set of very good players who are maybe upgradeable but they aren't in a desperate need to change - so they can wait in the market for the right players to be available at the right time or back them to improve.
Ramsdale (25)
White (25)
Gabriel (25)
Zinchenko (26)
Jesus (26)
Party at 29 is the oldest part of their code group of players. They're in desperate need to replace him, but if they're clever they'll be open to having a transition plan for him too.
