For what length of time should Arteta stay at Arsenal?
I believe that Arsenal supporters should be really pleased with the way their season concluded—they made progress, and it concluded with a bang. Despite a difficult season, United supporters can be proud of their squad for their thrilling championship win over the Death Star. Fans of City, Liverpool, Villa, and Forest/Everton may all be glad that their teams made it to the CL, while fans of City can be happy that they won the league in record manner. Bravo also to the supporters of Bournemouth, Fulham, Wolves, and Palace for commendable seasons.
Nevertheless, some perspective is required. Although Arsenal has accomplished a lot, I believe that one more top-four result and no titles will have them demanding Arteta’s departure. whom will be his sixth season, and he has already spent nearly a billion dollars. His sole significant prize is the FA Cup, which he won in his first season thanks to the “toxic players” whom Arsenal supporters applaud him for benching (the same goes for the Community Shield).
In his second season, he led his team from eighth place and an FA Cup victory to eighth place, early exits from domestic competitions, and a Europa League semifinal loss against their former manager, who is at Villa. In his third season, he would once more finish fifth without receiving any awards. That’s what I heard them say back then: “Progress.” If so, you should be thrilled with what ETH has accomplished in just two years, considering the difficulties they have experienced (at least Arteta’s troublesome players have earned him a prize).
People also forget about LFC, which Klopp managed to win three times but lose the finals (8th, 4th, and 4th again). A Chicken says that’s what “aura” buys you time for. Not as good as ETH, but better than Arteta. In Pep’s first season, his team would finish in the top four and not much more; in his second season, he would complete a domestic treble. Much better, but keep in mind that this was a team that was prepared for him both on and off the field prior to his arrival. In his second season, world record fees were added to the squad for a GK, LB, RB, and CB, among other positions.
While what Arsenal accomplished this year is fantastic, bear in mind that LFC recently made changes to their midfield, Villa improved as a squad, United, Spurs, Newcastle, and Chelsea are also going through changes, and you guys are in the closing stages. You might have your best chance, and Arteta’s last, next year, with City perhaps taking a turn for the worst.
I’d also try remember how an injury to just Saliba was used as an excuse for why 22/23 left you trophy-less, while many of you are on the bandwagon that “injuries shouldn’t matter” when it comes to ETH losing 3/4 of his entire defense for most of the season. Same for City fans, when they say “Rodri missed 4 games and City lost 3 of them – that’s show how important he is” and LFC fans when VDV was injured and you became the first reigning champions to lose five straight home games. No “No excuses. It’s the tactics and the coach’s fault” once hammered by the media for any of them.
I believe that since ETH is so excellent—and not awful—many opponents want him gone, and their talking heads in the media feed him such poisonous, exaggerated, and just insane hate. He’s beaten them all, and I’m very sure that every other English team and supporter would be delighted to claim that “we’ve won more trophies than any other English club bar City in the past two years” and “eighth was their lowest ever EPL finish.”
The sad reality is that nobody will remember anyone but the winners in the far, far future.
And whoever idiot claimed that placing in the top four is preferable to winning a legitimate competition—let alone the oldest and most storied—shame on you. How are you going to mail Arsene?
Last but not least, a top-4 finish depends on how well a team performs in the CL the following year.
What good is it if you stink? To relish being beaten?
Just ask United supporters if they relished our champions league “performance” or winning the FA Cup this season.
If Man Utd or Arsenal had a better season, that is still unknown.
Regarding the question of who has had a better season—Arsenal or Manchester United—I wanted to bring up a few points. It would probably be easiest to determine whether Arsenal or United had a stronger season in retrospect, maybe in a year or two, and depending on how the teams respond to their circumstances.
In contrast, United improves on their FA Cup success by addressing their issues, has a better season, for example, finishing third, winning the Europa League, & have another good cup run, possibly winning a Carabao/FA Cup. If the Arsenal players allow the disappointment of this season negatively affect them, the club doesn’t properly address its issues, and as a result the club has an inferior season, for example, finishing fourth, getting out of the Champions League last 16 (against Bayern Munich!), & winning nothing.
However, if Arsenal continues to improve upon their season, say by winning the league and going farther in the cups and the Champions League, and United uses and abuses this victory to cover up their mistakes and refuses to change, then this season will be a failure for them as well, as it sets them up for a poor or worse 2024–2025 campaign (such as finishing in the middle of the table and having a disastrous Europa League campaign that results in no honors).
As a matter of fact, Arsenal experienced this in 2017, finishing fifth for the first time in a long time and losing badly to Bayern Munich 10-2 before defeating league winners Chelsea in a special match. It seemed as though those significant defeats had been forgotten when Arsene Wenger was given a new contract (although, in reality, he ought to have quit around 2010 because the team was obviously stalling by then on several fronts). The team exited the Europa League, finished sixth (only a strong home record kept them from midtable), and showed obvious indications of decline the following season. They also won nothing, save for the Community Shield, which resulted in Arsene Wenger’s dismissal.
As an Arsenal supporter, I sincerely hope that the team at the very least grows from its mistakes and that the players give it their all to succeed this season. Realistic goals would be to break the 90-point threshold in the league (which would probably result in the title, although with Manchester City.. maybe not), without considering trophies just yet.
Furthermore, it would be a big boost to the club’s reputation to defeat a legitimate European heavyweight—something that hasn’t happened since 2008 against AC Milan—and go to the Champions League semifinals, at the very least. Remaining afloat in April and May would indicate that the team has begun to break poor habits that have dogged them for many years. Progress would also be indicated by moving on in the cups in addition to those. Another question is whether that results in silverware (it would be very bad if not in such a case).
Of course, it would be wonderful for them to win, and this is what every sane member of the club would desire. However, keep in mind that, in terms of tangibles, qualifying for the Champions League also puts them in a better financial position to address some of the team’s major weaknesses (such as an overextended roster that needs better cover in multiple positions, a roster that has about ten players who see little to no playing time, the need for an alternative attacking option, & several players who get overplayed). Professional athletes might be more drawn to a team with a winning mentality, solid foundation, and stability than to one with shaky roots, possible instability, Champions League play, but a cup triumph.
Arsenal used to be laughed at for always making it into the Champions League while doing virtually nothing else outside of a few cup victories. This disdain was warranted during the final years of Arsene Wenger’s tenure since the team was becoming less competitive and appeared unduly comfortable with their status. There are encouraging indications that this is changing under Arteta, but it is unclear how he, his staff, and the players will proceed. Either way, it’s more entertaining to watch than it was a few years ago.
One more suggests AWB at center half.
This season, I’ve watched a lot of United because my roommate is an avid supporter of the team.
Throughout the season, I observed something. Wan-Bissaka, who plays right back, has a strong one-on-one defensive skill set and can mark and head opponents. However, his passing, crossing, and overall forward play are lacking.
Another issue is that United absolutely lacks a strong, mobile center back with good heading skills.Why not move him to center back to replace the outgoing Frenchman? It seems easier and less expensive to replace a right back than a center back.
Goodbye, Martial
Thus, amidst the idle chatter and absurdities surrounding Ten Hag, some players are pulling out. In particular, I’m sorry to see Varane and Martial go. Not depressing because I believe we should keep any of them, but regretful. When healthy, both are outstanding players on their day. Varane played a respectable amount of games and was undoubtedly a class act. I know he’s paid well and isn’t always fit, but as we saw in the FA Cup final, he and Martinez were by far our greatest duo of central backs.While I would be pleased for him to stay for one more season, I also understand that they would want to pay less for someone who has a brighter future. Although it would have been preferable to have him younger and in better shape, such is life.
Martial’s departure is primarily a regret. I regret that he never reached his full potential, that injuries hampered his career, that he might not have had the mental toughness to compete at the best level, and that maybe other managers made these worse (I’m looking at you, Solskjaer).
He was our best striker when he was fit, and although though the competition isn’t as strong as it once was, I still believe he is the finest finisher in the team. He was able to roll the ball past the goalie and effortlessly move past players. He didn’t have to, but he hardly ever scored from outside the area. He was deadly when provided with the right care.
It is regrettable that he was as easily broken as wet rice paper. According to some reports, he did not appear to benefit from playing while injured, particularly under Solskjaer.I hope he moves to a less competitive place where he can heal, regain his shape, and enjoy playing football.
So, good luck and farewell, Varane and Martial!
Daniel, Cambridge
When even the brackets you use are verbose…
Of all, it’s all part of the wonderful petty tribalism of football when fans of opposing teams get worked up and overreact to whatever bait is thrown at them. It’s hardly shocking that a few Arsenal supporters have bitten throughout the past 48 hours. It was even less surprise that MAW, LA Gooner, was one of them.
But in terms of wordiness, he’s surpassed himself with a series of brackets that led to three graphic phrases. My man, brevity is wit!
Pablo, Dublin’s MUFC (This is the method used.)
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