I recently had a good old chinwag with my good friend Phil (PAL), and we were talking about whether or not the media at large and our own fanbase have really given enough thought to what was achieved last season – not simply by looking at the results, but rather by looking at what the club overcame to achieve those results.
Let’s start by looking at how we were perceived.
Perennial bottlers living in the shadow of a Manchester City club who, despite having over 115 charges against them, were seen as the shining example of what we, as three-time runners-up, needed to emulate.
Secondly, Mikel Arteta had to win a trophy this season or, according to the media and a section of our fanbase, he would have to be sacked.
There were no alternative scenarios allowed, although a few of us “Arteta fanboys” did cite injuries that had blighted our previous campaigns as a reason to be cautious.
It turned out that our injury jinx was ready and waiting to blow us off course yet again!
Just look at the injuries Arsenal overcame
We lost Havertz for around two-thirds of the season.
We lost Merino for around two-thirds of the season.
We lost Saka for around half of the season.
We lost Timber for around half of the season.
We lost Calafiori for around half of the season.
We lost Odegaard for around half of the season.
We lost White for around half of the season.
Because of the above, we played Zubimendi into the ground, so much so that he was replaced for the last six or so games by Skelly.
Rice was another player who ended the season running on fumes, and how he kept going was a miracle.
Yet none of the above seemed to be taken into account as we dropped points and played “retention of the ball” type of games.
(Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
The achievements shouldn’t be separated from the circumstances
It’s worth remembering that we won the Premier League, got to the final of a domestic cup and were undefeated in the CL right up until the final, where we lost in a penalty shootout.
Of course, every Gooner knows these facts, but so many seem unaware of the background as to how they were achieved against all the odds and while the manager and players were under such intense pressure to succeed… or else!!
Which brings me to my final points.
The injury jinx has already struck, with both Timber and Saliba reportedly out for months.
We have addressed the midfield scenario with the brilliant signing of Bruno Guimaraes.
We are reportedly looking for a RB/RCD to cover that area.
We are also, reportedly, looking to strengthen our attacking squad depth.
We aren’t afraid to go after world-class players from clubs who previously plundered our players.
But whatever happens this season, we should remember with clarity just what Mikel Arteta and his squad of players achieved last season against all the odds, predictions and the style of football that was seen to be by choice rather than forced upon us by the circumstances listed above.
Perhaps only when you put all of those circumstances together do you fully appreciate what this Arsenal team achieved.
Thanks for the idea for this article, Phil!!
ken1945
So what do you think, fellow Gooners? Has last season’s achievement been fully appreciated, or have the circumstances Arteta and his players had to overcome already been forgotten? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
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