Same Old Arsenal or Improving Arsenal, which side of the divide are you on?
_By Yakubu Uzoma Muhammad_
Loud boos rung out of the Emirate Stadium at the end of 90 minutes after Brighton and Hove Albion thrashed Arsenal 3-0.
Goals from Enciso, Undav and Estupenian gave the away team their second win at the Emirate Stadium this season having eliminated the Gunners from this season Carabao Cup.
That result coupled with the performance was the worst possible outcome Arsenal fans could have wished for as it not only made them lose ground on the Title Race but it ended every hopes of us bringing home the Premier League after 19 years of asking.
To some, it's same old Arsenal aka Bottlers, or it's just another season of missed opportunity of announcing theirselves as the big boys of Best League in the World. While to some it has been a season of success depending on how you define success.
*Last Season Struggles*
The first Three (3) weeks of (2021/2022) season, Arsenal were languishing at the bottom of the League Table on Goal Difference of -9, same as relegated Norwich City who were 19th on the log because they scored a goal in their 2-1 loss to Leicester City in the earlier round.
In fact The Gunners moved out of the bottom of the log after struggling to beat Norwich City 1-0 at the Emirate Stadium courtesy of a goal from Captain Pierre E. Aubameyang. The win was followed by another uninspiring performance and win against relegated Burnley.
Such was the reality of the things at the Emirates, from the atmosphere to the fans calling for the owners head. Players and Head Coach Mikel Arteta was also asked to leave the club. The fans couldn't have imagined that a season of high hopes and expectations after signings such as Benjamin White for £50 Million, Aaron Ramsdale for £30 million from Sheffield United, Youngster Albert Sambi Lokonga from Anderlecht, Nuno Tavarez from Benfica and the Reliable Takehiro Tomiyasu from Bologna would have a bad start to the season as that.
Fast forward Seven (7) months towards the end of the season Arsenal were within distance of qualifying for the Champions League for the first time in Five (5) years only for the team to capitulate against their fiercest rivals and North London Neighbors that thrashed them at the New Tottenham Hotspur Stadium to pip them into the dreaded Fourth (4th) spot.
That season ended in disappointment despite qualification into the Europa League after failing to qualify for Europe for the first time in Twenty (20) seasons the season before that. The expectations/target from the Board for the team before the season was met but in the grand scheme of things, the Fourth (4th) spot was there for the taking. And the Arsenal Hierarchy were said to be satisfied with the way the season panned out because the team was ahead of schedule in terms of the target placed on Mikel Arteta and his Coaching Crew. And in addition the Club was able to get rid of Talisman and Captain Aubameyang for turning up late to camp after visiting his Mum in France. In truth, his poor goal returns and high wages together with his indiscipline played a huge role in the club terminating his contract thereby giving him the chance to move to Barcelona for the second half of the season.
*The Amazon Documentary*
The Arsenal Board seemed to have struck a goldmine after The Amazon Documentary was released during the summer break because it enabled the fans to see what truly happened behind the scenes and as a result of that, majority of the fans got behind the team again with the hope that the 2022/2023 season will be the season where Arsenal will finally qualify for the Champions League.
Emirate Stadium became a fortress again, younger fans came out en mass to support their team, and their support was evident in how the team performed especially after going a goal down in games such as against Fulham, West Ham and Man United.
*Expectations*
The Arsenal Manager Mikel Arteta together with Edu brought in Gabriel Jesus and Alexander Zinchenko from Manchester City, William Saliba who has been sent out on loan was given the opportunity to show what the fans have always expected from him. And together with Youngsters such as Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli, Captain Odegaard, Improved Xhaka and Thomas Partey Arsenal produced the best football in the League and led the league for Seven (7) straight Months. In these period Arsenal Manager received the Manager of the Month Four (4) times.
In fact Arsenal Football Club had Three Players in double figures in goals and assists, the only team to possess such record in the League this season. But with a team like reigning champions breathing down their necks, the inexperienced of the team showed once again when it mattered most.
*It is an Arsenal Thing*
It all started with the game against Liverpool at Anfield, a ground where Arsenal haven't won for a while. Arsenal went Two (2) goals up in the first Thirty (30) minutes of the game only to throw away their lead to come out with a 2-2 draw. In truth that was a game that Arsenal should have won but credit to Liverpool, they gave the League Leaders a run for their money.
After that game Arteta's Boys mentality was questioned and they had the perfect opportunity in putting that right with an away game to relegation threatened Westham. And the Gunners zoomed into a Two (2) goal lead again in the first Fifteen (15) minutes of the game only to capitulate for the second consecutive game when they had led by a Two (2) goal margin. With Bukayo Saka having missed from the penalty spot to restore Arsenal's two goals advantage.
The effect of those results showed as the Gunners went on to draw relegated Southampton 3-3 at the Emirates followed by a 4-1 loss to Title rivals Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium, whom themselves have been on an amazing run of 11 straight victories. With 85 points, 92 goals scored in 35 games, with Erling Haaland scoring 36 of them in his first season in English Football. While their North London rivals have 81 points, 83 goals scored in 36 games needing a win in their next game against a disappointing Chelsea to clinch the Title for the third straight season.
*Comparison with other Leagues*
With 81 points in 36 games, Arsenal would probably had won the League title when you compare the other top leagues in Europe.
In Spain, Barcelona Football Club were crowned champions of the La Liga with points in 34 games, followed by Champions League semi finalist Real Madrid with 71 points with same number of matches,
In France Paris Saint Germain who are currently on the same points with Arsenal but with a game less are Six (6) points ahead of RC Lens with Three (3) games to go.
In Portugal, Benfica are on 83 points with games played Four (4) points ahead of Title Rivals FC Porto with Two (2) games to go. In fact a win in their next game away to Neighbors Sporting CP will win them the title.
Meanwhile in Germany, Bayern Munich on 68 points from 32 games are a point ahead of challengers Borussia Dortmund with same number of matches played.
And In Italy, Napoli were crowned Champions with Five (5) games to spare and are currently on 83 points with 35 games played. 14 points ahead of second place Juventus with 69 points.
When you compare Arsenal's performance and results this season in the English Premier League with the League Leaders of Europe Top Five (6) Leagues, one would understand how much of a success this young Arsenal Team have had, at least compared to the expectations before the start of the season.
With such record, Arsenal fans in my opinion should be elated with the team, though the manner at which the league was thrown away was devastating both for the players and fans but Mikel Arteta tutored side have shown that they are not going away anytime soon. The quality of Football that the team played this season was second to none this season. Of the other 19 teams that participated this season in the League, Arsenal won 17 of them with exception to Leaders Man City and relegated Southampton.
The Gunners defeated rivals Tottenham Hotspurs and Chelsea and home and away, Liverpool and Man Utd at the Emirates, something no one could have imagined before the start of the season. In fact no pundit in England predicted this Young Arsenal team to challenge for the title.
Irrespective of how one decides to define success, you'll agree with me that 2022/2023 season have been a successful season for Arsenal and with proper addition / recruitment the gunners will be expected to go a step further next season by winning the League or at least challenge for the Premier League next season with the hope of winning a domestic cup such as the FA Cup or Carabao Cup.
