Congratulations Man City. They have been exceptional towards the end, and deserved the title. Shout out to Newcastle and Brighton for starting a European campaign next season.
This season was a 2 horse race till the month of April. Arsenal has exceeded all expectations with their performance this season. Before falling off the cliff at the end, we definitely showed a lot of potential to be challenging for the title. My honest expectation was top 4, and even that seemed to be a challenge. But the below-expectation performance of the likes of Liverpool, Man United, Chelsea and Tottenham, and the brilliant performance of our young attack led by Saka, Odegaard and Martinelli, and ably supported by players like Jesus, Trossard, Nketiah and even Nelson (for that brilliant winning goal vs Bournemouth), and the defence with Saliba and Gabriel being a vital cog of the system, Zinchenko, White (an absolute resurgence at RB), Tomiyasu (pre injury) and even Tierney when called upon to defend a lead, and Kiwior playing his first half season at Arsenal has been great. Ramsdale is one of the best keepers we can expect in our system, with his brilliant performances both with his saves, and with the ball at his feet. Arsenal definitely looks like a team that is ready for the peak sooner rather than later.
Now, to talk about the area where we are expecting to strengthen this summer, the resurgence of Xhaka has been a revelation. From being hated by the fans to them singing we want you to stay at the last day, Xhaka in many ways personifies Arsenal. Partey was absolutely a beast before the injury, and his loss of form is one reason for our downfall. Jorginho has been a solid, if not spectacular buy. Vieira is still a player that I think might absolutely burst into the team if his defensive game improves a bit. We are a good playing 11, but this is a squad that does fall in quality if the playing 11 is changed, and if we are serious about competing in both the PL and the CL, changes with reinforcements in personnel that can start for us, and change in strategy to suit players that are in the field is imperative. Arteta has been mostly spot on with his strategy, but like Wenger, he does seem to be outplayed if his primary plan doesn’t work. And many teams did realize we falter under pressing, and has used that strategy towards the end of the season. And of course, his disinterest in substitutions. (Maybe I will give the benefit of doubt here because he might not have the 5 players he needs to change).
The players we have been linked with so far will certainly improve the quality of the team. But apart from that, Saka does need a substitute. It will be foolish to play him all games of the PL and CL.
wisedonkeygooner