By Rob Worthington (Deputy Editor)
Arsenal have come a very long way in a very short period. This time 2 years ago, finishing in the Top Four was nothing but a fever dream for most Arsenal fans.
But as a team improves expectations grow. At the end of last season, many were up in arms after Arsenal finished just short of winning the Premier League title. At the start of the season, a Top Four finish would’ve been viewed as a success. That’s football.
By performing so brilliantly last term, Arsenal have set something of a rod for their own back this term. You sense they have to win a major trophy this season or fans will be up in arms, and pressure could heap upon Mikel Arteta despite the remarkable job he’s done at the club to date.
And for a team as good as Arsenal, merely picking up an FA Cup may not be viewed as quite enough. This is a season in which Arsenal need to perform strongly in both the Premier League and Champions League. If they don’t, questions will be asked.
Arsenal fans would be doing themselves a disservice if they don’t raise their own expectations this year and demand improvement. Frankly, the problems which primarily contributed to Arsenal falling short last season have been quashed.
Granit Xhaka was brilliant for Arsenal during the 2022/23 season, delivering 14 goal contributions and featuring in all but one Premier League match. But throughout his time playing in the left #8 role, you couldn’t escape the fact that a square peg had been shoved into a round hole in that position.
Declan Rice’s profile is better suited to that position and his price tag and reputation would suggest he is an upgrade on Granit Xhaka. That is an area of the pitch in which Arsenal have improved their already excellent first XI, with Kai Havertz also in that area.
Havertz also improves Arsenal’s frontline depth. The club missed Gabriel Jesus dearly following his World Cup injury. Now, throughout the campaign, Arsenal will be able to rely on not just Eddie Nketiah to fill in, but also Leandro Trossard and Kai Havertz.
Similarly at the back, issues in depth which proved troubling last term following injuries for the likes of most pertinently William Saliba, but also Takehiro Tomiyasu, Thomas Partey, and Alex Zinechnko, have been nullified.
In only the most extreme of scenarios would Arsenal have to depend on Rob Holding who brings the ceiling of Mikel Arteta’s team down when he features. With Jurrien Timber available, Ben White can slot into a central defensive role if either of Gabriel or Saliba get injured.
Timber has also shown he possesses apt technical quality to invert either on the right or the left, decreasing dependence on Alex Zinchenko. Important to note that Jorginho was also signed in January, a player who provides good cover in the #6 when Thomas Partey isn’t available.
So really, Arsenal have to improve. And that improvement really should come in the form of a major trophy.
So, what if they don’t collect one this term?
Well, it depends. It depends on how Arsenal miss out on a major trophy if they are to do so this term. Injuries can’t really be used as an excuse thanks to the impressive depth in the first team. So, only if Manchester City have a blisteringly good season can Arsenal really find excuses this term.
If Manchester City run away with the title and pick up 100 points in the Premier League, there’s not much Arsenal can do. Arsenal aren’t there *yet*. As for the Champions League, you can prepare as well as anyone for a given tie, but anything can happen in that competition. There still, a deep run should be expected by Arsenal fans.
But if City do finish in and around the 90-point mark in the Premier League, Arsenal should be very disappointed if they don't match their main domestic rivals or in an ideal world, better them. A 6-point improvement from last term should be demanded by Mikel Arteta in the new season. He’ll doubtless be demanding even more.
If Arsenal do fall short again, you’d suspect Mikel Arteta’s job will be safe. But the result of any shortcoming should result in some hard thinking. Some of those guys who are guaranteed starters this season should not become the 2024/25 season.
And thereafter, you’d be lying to yourself if you don’t think Arteta’s job should be under scrutiny. This is the greatest squad Arsenal have possessed since 2004, and they need to deliver.
It is absolutely essential that everybody at Arsenal demands major success in this new season.
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