Arsenal came close—again. But as the dust settles on another long campaign, Mikel Arteta’s side find themselves without silverware, and with it, the creeping sense of a missed opportunity.
We spoke to Jack Abela of LondonWorld to assess whether Arsenal’s season can be classed as a success, and what the club needs to do to finally end their wait for a major trophy.
We spoke to Jack Abela of LondonWorld to assess whether Arsenal’s season can be classed as a success, and what the club needs to do to finally end their wait for a major trophy.
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00:00Arsenal came close again, but as the dust settles on another long campaign,
00:09Mikel Arteta's side finds themselves without silverware and with it the creeping sense of a missed opportunity.
00:17For much of the season, the Gunners looked like serious contenders, both domestically and in Europe.
00:24Their defensive solidity, attacking patterns and squad depth all improved,
00:29but when it mattered most against PSG in Europe and in the final title run-in, they fell short.
00:37Fine margins perhaps, but margins that separate good teams from great ones.
00:42There's no denying the upward trajectory under Mikel Arteta.
00:48Back-to-back title challenges and a Champions League semi-final appearance mark real growth.
00:53Yet in a season where others stumbled and windows opened, Arsenal couldn't quite take that final step.
01:02Now the task is to turn potential into delivery.
01:06A top-class striker remains the most obvious missing piece,
01:09but squad depth in midfield and out wide will also be key areas to strengthen.
01:14We spoke to Jack Abella of London World to assess whether Arsenal's season can be classed as a success
01:23and what the club needs to do to finally end their wait for a major trophy.
01:31So Jack, let's have a bit of a season reflection.
01:35Let's start with the Champions League journey.
01:37Obviously, it was pretty incredible really and it sort of hit any burdens of the past journeys that they've had
01:44and they fell short in the Champions League.
01:46Where do you think, you know, Arsenal fans hold this Champions League journey?
01:49Obviously, it was so close to reaching another final,
01:53but, you know, at the end of the day they have broken some, you know, curses that they've had as of late,
01:58over the last sort of 10 or so more years.
02:01To actually get as far as they did was still a fantastic achievement.
02:06What's the sort of emotions like at the Emirates?
02:09Is it mixed emotions?
02:10Is it maybe a bit of a missed opportunity?
02:12Or do they feel incredibly proud?
02:14Because PSG, you know, make no bones about it.
02:16They beat Liverpool.
02:17They're looking like the odds-on favourites to go and win it as well.
02:20They've probably been the best team in Europe throughout the entire season.
02:24Yeah, like you say, I think it's mixed.
02:26I think, obviously, it's the first semi-final that Arsenal got to in 20 years,
02:30which in itself is an achievement.
02:33If you look at, since Mikel Arteta's been at the club, you know,
02:36they finished eighth a couple of times.
02:38Then they got Champions League.
02:40They made the quarter-final last year, lost to Bayern Munich,
02:44made the semi-final this year.
02:46So, in terms of that, you could say it's progress.
02:48I mean, I was lucky enough to be at the game for that,
02:52for the game against Real Madrid.
02:54And I think that 3-0 victory and the 2-1 at the Bernabeu as well
02:59will live long in the minds of Arsenal fans.
03:02And, you know, that in itself was an incredible performance,
03:06an incredible team display and a kind of snapshot into what this team can do.
03:11And I think once the season ends and Arsenal fans can look back and reflect
03:15when maybe when emotions have simmered down,
03:18that Arsenal, you know, have made a semi-final of the Champions League,
03:20the club and the squad gave fans that special moment against Madrid.
03:25You know, that is a positive.
03:27However, you know, it was a chance to win some silverware.
03:29It's not every season you can get yourself into the semi-final.
03:34You know, teams like Man City and Liverpool, you know,
03:36big rivals for Arsenal had been knocked out.
03:38We were the last English team in it and it felt like it could be a season,
03:44despite our league form dropping off,
03:46where Arsenal could go and have a good crack at the Champions League.
03:49But I think where the disappointment really comes in
03:52is how the Premier League form has dropped off.
03:55And I think that it made the Champions League knockout a little bit more sour
04:00for Arsenal fans.
04:02You know, look at what Liverpool do when they press and they,
04:04you know, keep going and score three or four.
04:06Arsenal haven't done that.
04:08They haven't had the capability to do it.
04:10Injuries have played a part as well.
04:12You know, I know Arsenal fans are maybe a bit sick
04:15and definitely other fans of Arteta making excuses with injuries.
04:18But it has made a difference.
04:21You know, Arsenal have been without a striker for almost half the season.
04:26And yeah, that would have played a part as well.
04:30There's been injuries to Saka and Nardegaard and Gabriel,
04:33the centre-back as well.
04:34So that has played a part, but really I think the main thing
04:37is we've just drawn too many games and lacked that firepower up top,
04:40which maybe Arsenal will rectify in the summer window.
04:43So that's why we're playing in it today.
04:48So that's probably...
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04:55So...
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