Arsenal are entering a season where I personally think we need to win something, or else what has been a great few season’s of football, is worth nothing. We entered a rebuild that we all knew was going to take some time and patience. Expecting things to change overnight is short sighted and I think the club and Arteta have proved that were on the right path, and with just a few things bolstered and changed, we could be looking at some silverware, but I think this season could be a make-or-break season for Arteta if he doesn’t bring home any silverware.
For the past few seasons, we’ve been challenging Manchester City for the Premier League title, which has beea incredible to watch and heartbreaking to watch at the same time. We’ve let the title slip through our fingers twice and after being such a dominant force, it can crush the soul. While competing for the title, we’ve sort of put the other cups and competitions (except the UCL last season) as not a priority and although they are not as coveted as the PL title or the UCL, I still think we should be going all out for them.
The biggest problem I think we’ve had been that Arteta rarely likes to change his starting 11, maybe a few here and there, but he doesn’t rotate the squad enough and give players the minutes, so that they can be ready to play in these cup competitions. I understand when it works, it works, and nobody wants to bring off their best players, but that’s when players get injured and as we all know, that then becomes our main problem, and we end up missing important players for lengthy spells of time.
The fitness and the injuries are what concerns me the most, we can’t play Premier League, Champions League, The FA Cup and The Carabao Cup with the same players, Arteta needs to learn how to balance his team more and as I’ve been saying a lot recently, give some younger players some needed minutes and a chance to shine.
So, let’s take a look at what prices the bookies are offering for Arsenal to win each of the competitions we are entered in this season. I have a feeling that Arteta will be using a good mix of youngsters and squad players in the Carabao Cup, but then most other teams do so we could have a good shot at. A general price for us is around 2/1 hot favourites, which surprised me considering our record. In the FA Cup we are at a great 7/1, which is the one we should take more seriously. Obviously the one we all want is the Premier League and we behind Man City of course at around 2/1. It is incredible the different ways you can put money on at the bookies nowadays, including crypto bet’s and I use this site to get my bitcoin or Ethereum Price Rate Snapshot before deciding how much to wager
I understand that the Premier League title and the UCL are going to always be the most important, but I’d like to see the club and the manager lift any silverware this season, because they deserve it after the last few seasons. Hopefully it will be a big one, but if not, I’ll be happy to see Arteta lift any trophy at the end of the season.
Speaking of Arteta’s management style, it’s actually wild to think about how he’s transformed the squad’s mentality. Remember when we used to crumble at the first sign of pressure? Now we’re actually proper title contenders, which still feels a bit surreal if I’m being honest. The Emirates has become an absolute fortress again, and that’s something we haven’t seen since the early Wenger days.
But here’s the thing that keeps me up at night – our squad depth is still not quite where it needs to be. Yeah, we’ve got Rice, Havertz, and Timber who’ve come in, but we’re still looking a bit thin in certain areas. When Jesus is out, we really feel it. And don’t even get me started on our full-back situation. One knock to Saliba and suddenly we’re all having flashbacks to last season’s collapse.
The fans have been absolutely class though, haven’t they? The atmosphere at the Emirates is properly electric these days. That North London derby win last season? Goosebumps mate, absolute goosebumps. But we can’t keep being the “almost” team. We can’t keep being the team that plays beautiful football but ends up with nothing to show for it in the trophy cabinet.
I’ve got a mate who’s a Spurs fan (I know, I know), and even he admits that what Arteta’s building is special. But he also loves reminding me that “trust the process” needs to eventually lead somewhere. And honestly? He’s not wrong. This season feels different though. There’s just something in the air at the Emirates. Maybe it’s hope, maybe it’s delusion, but it feels like our time is coming.
