Arsenal Fans: not time to groan too much…let’s prepare for the next season! by Aziz
For any Arsenal fan, it was a disappointing end of the season after so much hope to end nearly 20 years without the EPL trophy.
Majority of fans had thought after being at the top of the EPL table, for nearly the whole season, and to be precisely for 248 days, this was our time to lift it. Our time to hold on and outsmart the best team in the Europe, if not in the world, in Manchester City FC.
But listen…, there is no shame to finish second to such a great Manchester City team, many would agree.
We’re finishing second in the EPL standing and back to champions’ league football, and I would like to take this opportunity to personally thank everyone at the club: players, coaches and all fans for their support in achieving this milestone. It was close but no cigar…
And of course, thanks to Just Arsenal News for allowing others and I to air out our thoughts (sometimes not too “pleasant”) during the course of the season, just to push our mighty team to reach that crossing line, exultingly. Nothing else!
I have been one of the optimistic fans out there, thinking this was our time…. and my articles here can underpin that. However, this is not time to shed tears a like little baby, instead we should be looking forward to better things come next season. As long as we do the right signings come summer, we stand a chance to be one-step better than this season. There is always, a next time, guys!
No doubt, this Arsenal team has grown and shown maturity from last season, and it’ll grow again come next season as it’s the youngest team in the league. Let’s don’t underestimate this learning curve this season, just like the one before this season when we missed on the top 4, again in the last weeks of the last season. Some argue that failure last season had propelled them to do like they did this time around and finish second! We hope that this failure (again!) will instil in them a more winning mentality the next season.
Yes, Gary Neville was temporarily appeared a genius by saying we wouldn’t win the EPL, but again he was blatantly wrong by predicting that we wouldn’t finish top 4, let alone challenging Manchester City that close in second.
In the last game today against Wolves, the team needs to show the Arsenal faithful at the Emirates and around the world what this team is capable of, despite the glitches that led to capitulation of recently. They need to win convincingly and set a momentum running for the next season. They need to show the passion to play for that crest. No wonder, some players will be playing for their chances next season, otherwise, they will be sold or loaned out.
No matter what happened, we need to finish this season on a high and avoid doom and gloom.
The future of “ones of our own”, the likes of Emile Smith Rowe and Reiss Nelson, just like others is unknown: I’m not sure whereabouts Rob Holding and Fabio Viera are going to play next season. It’s an open secret that Granit Xhaka won’t be at Arsenal next season. Also, so many coming back on-loan players; Folarin Balogun, Marcus Vinicius Oliveira Alencar aka “Marquinhos”, just to name a few, their futures are in the open air…
Further, a plethora of players have been linked to join Arsenal in the summer. High profile ones being Moises Caicedo and Declan Rice, both or one of them. In my opinion, these players can improve Arsenal team if we get them next season. However, there is a bitter fact to take: they are players from rival EPL teams, so they come with hefty price tags and tough negotiations. So, being linked and getting them, are two different things.
All the best for Edu and co in this coming transfer window, choose wisely and buy wisely!
COYG!
Aziz Senzia
A Gooner, from Tanzania
Video – Alfie and Rob are back for the summer transfer window
Here is their first analysis of the summer, where Alfie and Rob discuss and predict every single possible Arsenal incoming and outgoing this summer, including fees and potential destinations for outgoings.
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I hope today’s game will make Nelson extend his contract. I think he is currently the only one who can compete with Martinelli for the LW role
Smith-Rowe scored several goals, but he is rarely able to reach the byline as Martinelli often does. Whereas Trossard will only become slower as he ages
Why would Arsenal pay more than £70 million for Rice when they can get him for free next year. All they have to do is tell Rice to hang on for another year and we will then give you more wages because of the transfer fee we have saved. After all it is not up to Westham despite other anti Arsenal media are reporting it will be down to Rice to whom he wishes to join.
It is time for ARSENAL players to show their mojo today and make us proud. Also, we expect good signings to improve our team next season. Other wise, that so-called momentum will die away, once and for all.
daveg, One reason is that life never stands still and it is always important to do STRAIGHTAWAY whatever needs doing, in life as in football too.
Those who put off til next year what threy OUGHT to be doing today are unwise folk. That is the realistic answer to your question.
Get a grip,Gai, they are two different type of players, ESR is not a winger and had zero opportunities this year for one reason or another. It will be our loss when he leaves but I’m sure you will still find some half arsed theory to cover yourself.
Arsenal fans have come out of the temporary frustration borne out of love and good wishes for our team. But if history were a guide, in 2020/21 we were more interested in lowering the club’s wage bill when fans called for the heads of the Kroenkes and we managed to be 8th; in 2021/22, we did not do well in the transfer market, except few additions that brought the like of Odegaard, Partey, White, etc., and we came 5th, less top 4; and in 2022/23, we made progress to bring in Gabriel Jesus, Zinchenko, Trossard, and Jorginho and we are in 2nd position. The hindsight shows that transfer market can be leveraged to fill personnel gaps for improvement. Arsenal fans know too well that our club has been driven in the past by youthful exploits and energy but Man City has basketful of personnel to achieve what they want to achieve. As a fan, I expect that with active participation in the coming Summer transfer market, Arsenal can continue to make progress in the PL from 2nd in 2022/23 to 1st in 2023/24 and in Champions League.
As for our today’s last Epl march of the season and at home against Wolves. Whichever be the Gunners who Arteta will start and bring on off the bench for the match should endeavour to end Arsenal two consecutive match loss today by winning the match.
So that Arsenal will not only win the match. But finish their Ppl campaign this season on a winning note.
After which they’ll disperse for the season break. And during the time the Arsenal summer transfer rumour mull will go on the full swing churning out Arsenal possible incomings and outgoings.
But as of now, Arsenal have only made a bidding to sign a new player in Sacha Boey. Who is right back at the Turkish club side Galatasaray. However, Arsenal are yet to get the transfer done. But they may get it done if Boey, Galatasaray and Boey’s agent did not financially overstressed Arsenal to sign Boey this summer.
The rest of the players like: Rice, Mount, Caicedo, Cancelo and others who are linked with Arsenal for their signings this summer window are all at the rumour-link stage. Nothing concrete about Arsenal signing them or some of them to hold on to.
As for our today’s last Epl march of the season and at home against Wolves. Whichever be the Gunners who Arteta will start and bring on off the bench for the match should endeavour to end Arsenal two consecutive match loss today by winning the match.
So that Arsenal will not only win the match. But finish their Epl campaign this season on a winning note.
After which they’ll disperse for the season break. And during the time the Arsenal summer transfer rumour mill will go on the full swing churning out Arsenal possible incomings and outgoings.
But as of now, Arsenal have only made a bidding to sign a new player in Sacha Boey. Who is a right back at the Turkish club side Galatasaray. However, Arsenal are yet to get the transfer done. But they may get it done if Boey, Galatasaray and Boey’s agent did not financially overstressed Arsenal to sign Boey this summer.
The rest of the players like: Rice, Mount, Caicedo, Cancelo and others who are linked with Arsenal for their signings this summer window are all at the rumour-link stage. Nothing concrete about Arsenal signing them or some of them to hold on to.
What I MOST HOPE for in todays game, is not for our team at all, actually , as our players have health, youth, talent and the ability to give thrills, and satisfaction to countess millions. And they all earn a top standard of living.
No , my friends, my hopes are for the small minority among us, some of whom are regulars on JA, torraise their eyes and brains upwards not downward, and see what they, personally HAVE in being Arsenal fans. They follow and love a world famous club with a glorious history and , a widely respected name throughout football.
If they are personally young and healthy, then they also have a great life ahead to look forward too. There is no sensible reason to be unhappy or resentful, simply because, on this occasion, our team did not make the very top.
Though it was a great journey and wise folk enjoy the journey for itself. Wise folk also see th benefit in optimism , though tempered with reality and of counting their blessings and being contenrt with their lot in life
In contrast, there are vast swathes of our planet where our fellow humans are in REAL TORMENT OF POVERTY, AGONY, FAMINE.BIGOTRY AND WAR.
If you are lucky enough not to be in THEIR number,then you are fortunate people indeed.
Recognise that fact and lift your eyes out of the gutter, my friends and do away completely with foolish resentment and bitterness. IT WILL ALWAYS HARM YOU PERSONALLY MORE THEN ANY OTHER HUMAN. And that would be such a waste of your better side. REMEMBER LIFES TRUE PRIORITIES TOO, MY FRIENDS
Arteta and his players self destructed like they did last season when we were going for 4th place.
We were about 9 points ahead of Spurs with a game or 2 in hand with about 7 games to go. We then melted away letting Spurs pip us at the last minute.
This season we led the league for something like 90% of the way, we had about 7 points on City with about 8 games to go. We then did it again like last season and bottled it against the likes of Southampton, West Ham, Liverpool, Brighton etc and to top it off embarrassed ourselves Nottingham Forest.
There seems to be a pattern. Last season we let Spurs finish above us at the last minute when we experienced any sort of serious pressure.
This season we did it with City. Self destructed on the home stretch.
BUT on the other hand…
Lets hope we win the league next season even with this pattern.
We over achieved last season as most of us were okay with Top 6 and giving the other Top 6 teams a challenge for Top 4. We did it but the other way around. Were in the Top 4 for most of the season and at the last minute bottled it. Underwhelming.
This season too, I never thought we would get ourselves in the position we did (leading the league for more than 80% of the time). But we did. Then all that was deflated by the way we self buckled with any slight bit of pressure when it mattered at on the home stretch.
Very deflating end to last season and this seaosn.
But let’s go again next season. We have shown that we can seriously compete at the Top. Need to make that next step.
A well written and thoughtful article.
I enjoyed reading its wisdom.
I am one of the few that believe our failure to top four last season inspired our finish inside the places this season, we made sure of CL football. Also, we did not have an eight-point lead on City because they won their games in hand, we had a two-point lead on them and still had to play them which they also won. Yes, we stumbled at the end but no matter what way you shake it City would have won it anyway and we still hit our season’s target. We’re in great stead for the new season now