Arsenal To Challenge For Champions League This Season?
Arsenal’s challenge for Champions League football petered out last season after collapsing in the final stages of the campaign.
The Gunners were primed to qualify for Europe’s elite club competition for the first time since the 2016/17 season but missed out to arch-rivals Tottenham Hotspur.
Arsenal were fancied to finish in the top four heading into April but three defeats against Crystal Palace, Brighton & Hove Albion and Southampton put them on the back foot.
A string of four successive victories against Chelsea, Manchester United, West Ham United and Leeds United put Arsenal in the box seat once again with three games remaining.
However, a dismal performance against Tottenham and another shocker away to Newcastle United put an end to their Champions League aspirations.
Instead, Arsenal will be competing in the Europa League for the fifth time in the last seven years. The 2022/23 season is huge for Mikel Arteta and his rebuilding process.
Arteta Out? Not Yet…
It would be foolish for Arsenal to move on from the Spaniard just yet, especially after giving him the opportunity to invest heavily in the summer transfer window.
Talented youngster Marquinhos fits the mould for Arteta’s long term project while the club splashed £31.5 million to sign 22-year-old Fabio Vieira from FC Porto.
Widely regarded as one of Europe’s top prospects, Vieira could be a huge hit at the Emirates Stadium this season and he can be a kingpin throughout Arteta’s tenure.
In addition, Gabriel Jesus’ impending arrival from Manchester City will give Arsenal an elite talent at the striker position.
While unable to quite hold his own at the Etihad Stadium, the Brazilian brings a wide range of skills to north London and he can be Arsenal’s difference maker in tight contests.
The majority of Arsenal supporters are still behind Arteta but the mood could change very quickly if the Gunners endure a slow start to the campaign.
Are we likely to see Arteta Out trending this season? Almost certainly. But will the Spaniard do enough to keep his job? Probably. Only time will tell…
Arsenal Mean Business
The Gunners have wasted no time whatsoever in making moves this summer and that bodes well for an improved performance in 2022/23.
Arsenal have been building momentum under Arteta but results are now just as important as the process. The Arsenal faithful must be rewarded for their faith and trust…
The general feeling around the club is optimistic, especially compared to the likes of Chelsea and Manchester United.
Arsenal are in a good position to challenge and fight, not only for the top four but for one of the domestic cup competitions as well.
While City and Liverpool are miles clear of the chasing pack, Arsenal can stake a claim for the ‘best of the rest’ title if they can juggle their European commitments.
In fact, you could make a strong argument for both Arsenal and Tottenham as the most talented teams outside of the top two.
Arteta has gone a great job at Arsenal but the Spaniard’s process must start reaping rewards – whether that’s on a domestic level by winning a trophy or finishing in the top four.
Fast Start Key For Momentum
With the Premier League fixtures released earlier this month, Arsenal can begin to form an early plan of attack for the first few weeks of the season.
Arsenal’s first five fixtures could tell us a lot about what to expect from the Gunners in the upcoming campaign, with two games against newly promoted clubs.
An opening day trip to Crystal Palace is a potential banana skin while Leicester City visit the Emirates on Matchday Two.
Arsenal travel to Bournemouth for their third league game of the campaign before back-to-back home games against Fulham and Aston Villa.
September starts with a trip to Old Trafford and Arsenal could easily be fighting it out at the top of the table if everything goes to plan in the opening five weeks.
If the Gunners can pick up 10 points from a possible 15, most Arsenal fans would constitute that as a solid start to the season from those particular fixtures.
Follow Arsenal closely this campaign as the fight to finish in the top four intensifies. It might be curtains for Mikel Arteta and his process if Arsenal fail once again.
