Argentina
Indonesia
Nigeria
South Africa

Is Arsenal's fifth-placed finish a sign of progress or a failure?

goal.com, 23 May 2022, 08:00
The Frenchman has committed to a fresh three-year deal at Parc des Princes, rejecting a switch to the Santiago Bernabeu in the process GOAL takes a look at the biggest transfer news and rumours from the Premier League, La Liga, Serie A and around the world Stay up to date with the final day of the Premier League season, and the battle for a Serie A crown, with GOAL's coverage of the biggest games

After having Champions League football within their grasp for so long, Arsenal's wait to return to Europe's top-tier club competition will go on for at least another year.

The disappointment was obvious following Sunday's season finale against Everton, with Tottenham's 5-0 win at Norwich making Arsenal's 5-1 success against Everton at the Emirates Stadium irrelevant.

A run of three straight victories for Spurs at the end of the campaign ensured they took the final top-four spot in the Premier League, with Arsenal left to rue their costly recent defeats in the north London derby and at Newcastle.

Arteta's side fell at the final hurdle, with injuries and perhaps inexperience taking their toll at the crucial moment.

"We did what we had to do," Arteta said after Sunday's victory, which saw Arsenal finish the season with 69 points, two adrift of Spurs.

"We knew that it wasn't in our hands. We needed a miracle and it didn't occur, that's it. The league table at the end of the season doesn't lie.

"It's true that last year with 67 points Chelsea got into the Champions League and we have 69 and we are out of it, but that's the level and the demands this league has now."

It's difficult to really assess Arsenal's season, and that is perhaps why their fifth-placed finish has created such debate.

Many view it as a failure, while there are plenty who believe there have been clear signs of progress.

Ultimately, both sides of the debate have merit.

Internally, the target for Arteta at the start of the season was clear. To get Arsenal back into Europe by securing a top-six finish.

The club invested heavily during the summer transfer window, spending around £145 million ($182m). But that vast outlay was predominantly on young and unproven players.

It was money spent on potential, rather than proven quality.

Many mocked Arsenal's transfer business at the time, especially when they opened the season with three straight league defeats which saw them bottom of the table going into the first international break without having amassed a single point or even scored a goal.

But as the new signings settled and were embedded into the starting XI, Arsenal improved dramatically and a real sense of optimism started to grow around north London.

Arteta has worked hard to rebuild a connection between the team and fans and that connection has become more and more evident as the season has progressed.

Even amid the disappointment of Sunday, the fans inside the Emirates created a carnival type atmosphere.

"They can see what we're doing," Arteta said after the game. "They can see what the players want to do, how they represent the club and who we are as a group."

Arteta's young side have given supporters lots to enjoy during the past 10 months and a top-five finish has to be viewed as progress after finishing eighth in each of the past two seasons.

Arsenal are back in Europe next season and they have done it with the youngest team in the Premier League.

They have also done it while overhauling their squad and removing several big names on huge wages, most notably Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang who left in January.

So there are many reasons why Arsenal's season can be viewed as a relatively successful one.

The club has slashed the wage bill, drastically reduced the age of the squad and the team established a connection with match-going fans that had been almost totally lost.

Arsenal have picked up more points this season and scored more goals, even though no striker found the net more than five times in the league.

And with the club set to spend big on two new forwards this summer, you would expect that is an area where things will improve even more during the 2022-23 campaign.

"We will take the club to the next level," Arteta said. "That is the ambition.

"In order to do that we have a very clear plan again. It is no secret we need resources and we need to increase the quality and depth of the squad. That will be the challenge."

Despite the clear signs of improvement since the start of the campaign, however, it's also very difficult not to also look at Arsenal's fifth-placed finish as a massive failure.

Yes, no-one would have given them a chance of making the top four when things kicked off in August.

Getty Images

But the fact is, with four games to go they were just one win away from securing Champions League football once again.

They got themselves into a position where they had their destiny in their own hands and they threw it all away right at the finish line.

Arteta's side had lots going for them this season. They didn't have the distraction of European football to worry about. Tottenham started the season poorly and had to change their manager. Leicester were well below par and Manchester United were a total disaster.

A lot of things went in Arsenal's favour, but they couldn't take advantage.

The club also opted not to strengthen in the January transfer window. In fact they weakened their squad, allowing several players to leave, including Aubameyang.

Meanwhile Tottenham signed Dejan Kulusevski and Rodrigo Bentancur, two players who have gone on to play a big part in their strong end to the campaign.

Arsenal's lack of activity in January was always a risk given what was at stake and ultimately, it looks like a gamble that backfired massively.

So overall, it's difficult to really define Arsenal's season.

When it started, a fifth-placed finish would undoubtedly be viewed as success. But given how it panned out and the position they put themselves in, it's clearly been a big missed opportunity.

Ultimately, it might not be until the end of next season that Arsenal's 2021-22 campaign can be truly defined.

If they go on and build on the foundations that have been put in place during the past 10 months then it could be looked back on as the period that the project under Arteta really started to take shape.

But if they struggle and fall even further behind their top-flight rivals, it will surely be remembered as the season they let their big chance slip away.

Top News

14 January 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Brazilian giants Flamengo have reportedly explored the opportunity to sign Arsenal midfielder Jorginho this month. 14 January 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United have reportedly entered the race for highly-rated young Parma goalkeeper Zion Suzuki. 14 January 2025 talksport.com Arsenal vs Tottenham is a historic and bitter rivalry but for Martin Keown, the frenzy surrounding their clashes was initially surprising. 14 January 2025 talksport.com Pep Guardiola was spotted screaming at Stefan Ortega after Manchester City surrendered a two-goal lead to draw at Brentford. 14 January 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Diogo Jota equalised with his first touch as Liverpool came from behind to take home a point from a 1-1 draw with Premier League title rivals Nottingham Forest at the City Ground. 14 January 2025 talksport.com Arne Slot has been hailed after his double substitution of Diogo Jota and Kostas Tsimikas instantly paid off against Nottingham Forest. 14 January 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Graham Potter marked his Premier League managerial debut with West Ham United by guiding the Hammers to a crucial 3-2 win over Fulham at the London Stadium on Tuesday night. 14 January 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Brentford produced a remarkable late fightback to salvage a point in their Premier League home clash against Manchester City. 14 January 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea's winless run in the Premier League has been extended to five matches after they were held to a 2-2 draw by Bournemouth at Stamford Bridge this evening. 14 January 2025 talksport.com Chelsea fans couldn't believe David Brooks' robust clothesline challenge on Marc Cucurella wasn't deemed violent conduct. 14 January 2025 talksport.com Andre Schurrle's career may have had its challenges, but they are nothing compared to what he is taking on in retirement 14 January 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta will be under no illusions that the "spotlight is shining" on him, but there should be absolutely no talk of the Spaniard losing his job at the Emirates, according to Gunners expert Charles Watts. 14 January 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea defender Renato Veiga has reportedly ruled out the possibility of a permanent departure. 14 January 2025 talksport.com Cole Palmer has become the first player since Eden Hazard to achieve 20 Premier League goal contributions in successive seasons for Chelsea. 14 January 2025 talksport.com Arsenal's starting XI could be shaping up very differently for the north London Derby as the club have been hit with an injury crisis. 14 January 2025 sportsmole.co.uk After sweeping past Real Madrid to win Sunday's Spanish Super Cup final, Barcelona will now turn their focus to Wednesday's meeting with Real Betis in the last 16 of the Copa del Rey. 14 January 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Bitter foes will renew hostilities in Wednesday's titanic Premier League North London derby, as Arsenal host Tottenham Hotspur at the Emirates. 14 January 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City have reportedly submitted an official offer for Eintracht Frankfurt forward Omar Marmoush. 14 January 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Leicester City will welcome Crystal Palace to the King Power Stadium in the Premier League on Wednesday night. 14 January 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Everton and Aston Villa will meet once again in English league football's most played fixture on Wednesday night. 14 January 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal have confirmed that Gabriel Jesus sustained an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury in Sunday's FA Cup defeat to Manchester United. 14 January 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Looking to boost their chances of avoiding fourth-tier football next season, Shrewsbury Town will welcome promotion-chasing Wrexham to The Croud Meadow on Thursday night in League One. 14 January 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City have not included defender Kyle Walker in their squad for tonight's Premier League clash with Brentford at the Gtech Community Stadium. 14 January 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United could be without as many as six players for Thursday's Premier League clash with Southampton at Old Trafford. 14 January 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Seeking to build on their positive FA Cup results last weekend, struggling Premier League duo Manchester United and Southampton square off at Old Trafford on Thursday night. 14 January 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Aston Villa have announced that they have completed the signing of Borussia Dortmund forward Donyell Malen. 14 January 2025 talksport.com Martin Keown couldn't escape Simon Jordan's fiery questioning as they dissected what's been a particularly tough week for Arsenal. 14 January 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Aston Villa have reportedly rejected a £40m bid for Jhon Duran from Premier League counterparts West Ham United. 14 January 2025 talksport.com Liam Smith dipped into his toolbox to fix a broken floodlight - then helped his teammates pull off a huge cup upset. 14 January 2025 talksport.com Arsenal have confirmed that Gabriel Jesus has injured the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee.