Arsenal Finishes a Year Filled with Contradictions with an Important Derby
Arsenal faces an important derby against their neighbor Fulham at the end of the week, where they hope to end a year full of contradictions on a positive note.
Reflecting on 2023, Arsenal experienced a year marked by positive events, offering a foundation for future success, despite having fallen short of the English Premier League title dream in the previous season.
In the last season, Arsenal emerged as a fierce competitor for the Premier League title, leading the tournament until the final quarter. However, a drop in the results allowed Manchester City to close the gap and ultimately secure the title.
Under the guidance of Spanish coach Mikel Arteta, the London team showcased an impressive performance, with multiple players going into prominence. However, a lack of necessary experience in crucial moments prevented the Gunners from securing their first English Premier League title since 2004.
Stability defined the stage as Arsenal’s management showed patience with Arteta, empowering him to finalize contracts without being overly concerned about occasional fluctuations in results. Despite falling short of winning titles at the season’s end, the return to the Champions League for the current season was seen as a well-deserved reward for a special season.
Competing with tough teams like Manchester City is undoubtedly a challenge, but Arsenal embraced it, emerging as a challenging opponent. The team was led by standout performances from players such as winger Bukayo Saka, French center-back William Saliba, Norwegian captain Martin Odegaard, and other stars.
At the end of the season, Arteta and the club’s sporting director, Brazilian Edu, devised a strategic plan to address shortcomings, particularly with the departure of Swiss midfielder Granit Xhaka. The signing of midfielder Declan Rice for over 100 million pounds proved to be a brilliant deal. Rice added composure to the London team’s midfield, delivering confident performances as a solid player who occasionally showcased an offensive flair, previously unnoticed by many.
Along with Rice, Bukayo Saka continued to display brilliance on the field. The same can be said for William Saliba, whose absence due to injury in the final stages of the season resulted in a decline in the team’s performance and its loss in the title battle.
The Brazilian left winger, Gabriel Martinelli, proved his impact as a valuable asset, proving to be a winning card when avoiding the specter of injuries. Additionally, the team benefitted from greater squad depth this season with the contributions of players such as Belgian Leandro Trossard, Italian Jorginho, Japanese Takehiro Tomiyasu, and Eddie Nketiah.
Arsenal made a significant investment by acquiring German international Kai Havertz from Chelsea, and the technical returns from the deal on the field began to be obvious in the last few weeks. The former Leverkusen star has gradually adapted to his new role in the midfield.
Arsenal’s year was not devoid of controversy, particularly involving the strict coach Arteta. He engaged in numerous conflicts with the English Association due to his outspoken and harsh criticism of referees and their use of video assistant technology for arbitration.
Adding to the controversies, Arteta was criticized after deciding that Arsenal needed a new goalkeeper, despite Aaron Ramsdale’s impressive performance last season. He borrowed his compatriot David Raya from Brentford, who then unexpectedly became the main goalkeeper, leaving followers and critics astonished.
Arteta’s decisions and actions have not hindered the team’s ambition, and Arsenal currently finds itself in a favorable position to compete for the Premier League title this season. The team also advanced directly to the Champions League round of 16, topping a group that included PSV Eindhoven, Lens, and Sevilla, with a scheduled matchup against Porto.
While Arsenal began the season by lifting the Community Shield, securing victory on penalties over Manchester City, they exited the League Cup competition with a 1-3 loss to West Ham in the fourth round.
As the season progresses, it remains to be seen whether Arsenal’s players have accumulated the necessary experience to contend for the Premier League title in the final weeks, given that the current season witnesses a fierce struggle among a large group of teams.
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