A run of poor results combined with Manchester City hitting their form at the right time of the season meant that the Gunners had to settle for the second spot.
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Arsenal defied all expectations on their way to register a memorable Premier League campaign that almost saw them lifting the elusive trophy. At the start of the season, no one gave the Gunners a chance to fight for the league title, however, Mikel Arteta’s young guns kept surprising most people to remain at the top of the standings. Many expected the North London outfit to fall out of the title race quickly but to their credit they kept going till the penultimate stage of the season.
Unfortunately though Arsenal were not able to see it through, as they fell in the final hurdle. A run of poor results combined with Manchester City hitting their form at the right time of the season meant that the Gunners had to settle for the second spot. A defeat at the weekend has guaranteed the Premier League trophy to Man City. Despite not able to maintain their lead till the end of the campaign, Arteta’s boys can still keep their heads held high for what they achieved this campaign. Let us look at the three things which Arsenal must do to mount another Premier League title challenge next season.
In the current season, Arsenal exited most of the cup competitions earlier than their supporters would have liked. However, it is not something which their fans would want to see again next season, particularly with the team set to welcome back Champions League after a long wait. In order to match the rigours of the Premier League and the Europe’s elite competition, Arteta must have strength in depth all over the pitch. He cannot simply rely on the same 11-15 players over the course of a long season.
One of the biggest problems Arsenal encountered this season was their defensive frailties. The Gunners have already conceded 43 goals from their 37 matches, not the kind of record a team aiming for the title would wish to have. It has cost them big time particularly at the business end of the season when they kept conceding goals in huge numbers. As good as Arsenal’s attackers have been, their defensive deficiencies proved costly for them in the end.
Their youngsters did a wonderful job in staying at the top of the Premier League table for so long. However, when the pressure started to get to them, they crumbled like a pack of cards. This is where experience would have come in handy. Had the Gunners possessed more experienced players in their ranks, they would have dealt with those pressure moments in a better way than what transpired this season. It is not like a team cannot win with young players, however, having experienced players in their ranks will undoubtedly benefit them in certain difficult moments.
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