Good morning, everyone.
Yesterday, while the clash between Man City and Liverpool was on, I opted for a different kind of evening. I spent some time downtown, enjoyed a few drinks at a cozy bar, and only occasionally checked in on the score. But really, there wasn’t much of a contest. The Premier League table this morning paints a clear picture—Liverpool has essentially clinched the title. Even if they falter, the gap is just too vast for anyone to realistically bridge at this point.
To catch up, our team would need to hit a level of form that, honestly, doesn’t seem within reach right now, even if every player were perfectly fit and available. And the truth is, with key members missing and others not quite in top shape, dreaming of overturning the standings is just that—a dream. Today, that reality stings for the fans, even if it’s not entirely unexpected given recent performances. With many points still up for grabs, we have to remain diligent and aim to secure as many as possible. Yet, there’s no denying that it feels a bit hollow now.
If you’re in a gracious mood—and I get why some might not be—you have to tip your hat to Liverpool. Their performance this season has been nothing short of remarkable. It’s always puzzled me why some believed staying ahead of Man City was the golden ticket to being champions. Liverpool has been a formidable side for quite a while, equipped with world-class talent, and they know all about the relentless grind of premier league competition. Just as Arsenal has often been encouraged to use the sting of near misses for motivation, Liverpool too, with their history of tough battles against Pep Guardiola’s teams, have ample experience to draw upon.
Fitness has favored Liverpool this season in ways it hasn’t for us, and naturally, that’s a huge advantage. But, let’s not overlook the brilliance of Mo Salah. He’s been instrumental, arguably at his peak, distinguishing himself as someone who can decisively sway games against the league’s mid-tier and lower-tier teams. His prowess and steadiness elevate him to a legendary status in English football. That’s the type of player we’re evidently lacking currently, though I do believe a fully fit Bukayo Saka has the caliber to reach somewhat comparable heights eventually.
Injuries and suspensions hitting us hard have certainly worked in Liverpool’s favor as well. We’ve let too many points slip along the way, but it’s fair to salute a team deserving of their title while also acknowledging our own missteps, both on and off the pitch. I’m reminded of Mikel Arteta’s reflection after our initial title race, how he needed to reassess after leading for so long only to be derailed by injuries to William Saliba and Takehiro Tomiyasu.
Last season saw us nipping even closer at City’s heels, racking up 89 points, scoring more, and winning more league games than the Invincibles era, only to fall 2 points short. Currently, though, we’ve drifted off course, undeniably. Our summer transfer dealings didn’t hit the mark, making mid-season adjustments in January almost unattainable.
These are issues our manager and board need to scrutinize thoroughly. Addressing recruitment problems while securing current talent is critical, and ensuring success in the upcoming summer transfer window is absolutely crucial. Honestly, no team can hope to secure a title without investing wisely in its attacking lineup—a step we’ve yet to take decisively under Arteta’s watch.
On another note, sorting out the position of Sporting Director ought to be a priority. Even if it’s not one person’s responsibility, entering a summer without that leadership, without a skilled negotiator, isn’t advisable. Whether promoting Jason Ayto or selecting an outsider, a swift resolution is needed because there’s a lot on the agenda that demands attention and efficiency. The right candidate remains to be seen, but the club seems to be vetting options through external consultants, so we’ll find out soon enough.
Despite the letdown this morning, we could find some solace in emulating Liverpool. Between our back-to-back title attempts, they sat 5th and then 3rd. Now, look at them. I always believed that narrowly missing success for two successive seasons might lead to a lull. The consistent high bar we set last season was always going to be elusive to maintain.
Sure, our transfer decisions made the journey trickier, yet setbacks don’t have to spell disaster if lessons are learned. There’s a lot for Arteta, his coaching team, and the club’s executives to reflect upon from the current season’s ups and downs—I’m confident we possess the skill and potential to bounce back stronger.
In the meantime, however, staying the course in the league and Champions League is essential. The scope of our summer task will hinge significantly on the weeks leading to May. Both players and management must keep their focus and spirits high, even if the title chase has all but concluded.
Let’s wrap this up for now. We’ll be bringing you an Arsecast Extra later today, however, it won’t be recorded until tonight. This afternoon, feel free to send us your questions via BlueSky @gunnerblog.bsky.social and @arseblog.com using #arsecastextra, or if you’re a supporter on Patreon, you can drop your questions in the #arsecast-extra-questions channel on our Discord server.
Have a wonderful day!
