Saturday’s defeat to Chelsea all but ended Arsenal’s hopes of a first Premier League title in over a decade as Arsene Wenger, surrounded by Chelsea fans, watched on helplessly from the stands.
Although there was widespread anger from the Gunners support, via the evermore divisive medium of Arsenal Fan TV, for their French manager to call it a day, those that are calling for his head should take a step back.
Whilst, of course, it is not as simple as many fans outside The Emirates claim when they lambast Gunners fans for moaning about finishing in the Champions League places year-on-year, some perspective needs to be taken.
Considering the shear amount of investment from clubs this season, not only on the pitch but in the hotseat, with the arrivals of messrs Mourinho, Guardiola and Conte at Manchester United, Manchester City and Chelsea, respectively, a title was never going to be an easy job this term.
The Premier League title is a realistic target for Wenger, however, it is not something that can be expected, and should not define a season.
The Gunners are still in with a shot at a double of sorts this term, with the FA Cup and Champions League still on the table.
The latter may be a big ask, however, get past Bayern Munich and the side from north London will feel they can go all the way.
Furthermore, considering that the Gunners have not been past the round of 16 in Europe’s top club competition for six years, a run to the semi-finals would be a crowd pleaser and could appease many a fan.
The FA Cup has, undoubtedly lost it’s shine somewhat in recent years, with the prize on offer for Premier League successes far outweighing those on offer for winning the cup.
However, regardless of the size of the club, a day out at Wembley means a lot to the fans and, while it is not the priority for the supporters at The Emirates, it would be another trophy to celebrate.
Combine the two, a run in the Champions League and a third FA Cup in four years, and it would be hard for many fans to claim that the season had not been a fruitful one, as long as Wenger’s side maintain the form to stay in the top four.
Wenger made bold claims at the start of the season surrounding the maturity and readiness of his squad to mount a Premier League title challenge. However, what he could not have predicted was the effect Antonio Conte would have had on runaway leaders, Chelsea, who have taken full advantage of their lack of European football.
The claims that the Frenchman made may have not followed through, many have accused his side of lacking bottle or the correct mentality needed to come through the array of tests faced on the way to being crowned champions.
Looking at the bigger picture, a run in Europe in the second half of the season, coupled with another FA Cup triumph can go a long way to imposing a winning mentality on the squad, something which could give support to Wenger’s claims come next season. If you fancy betting on Arsenal’s chances in either the FA Cup or the Champions League you can check out the range of betting sites to sign up to and place your wagers where you get the best value.
The title race may be out of the picture, but this season is far from a failure yet.