Since that majestic ‘Invincibles’ season of 2003/04, Arsenal’s final league positions have been scattered between 2nd and 4th. Despite being the club’s most successful ever manager, Arsene Wenger has come under increasing fire from fans for failing to win a fourth Premier League title, with criticism coming to a head last season as plucky Leicester City defied the odds to become champions.
With just two FA Cup wins in the last decade, has Wenger lost his magic? Will the Gunners ever come top with him at the helm again?
Barren years
Despite boasting attacking talent like Thierry Henry, Robin Van Persie and Alexis Sanchez, and regularly playing arguably the most attractive football the league has seen, the North Londoner club has regularly come unstuck in the closing months of the season as mentally stronger, but more prosaic, teams have pipped them at the post.
The 2015/16 season was a prime example. Having failed to finish in the top two since 2005, the title was seemingly Arsenal’s to lose at the turn of the year, when they defeated relegation-bound Newcastle United to go top. But two defeats in four days at Manchester United and at home to Swansea ceded the advantage to Claudio Ranieri’s Leicester (who Arsenal beat home and away). Even with their customary late run of wins, the gap was too big to close, and Arsenal finished a distant runner-up.
The picture in 2016/17
Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester United and Manchester City all underperformed last season and it was widely accepted that Arsenal blew their best chance of winning the title for the first time in 12 years. This view was reinforced in August, as Arsenal lost 4-3 at home to Liverpool and drew at reigning champions Leicester to get the new campaign off to an ignominious start.
A three-month unbeaten run, however, got Arsenal back into contention and in mid-December they sat second in the league, behind Chelsea. However, the recent ‘curse’ was to strike again as the Gunners were beaten at Everton and Manchester City, leaving them faced with a tussle for a Champions League spot.
Many have commented that Arsenal appear to be made of sterner stuff this time round, with late winners home and away against Burnley and stoppage-time levellers at Manchester United and Bournemouth cited as proof, but are they too reliant on the mercurial Sanchez and Mesut Ozil, both of whom could be distracted over speculation about their future?
The contenders
Chelsea are the team to beat this season after putting themselves in a comfortable lead following a 13-game winning streak that followed a 3-0 loss at the Emirates and ended with a 2-0 loss at White Hart Lane.
Arsenal travel to Stamford Bridge at the beginning of February for what is surely a must-win game for the Gooners. The likes of Manchester City, Manchester United, Tottenham and Liverpool are breathing down their necks and they can’t afford to slip further away from the league leaders.
Other competitions
Away from the Premier League, Arsenal qualified for the knockout stages of the Champions League for the 17th consecutive year. Despite finishing top of a difficult league in the group stages, luck was not on Arsenal’s side when they were pitted against the German champions, Bayern Munich, in the round of 16. If recent history is anything to go by, hopes of progression is slim and this may prove to be yet another season when the Gunners fall at this hurdle.
There is greater hope in the FA Cup, but Arsenal face another tough test against Premier League opponents, Southampton, in the fourth round. The competition is still in the early stages and there are plenty of difficult Premier League teams remaining, including Chelsea, Manchester City and Manchester United and Tottenham. There will also be stiff competition from underdogs, notably Newcastle United who 888sport has argued are firm favourites to win the Championship this season.
Should Arsenal fail to bring a trophy home this season, the pressure will surely mount on Wenger to end his 21-year reign.