After last season’s second place finish, Arsenal fans went into the 2016/17 campaign with a belief that they could better that and become champions for the first time since 2004. However, after a dismal league campaign, they missed out on a top-four finish and their fifth place means they will line up in the Europa League next season.
Arsenal ran out 3-1 winners against Everton in their final game of the season, but with Liverpool winning comfortably against Middlesbrough, they missed out on the top-four by a single point. They won their last five Premier League matches, but the damage was already done. A run of six fixtures from the 31st of January saw them pick up just 4 points and that win was a 2-0 win over now relegated Hull City.
Arsenal lost 9 matches this season, which is four more than sixth-placed Manchester United. They failed to beat Liverpool, losing the opening fixture 4-3 at home and going down 3-1 at Anfield. Had they managed to draw one of those fixtures, this fragile squad may have sneaked 4th place, however, it was not to be. Further losses against Chelsea, Manchester City, Watford and Crystal Palace suggest there is a huge amount of work to be done this summer.
Now, with rumours of Alexis Sanchez being unsettled and being linked to Champions League clubs, they may well have to find a replacement for their box-office signing and who contributed with 24 goals this season. Oliver Giroud managed just 12 goals from 29 starts and Daniel Welbeck was a huge disappointment with just 2 league goals in 26 appearances.
They will take their place in the FA Cup final this weekend against champions Chelsea and they will have their work cut out to take anything from this game. They did manage a win in September last year over the champions with goals from Alexis Sanchez, Theo Walcott and Mesut Ozil giving them a 3-0 win. They will need these players to be at the top of their game on Saturday to have any chance of lifting the FA Cup.
With Manchester United showing signs of a resurgence under Jose Mourinho, Manchester City threatening to spend big bucks in the close season and Chelsea looking more settled than ever, unless Arsenal get it right in the transfer market it may well be a long time before they are seen to be challenging for the title or even a top-four finish.
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