Factors that led to Arsenal ultimately falling short in race for silverware this season

National World - LocalTV

Arsenal once again pushed deep into the season with hopes of silverware, only to fall just short. Despite clear progress under Mikel Arteta, the campaign ended without a trophy—a frustrating pattern that the club is determined to break. We spoke to Jack Abela of LondonWorld to gauge the feeling around the club.

Transcript

00:00Now Arsenal once again push deep into the season with hopes of silverware, only to just fall short.

00:10Despite clear progress under Mikel Arteta, the campaign ended without a trophy,

00:15a frustrating pattern that the club is determined to break.

00:19The Gunners have built a strong foundation in recent years with a well-drilled system,

00:24tactical clarity and a squad that has competed consistently at the highest level.

00:30But fine margins continue to separate promise from prizes,

00:34and this summer presents a crucial window to find the solutions that can turn potential into success.

00:40Whether it's adding more depth, injecting extra creativity or sharpening their ability to navigate tight high-stakes matches,

00:48Arsenal know that subtle yet significant changes are needed.

00:54The objective now is not to just compete, but to finish the job.

00:58We caught up with Jacobella of London World to gauge the feeling around the club.

01:04He says there's belief in the project, but also a sense of urgency.

01:08With ambition high and lessons learned, all eyes are on how Arsenal move in the transfer window.

01:14So, Jack, let's have a bit of a season reflection.

01:21Let's start with the Champions League journey.

01:23Obviously, it was pretty incredible, really, and it sort of hit any burdens of the past journeys that they've had

01:30and that fell short in the Champions League.

01:32Where do you think, you know, Arsenal fans hold this Champions League journey?

01:35Obviously, it was so close to reaching another final.

01:39But, you know, at the end of the day, they have broken some, you know, curses that they've had as of late,

01:44over the last sort of 10 or so more years.

01:48To actually get as far as they did was still a fantastic achievement.

01:53What's the sort of emotions like at the Emirates?

01:55Is it mixed emotions?

01:56Is it maybe a bit of a missed opportunity?

01:58Or do they feel incredibly proud?

02:00Because PSG, you know, make no bones about it.

02:02They beat Liverpool.

02:03They're looking like the odds-on favourites to go and win it as well.

02:06They've probably been the best team in Europe throughout the entire season.

02:11Yeah, like you say, I think it's mixed.

02:13I think, obviously, it's the first semi-final that Arsenal got to in 20 years,

02:16which in itself is an achievement.

02:19If you look at, since Mikel Arteta's been at the club, you know,

02:22they finished eighth a couple of times.

02:24Then they got Champions League.

02:26They made the quarter-final last year, lost to Bayern Munich,

02:30made the semi-final this year.

02:32So, in terms of that, you could say it's progress.

02:34I mean, I was lucky enough to be at the game for that game against Real Madrid.

02:41And I think that 3-0 victory and the 2-1 at the Bernabeu as well

02:45will live long in the minds of Arsenal fans.

02:49And, you know, that in itself was an incredible performance,

02:52an incredible team display,

02:54and a kind of snapshot into what this team can do.

02:57And I think once the season ends and Arsenal fans can look back and reflect

03:01when maybe when emotions have simmered down,

03:04that Arsenal, you know, have made a semi-final of the Champions League.

03:07The club and the squad gave fans that special moment against Madrid.

03:12You know, that is a positive.

03:13However, you know, it was a chance to win some silverware.

03:15It's not every season you can get yourself into the semi-final.

03:19You know, teams like Man City and Liverpool, you know,

03:23big rivals for Arsenal, had been knocked out.

03:25We were the last English team in it,

03:26and it felt like it could be a season,

03:30despite our league form dropping off,

03:32where Arsenal could go and have a good crack at the Champions League.

03:35But I think where the disappointment really comes in

03:38is how the Premier League form has dropped off.

03:41And I think that it made the Champions League knockout

03:45a little bit more sour for Arsenal fans.

03:48Arsenal have just drawn too many games of football this season.

03:54And I think that comes down to not being lethal enough in goal.

03:59We've got one of the best defences in the Premier League.

04:01You know, that's pretty widely known.

04:05But we have not been clinical in front of goal.

04:08And it's led to, even when going ahead, dropping leads,

04:12especially at the Emirates, which has been really disappointment.

04:15You know, there's been a lot of games where Arsenal have taken the lead

04:17at the Emirates, and you want them to go on and, you know,

04:19look at what Liverpool do when they press and they, you know,

04:22keep going and score three or four.

04:24Arsenal haven't done that.

04:25They haven't had the capability to do it.

04:28Yeah, that would have played a part as well.

04:30There's been injuries to Saka and Nardegaard and Gabriel,

04:33the centre-back as well.

04:34So that has played a part.

04:35But really, I think the main thing is we've just drawn too many games

04:38and lacked that firepower up top,

04:40which maybe Arsenal will rectify in the summer window.

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