Now Mikel Arteta has reshaped Arsenal and brought them close to the summit—but close hasn’t been enough. The frustration is growing, not because of failure, but because of near-misses.
We asked Jack Abela of LondonWorld to gauge the mood around Arsenal, where the wait for silverware under Mikel Arteta continues to test the patience of a passionate fanbase.
We asked Jack Abela of LondonWorld to gauge the mood around Arsenal, where the wait for silverware under Mikel Arteta continues to test the patience of a passionate fanbase.
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00:00Now, Mikel Arteta has reshaped Arsenal and brought them close to the summit, but close hasn't been enough.
00:09The frustration is growing not because of failure, but because of near-misses.
00:14Despite a strong style of play and a clear identity, the club remains without a major trophy since 2020.
00:20With rivals collecting silverware and expectations rising each season, Arsenal fans are wondering how much longer they must wait.
00:28This summer may prove pivotal, not just for transfers, but for determining whether Arteta's project is one that still inspires full faith.
00:38We asked Jacobella of London World to gauge the mood around Arsenal, where the wait for silverware under Mikel Arteta continues to test the patience of a passionate fan base.
00:51So, Jacobella, let's have a bit of a season reflection. Let's start with the Champions League journey.
00:57Obviously, it was pretty incredible, really, and it sort of hit any burdens of the past journeys that they've had and they fell short in the Champions League.
01:06Where do you think, you know, Arsenal fans hold this Champions League journey?
01:09Obviously, it was so close to reaching another final.
01:13But, you know, at the end of the day, they have broken some, you know, curses that they've had as of late over the last sort of 10 or so more years.
01:21To actually get as far as they did was still a fantastic achievement.
01:27What's the sort of emotions like at the Emirates? Is it mixed emotions?
01:30Is it maybe a bit of a missed opportunity?
01:32Or do they feel incredibly proud?
01:34Because PSG, you know, make no bones about it.
01:36They beat Liverpool.
01:37They're looking like the odds-on favourites to go and win it as well.
01:41They've probably been the best team in Europe throughout the entire season.
01:44Yeah, like I said, I think it's mixed.
01:48I think, obviously, it's the first semi-final that Arsenal got to in 20 years, which in itself is an achievement.
01:54If you look at, since Mikel Arteta's been at the club, you know, they finished eighth a couple of times.
01:59Then they got Champions League.
02:02They made the quarterfinal last year, lost to Bayern Munich, made the semi-final this year.
02:07So, in terms of that, you could say it's progress.
02:10I mean, I was lucky enough to be at the game for that, for the game against Real Madrid.
02:16And I think that 3-0 victory and the 2-1 at the Bernabeu as well will live long in the minds of Arsenal fans.
02:24And, you know, that in itself was an incredible performance, an incredible team display and a kind of snapshot into what this team can do.
02:33And I think once the season ends and Arsenal fans can look back and reflect when maybe when emotions have simmered down, that Arsenal, you know, have made a semi-final of the Champions League.
02:43The club and the squad gave fans that special moment against Madrid.
02:47You know, that is a positive.
02:48However, you know, it was a chance to win some silverware.
02:51It's not every season you can get yourself into the semi-final.
02:54You know, teams like Man City and Liverpool, you know, big rivals for Arsenal had been knocked out.
03:00We were the last English team in it and it felt like it could be a season, despite our league form dropping off, where Arsenal could go and have a good crack at the Champions League.
03:11But I think where the disappointment really comes in is how the Premier League form has dropped off.
03:17And I think that it made the Champions League knockout a little bit more sour for Arsenal fans.
03:23Arsenal have just drawn too many games of football this season.
03:29And I think that comes down to not being lethal enough in goal.
03:35We've got one of the best defences in the Premier League.
03:37You know, that's pretty widely known.
03:40But we have not been clinical in front of goal.
03:43And it's led to, even when going ahead, dropping leads, especially at the Emirates, which has been really disappointment.
03:50You know, there's been a lot of games where Arsenal have taken the lead at the Emirates and you want them to go on and, you know, look at what Liverpool do when they press and they, you know, keep going and score three or four.
03:59Arsenal haven't done that.
04:01They haven't had the capability to do it.
04:03But the narrative in the media now as well, which is only going to continue, is how long can Arsenal go without a trophy before Mikel Arteta is deemed a failed manager?
04:16I don't think that's a strong sense within the Arsenal fan base, to be honest.
04:19But that narrative will grow.
04:22And, you know, football, we're at an elite level with Arsenal and, you know, those questions should be asked at some point.
04:29So it will be interesting to see how it develops for sure.
04:33But, yeah, as you say, if Arsenal had the form they had last season, yeah, they'd definitely be with a shout.
04:40But I think that mental and physical fatigue has just caught up within this campaign.