A mixed bag. Late arrival to assist Arsenal?

Morning all.

This season has been mixed. Some really good performances mixed in amongst a number or really awful performances. Odd team selections matched by far too many individual and collective errors. We’ve played really well against the top six sides, City and Liverpool away aside but we’ve also embarrassed ourselves against Palace, Everton, Wolves and Leicester.

There’s been positives for certain individuals though. Welbeck looked in great form before injury cut his season short. Same with Bellerin and Holding. All three being fit would have definitely made us stronger, as would Torreira and Sokratis not picking up unnecessary red cards, or a ban for too many bookings. The Ozil and Ramsey saga didn’t help either. The Mustafi and Xhaka penalty area blunders alone cost us a top four spot, but laying the blame entirely on them would be cruel because up the other end of the pitch, Aubameyang, Lacazette, Ozil, Iwobi, Mkhitaryan and co, were missing golden opportunities to score goals.

Question marks remain over whether or not Unai Emery has what it takes to improve us to the level required to really make a challenge for a league title. I did say challenge as competing with City’s finances is virtually impossible but it doesn’t mean we can’t match them tactically and it doesn’t mean we can’t be as organised or as quick either. This summer Emery has to inject some pace into his squad, either by bringing players in or promoting from within. We need speed, width and quality. With Ramsey gone, our midfield needs an injection of pace too, and creatively and lastly, the team/squad as a group simply have to be more organised defensively. If Emery doesn’t greatly improve the latter, they’ll be no third season for him surely. I’d go as far as to say he’ll struggle to see out a second.

For now though, he has who he has at his disposal and there’s a chance of ending the season on a high. The Europa Cup is Emery’s baby, It’s what he’s built his reputation on. It’s probably why Arsenal employed him, believing it’s our best chance of returning to the Champions League. Arsenal have been in Baku for a few days now, training and preparing for this final. Chelsea however didn’t land until yesterday.

Tomorrow is a big day, for this season, the summer and of course, our future.

See you in the comments guys…