There are two possible routes for Arsenal to achieve European football next season. The first is by clinching 5th place in the league – 4th place is surely beyond the ambitions of most fans, even if Mikel Arteta has turned the team’s league form around, or by winning the FA Cup. Neither are beyond this Arsenal team of course.
However, a tough FA Cup quarter-final draw away to Sheffield United, and some daunting remaining fixtures– City, Liverpool, Spurs, Wolves, Leicester – make it a difficult ask once Project Restart gets the green light. Of course, there is also the possibility, albeit a small one, that the season is cancelled outright.
Such a scenario would leave Arsenal without any European football for the first time since the 1995/96 season. The Gunners finished 12th the season beforehand and lost out in the Cup Winners’ Cup Final to Real Zaragoza (yeah, that Nayim goal). So, that’s the prospect in place right now, and it would be interesting to hear how Arsenal fans feel about it.
Is Europa League a “distraction”?
We are often given a narrative that not having European football, certainly Europa League football, is a good thing. A fan might say, “we can concentrate on the league”, “let’s focus on getting back into the Top 4”, and “we won’t have distractions” – that type of thing. There is arguably some truth to this, but it’s a metric that is very difficult to measure. Would you stick your neck out and say that Arsenal’s league position would be improved this season had they not played Europa League football? You couldn’t do it with real conviction.
The main area to look at when extolling the virtues of a season without European football is to view the win/loss record after a Europa League game. If you look at Arsenal, tiredness after a long trip back from Eastern Europe, or a lack of recovery time. Of course, this is also not a perfect methodology as who’s to say that the results would be different if no football were played the Thursday before. Indeed, if you look at the 2019 Europa League campaign, you’ll see that Arsenal flourished in post-Europa League domestic games under Unai Emery, especially during the knockout stages.
Young players given a chance.
Arsenal managers, of course, have been keen to use the Europa League as a means of blooding young players. Joe Willock, Bukayo Saka and Emile Smith Rowe are among those given the chance to shine under Emery in Europe earlier this season. It’s just not Arsenal either as clubs like Manchester United have the Europa League to thank for the emergence of players like Mason Greenwood, Scott McTominay, even Marcus Rashford. The England man was ‘unearthed’ at a Europa League game, and by all accounts, it was a happy accident.
But looming above everything else is the fact that the Europa League represents a chance for a club to return to the Champions League. Yes, we can argue that lessens the prestige of the competition, but it’s the reality. Nuno Espirito Santo and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will both be thinking about that, and Mikel Arteta would have also had that on his mind before the Gunners’ exit at the hands of Olympiakos.
That Champions League carrot should be the trump card in any debate on the merits of Europa League football. Saying “we’ll concentrate on the Top 4” is one thing, achieving it is quite another. Leicester and Wolves have shaken the foundations of the so-called ‘Big 6’. Everton too will have lofty ambitions under Carlo Ancelotti. If six into four was a difficult equation to solve, then nine into four looks much more daunting.
So, if you believe not having Europa League football is a good thing as Arsenal can concentrate on the Premier League, perhaps it’s wishful thinking.
Hi Rico and All I don’t think it is a distraction,
All players want to play for the big trophies, that’s part of the reason why they leave,
Although winning the premiership would be great we need to qualify for The Europa League to help raise our bank account and attract top players and the club.
Although I like watching the FA cup I would say that is more of a distraction
Morning all.
We’d all prefer to be in Europe, and the “no distraction” call is searching and stretching for a positive, imo.
Hi Geoff. I think it’s a hindrance because of the way it’s setup. The Thursday and Sunday fixtures are a pain.
Scott, I didn’t write this one. 😆
All the cups are great imo because we get to see the younger players and they get to play on the big stage which must be pretty special for them.
Hi Rico,
I wasn’t criticising, just kind of defending those who take that approach.
Sometimes it’s damn hard to find a positive 🙂
Arsenal is a Club with History, London’s main “flag” in football, a reference in English football.
His place is in Europe every year, if possible in the Champions League (in his own right).
For the Championship and internal Cups it should always be a candidate, as a favorite. Like Barcelona, Bayern or Ajax in their respective countries, and not like Valladolid, Paderborn or Groningen, with all the respect they deserve.
Good day all, there is one further scenario which would see us into the Europa League, should the season be declared over and the final positions awarded on the basis of points gained from games played, then we will finish above Spurs and with Man City banned we will take the final EL place.
I knew Scott, just saying. lol
The WSL and Championship has ended for the season.
Here’s a puzzle for you, which letter is silent in the word “Scent”? The “s” or the “c”.
It’s the ‘c’ it’s silent but deadly, if you catch my drift🤧
New post up now