Arsenal: The Same Old Cycle
By Nick, Sports Editor
18 years ago, if you asked someone to name the three best premier league sides, you would probably get a response like Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal. Since then, both United and Chelsea have remained impressive, with nine and four Premier League titles respectively and three Champions Leagues between them since then.
Arsenal on the other hand, have perhaps unfulfilled expectations in the 21st Century, with just nine trophies in 17 years. Arsenal have also been criticised for never actually trying to win the Premier League, just to finish in a top-four spot for Champions League, which they have also fell short in.
So what has caused this?
Perhaps, we could blame money. Arsenal have not been known to take risks, especially not in the last 10 years, for a greater prize than just top-four. It is common football knowledge that finishing in the top-four of the Premier League has massive financial benefits and the board at Arsenal may just see the financial benefits and not taking a risk for a greater prize.
Furthermore, Arsenal’s form in Europe has been disappointing as well. Never winning and not getting past the Round of 16 for the last seven years for a club at Arsenal’s level is a bad record, but one that Arsenal fans have begun to get used to with some just accepting that “that’s just Arsenal”.
So what about Wenger?
Wenger has been under extreme criticism in recent seasons, usually seeming strong until the month of November, which is usually Arsenal’s “bad month” and then tend to just slip up and finish around 3rd or 4th.
For Arsenal to improve and to return to the best of the best in top-flight English football, something has to change. Whether it is a change in tactics or in management or if a new, exciting player needs to arrive at The Emirates remains to be seen, but something has to change. Otherwise it could mean Arsenal could just stay in the same old cycle for the foreseeable future, or it could be the first stage in a downwards spiral.