The team has been firmly established in the Premier League for quite some time. They made their way from the Championship to the Europa League, where they played until the playoffs. However, their results deteriorated, and only a successful bet on Lopetegui saved them from relegation last season. Then, under Julien, who took over the team at the end of autumn, they managed to accumulate enough points to easily maintain their status. However, there were significant losses in the summer – the project’s owners sold key players without much bargaining. As a result, the coach decided to resign, initiating the termination of his contract just a few days before the start of the new season. Fortunately, they managed to choose the right new coach again. Gary O’Neil, who came from a ship to the ball, debuted immediately in the first round of the new Premier League. Understandably, he had to spend time getting acquainted with his new wards and their capabilities, as well as adjusting. But by the end of winter, it became clear that they were not in danger of relegation to the Championship. As a result, it seems that motivation is lost now, and draws with modest Burnley and Nottingham Forest are followed by defeats against stronger opponents.
The club is having a very good season, but much of the effort has been negated by recent matches. Overall, the Gunners have shown that their second-place leap in the previous Premier League was not a one-time lucky exception but rather a step to a new, qualitatively higher level. Returning to the Champions League did not hurt either – on the contrary, they managed to win their group and advance to the playoffs, beating Porto on penalties. Meanwhile, they managed to stay at the top of the Premier League by spring. But what Mikel Arteta could not completely overcome is the constant decline that hits in April. This time, first, Zinchenko and company lost 0-2 to Aston Villa – Unai Emery “sent his regards” to his former wards. And in the Champions League, after a draw in the first home quarter-final with Bayern, they failed to respond to Kimmich’s goal away and were eliminated.
