Mikel Arteta delivered his emotional post-match speech of despair to Arsenal supporters, following a 1-0 victory over Newcastle United, summed up a season full of near-misses. “We had a dream to bring trophies to the club, but circumstances denied us the ability to do so,” he said, choking back fury. Finishing third for a third consecutive season in the Premier League and qualifying for the Champions League was reason to celebrate, but for Artetas Arsenal 2024-25 season ends without silverware felt like kicking a tired dog—especially for a club that is eager to end a 21-year title drought and feels it has the squad to be competitive in numerous competitions.
The weaknesses evident throughout the season were all too familiar, all akin to previous year’s performance. They were unable to finish chances clinically in the final third, shaky defensive moments, and injuries coming at uninhibited times. Artetas Arsenal finished with 53 goals (third in the league). But the key games exposed how they relied on Rice and Odegaard for creativity. Their 1-0 home defeat to West Ham in February, with the third fewest shots-on-target of the season, highlighted their familiar inadequacies going forward and their inconsistency in attack.
Another season without a trophy for Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal… pic.twitter.com/loUjILyZEG
Injuries exacerbated their inconsistencies overall too. Saka, Martinelli, and Saliba were key players who missed influential chunks of time. Arteta had to play Partey at right-back and Merino as a makeshift striker. Merino‘s red card in Arsenal’s 2-2 draw at Liverpool demonstrated how the squad was beginning to shred under pressure.
Despite the frustrations fans expressed over tactical whims and end-of-season fades, Arteta sought to stay the course with his project. “This group has hunger and quality. We’ve put something sustainable together,” he insisted. His passionate appeal for patience proved to be a hit with match-going supporters, who provided a round of applause after the team completed their lap of honour, despite a lack of prizes to show for it.
But on the Internet, the divisions were clear. Within fan spaces, Arteta was excoriated for his “constant messing” around with positional players. While others blamed injuries and refereeing decisions for the recent derailing of momentum after three long seasons. A 3-0 victory in the Champions League against Real Madrid in April had fans hopeful, but the subsequent semi-final dismissal by Paris Saint-Germain only cemented the perception of mental fragility and obsolescence.
After riding the peak of optimism, Arsenal’s fanbase found themselves with nothing but disillusionment. While some fans highlighted the team’s resilience as shown in comebacks against the likes Liverpool and Madrid to laud the journey forward, others described the missing piece being Arteta’s inability to move “a squad without a real striker” , after the manager had previously called for input from “upstairs” to “make sure the ones upstairs do what they have to do”.
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The Arsenal-Mikel Arteta treble is complete. pic.twitter.com/YwDabzCM27
Fans could see the upside: Arsenal remain undefeated by “Big Six” counterparts in two seasons. They have created a discernible tactical identity, yet with a reloaded Liverpool and Manchester City squad, patience was waning. “Next season, things will soon fathom in absolutes,” warned The Athletic.
Arteta’s call for a “killer instinct” coincides with reports of Arsenal wanting to sign Viktor Gyokeres from Sporting CP. They are also looking for midfield signings as well. Departures, with Kieran Tierney going back to Celtic being the most notable, could be sold to make way for proven finishers.
With financial fair play, the selling of fringe players or absentees such as Eddie Nketiah is expected. Fans want another ‘marquee’ signings to bolster Rice, Odegaard, and Saka. This trio remains central to the Arteta project.
The ownership and leadership group at Arsenal is entering a defining summer. Arteta did well talking about a “siege mentality.” Winning must not merely be a lofty ambition in the club’s youth academy. Moreover, other clubs that are simply rival clubs should not remain untouchable. Injuries and questionable refereeing decisions can muddy the narrative, but misses and deficiencies are clear, especially as they relate to attacking players, and squad depth.
For Arsenal as a club with stature, second place cannot be a sign of progress this season, but a stagnating position. As Arteta has pointedly stated: “We can’t promise any glory, but we are going to give our lives to try and achieve that.” The 2025-26 season may afford meaningful redemption, but redemption requires rectifying mistakes.
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