Arsenal, Mikel Arteta (Photo by Neil Hall/Pool via Getty Images)
Arsenal’s season came to an end in eighth place, so here are three things that need to happen next year to see improvement.
Arsenal has brought the curtain down or what can only be described as a dreadful season. We still have a chance of salvaging something next week in the FA Cup final against Chelsea, but even if we do win I certainly won’t be looking upon this season fondly.
In fact, I think it would be best if we could scrub it from memory.
Hopefully, we can now move forward and look to a brighter future under Mikel Arteta, but right now that is a massive ask and in order for us to be a force again certain things need to happen next season,
Here are 3 of them, starting with No. 3.
3. Nicholas Pepe needs a big second season.
At this point, I think it’s a little harsh to label Pepe an expensive flop, but he’s certainly not been worth the £72m we paid. For the most part, Nicholas Pepe has been very, very average.
He has shown in small doses what he is capable of, however, these have been few and far between. Perhaps the most telling statement of the season is what Mikel Arteta said shortly before the lockdown—”I need to teach Pepe to be a winger,” he said.
He must be having difficulty because Pepe is still struggling. He has trouble beating his man frequently and he never seems to make the penetrative runs he became known for at Lille.
Next season is a massive one for Pepe because if it continues in the same vein as this one, he will be rightfully labelled a waste of money. Mikel Arteta needs to find the right role for him and hopefully, we will see the player we all thought we had signed.
On to No. 2.
Arsenal has brought the curtain down or what can only be described as a dreadful season. We still have a chance of salvaging something next week in the FA Cup final against Chelsea, but even if we do win I certainly won’t be looking upon this season fondly.</p>
<p style="text-align: left">In fact, I think it would be best if we could scrub it from memory.</p>
<p style="text-align: left">Hopefully, we can now move forward and look to a brighter future under <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/26/arsenal-3-things-happen/"https://fbref.com/en/players/d934d1e6/Mikel-Arteta?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-%22 target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Mikel Arteta</a>, but right now that is a massive ask and in order for us to be a force again certain things need to happen next season,</p>
<div class="fs-shortcode" data-type="StoryLink" data-theme="light" data-text="Player Ratings vs Watford" data-url="https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/26/arsenal-watford-player-ratings/" data-call-to-action="Related Story"> <div class="story-link-related"> <a class="story-link-related-btn" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="story-link-related-shortcode" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/26/arsenal-3-things-happen/"https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/26/arsenal-watford-player-ratings/"> <span class="call_to_action">Related Story:</span> Player Ratings vs Watford </a> </div>
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<p style="text-align: left">Here are 3 of them, starting with No. 3.</p>
<h4 style="text-align: left"><strong>3. Nicholas</strong> <strong>Pepe needs a big second</strong> <strong>season.</strong></h4>
<p>At this point, I think it’s a little harsh to label Pepe an expensive flop, but he’s certainly not been worth the £72m we paid. For the most part, Nicholas Pepe has been very, very average.</p>
<p>He has shown in small doses what he is capable of, however, these have been few and far between. Perhaps the most telling statement of the season is what Mikel Arteta said shortly before the lockdown—”I need to teach Pepe to be a winger,” he said.</p>
<p>He must be having difficulty because Pepe is still struggling. He has trouble beating his man frequently and he never seems to make the penetrative runs he became known for at Lille.</p>
<p>Next season is a massive one for Pepe because if it continues in the same vein as this one, he will be rightfully labelled a waste of money. Mikel Arteta needs to find the right role for him and hopefully, we will see the player we all thought we had signed.</p>
<p>On to No. 2.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #c01f2f" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/26/arsenal-3-things-happen/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> 2. Big picture </a>
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<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-102597" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/26/arsenal-3-things-happen/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1962,w_3200/https%3A%2F%2Fpaininthearsenal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1222900351.jpeg" alt="Arsenal, Mikel Arteta" width="3200" height="1962" srcset="https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1222900351.jpeg 3200w, https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1222900351-768x471.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><p class="wp-caption-text">Arsenal, Mikel Arteta (Photo by ANDREW MATTHEWS/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)</p>
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<h4><strong>2. It’s</strong> <strong>a</strong> <strong>90-minute game, not 45</strong></h4>
<p>A common problem we have had this season is where we have shown a lack of competitiveness over a full 90 minutes. I genuinely can’t remember watching a game where we have been on the front foot for the majority of the game.</p>
<p>It is why we have dropped 15 points from winning positions under Mikel Arteta, and even before that we struggled under Unai Emery when we couldn’t see a game out.</p>
<p>I think it’s way beyond a fitness issue and more of a mentality or even an ability problem. If we are being honest, if it wasn’t for our two goalkeepers that stat would have been a lot worse.</p>
<p>In many of our games, its been like watching two different teams. It’s something that Mikel Arteta needs to address as a top priority in the break, and its something that could be easily resolved by bringing in a better quality of player and getting rid of the few players who aren’t up to it. One thing is for certain though, and that is the margin for error between the top teams next season will be very small and consistency will be vital.</p>
<p>Lastly, No. 1.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #c01f2f" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/26/arsenal-3-things-happen/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> 1. The big one </a>
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<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-104039" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/26/arsenal-3-things-happen/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2134,w_3200/https%3A%2F%2Fpaininthearsenal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2020%2F07%2F1259076864-1.jpeg" alt="Arsenal, Dani Ceballos" width="3200" height="2134" srcset="https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2020/07/1259076864-1.jpeg 3200w, https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2020/07/1259076864-1-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><p class="wp-caption-text">Arsenal, Dani Ceballos (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)</p>
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<h4><strong>1. More</strong> <strong>creativity needed, please </strong></h4>
<p>It was recently announced that we placed 17th in the table for chances created this season. When we have an attack of Lacazette, Pepe, Ozil, and Aubameyang amongst others, that stat is simply ridiculous.</p>
<p>I have said before that our creative options in the middle have been declining over the last couple of years and we really have been found out this season.</p>
<p>For the last few weeks, we have been relying on our defence to see out games because we don’t have the players to link the midfield and attack. What’s worse is that <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/26/arsenal-3-things-happen/"https://fbref.com/en/players/16380240/Mesut-Ozil?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-%22 target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Mesut Ozil</a> has been our most creative player this season and he has hardly played.</p>
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<p>It accentuates the need to freshen up that area over the next few weeks. We need to be looking at midfield options who can play that role and be that creative spark next season. A midfield three of Xhaka, Ceballos and Torreira hardly gets an opposition’s defence shaking.</p><!—pageview_candidate—>">
