And Tribuna.com's editors Alex Baguzin, Evgeniy Kozhemiako and Aleksei Blokhin answered 5 questions about the Gunners' worst season in 26 years. You can read their answers below.
What are your thoughts about this campaign?
🔴 Alex Baguzin
It's been an underwhelming season alright. There was a sense Arsenal could kick on from a more or less solid defensive foundation Arteta laid down last season - but we never really did that. Arsenal struggled at the other end of the pitch all season.
Finishing outside Europa League places is not good enough, losing to Villarreal in a spineless fashion is not good enough and the way we surrendered the FA Cup early on is not good enough. The only silver lining is that without European football we might have a better chance of cracking top-4 next season.
🔴 Evgeniy Kozhemiako
This was an awful season, the one to forget. No two ways about it. Finishing eights in the second consecutive season is a telling fact. On top of that, we lost the crucial battle of the season to the coach who was sacked by Arsenal for poor results prior to Arteta's appointment. For me, it was an ultimate embarrassment.
🔴 Aleksei Blokhin
It's startling to think that I was a toddler the last time Arsenal failed to qualify for continental competitions.
So I'd like to forget most of this season. The team made us dream again with the FA Cup and the Community Shield wins, and to have these dreams crushed this way...
We Arsenal fans are now used to defeats and disappointment but this season is the lowest point for me since I started supporting this football club.
Who is the biggest flop of the season bar Willian?
🔴 Alex Baguzin
It has to be Aubameyang. One of the highest earners, tied down to a new contract, captain of the club: much was expected of him. In the end he scored just 10 league goals, 3 fewer than Alex Lacazette, despite ample playtime.
Auba of course has been hit with malaria and went through a tough period of tending to his ill mother, but he still never reached the heights expected of him. There's a case to be made the team functions better without him and the skipper could not be found anywhere for post-match interviews after tough games.
🔴 Evgeniy Kozhemiako
Auba. He looked a shadow of himself from previous campaigns. He went missing in way too many games. It's absolutely unacceptable for a team leader who dons the captain's armband.
We finished just 4 points behind the fourth-placed Chelsea and if Auba had scored 20 plus goals, we would've probably made the top four.
🔴 Aleksei Blokhin
It could be a bit harsh but Partey is the biggest disappointment for me. When he arrived, it felt as if it was a signing that could take Arsenal to a new level.
We bought him at his peak age for £45m after spending many years tracking him—this kind of 'marquee signing' is expected to instantly deliver, not to take a season to adapt to the intensity of the Premier League.
I understand it's not his fault he was injured, but he has not really impressed me when fit. I support him and hope he steps up next season but so far he hasn't lived up to the expectations.
What is the biggest positive you can take from the season?
🔴 Alex Baguzin
The youngsters, Emile Smith Rowe and Bukayo Saka. Kieran Tierney has also been exemplary. The trio carried the team for large chunks of the season and their importance was instantly obvious when they were absent for one reason or another.
The Gunners have to build around their younger players next season, no doubt about that. Balogun and Nelson should be in the conversation, Saliba and Gabriel without any doubt too. Their importance rises further still when you consider we won't be able to attract top talent due to lack of European football next campaign - most likely.
🔴 Evgeniy Kozhemiako
It's hard to talk about positives after a dire season like this. I would mention our youngsters' performances. In the middle of the season, when Arsenal had an awful winless run, the introduction of ESR totally changed our fortunes. Saka put in an outstanding season. Martinelli deserves lots of credit for his efforts and commitment on the pitch.
All in all, it looks like we have a core of players to build the team around for the future.
🔴 Aleksei Blokhin
The emergence of Emile Smith Rowe, who looks like a generational player, and the fact that Arsenal have one of the best defences in the league.
What Arsenal should do to reach top 4 next season?
🔴 Alex Baguzin
One thing we need are reinforcements in the summer. A first-choice right-back, backup to the injury-prone Kieran Tierney and at least one quality central midfielder. There are 2-3 starting spots up for grabs that cry out for an injection of quality.
Another factor I feel will be Arteta's desire to work with what he has and be more aware of the tools at his disposal rather than stick to the ideal vision of what he wants the team to be. In other words, he'll have to stop being so stubborn and arrogant.
🔴 Evgeniy Kozhemiako
We need a massive transfer campaign: sign top-class players and be ruthless in getting rid of deadwood. Unless Kroenke opens his wallet and spends big, we are likely to finish around the top 6 again next season.
We need to strengthen our central midfield (at least 2 new additions), sign an attacking midfielder, new full-backs for both wings, probably a new centre-back.
We don't need to be sentimental. For example, Xhaka and Elneny both had a decent season by their standard. However, if we can raise cash on them in the market and bring in an upgrade, we should not hesitate and put them on sale.
The same principle applies to every other department. The only category of players that should be untouchable is kids (Saka, ESR, Martinelli) who have proved their worth.
🔴 Aleksei Blokhin
I'd love to see us snap up a good creative midfielder (Odegaard looks like the best option to me but I'm not sure he is available) but I don't think Arsenal's problems can be solved through transfers.
The main issue we've had in recent years is psychological: the team spirit switches off in critical moments (see the Villarreal game). I read somewhere that when Real Madrid and Barca nearly caught them up in La Liga this season, Diego Simeone told everyone at Atletico to greet each other with the words 'We are going to win the league' instead of 'good morning'. And they won it.
It sounds silly and somewhat cringe but the culture needs to be changed at Arsenal. I don't know how it's done though!
Do you still have faith in Arteta?
🔴 Alex Baguzin
I like most of his personal qualities (wits, passion for Arsenal, determination) and I think we might look at him not getting the sack after EL elimination or the dreadful November-December period as the kind of 'Alex Ferguson in 1990' moment - some time down the road.
That being said, he should be judged by results and not some grand hypothetical future he can build. Results warranted his sacking multiple times this season and if we are not fighting for top-4 by Christmas, Mikel will need to acknowledge his part in it - and leave.
🔴 Evgeniy Kozhemiako
Not as much as I had when we won the FA Cup. I still feel that he has the qualities to become a top manager but we need results now and not in the remote future.
The next campaign will be a moment of truth for him. If he's backed in the transfer market, gets the players he wants and doesn't make the top four next season, we need to say goodbye to him and hire a manager with a proven record.
🔴 Aleksei Blokhin
No, I don't really. Mikel has done a lot of good things but I don't like dictatorial managers, and Arteta appears to be one.
I just don't see the point of treating Guendouzi, Ozil or Saliba the way they were treated; not only as a fan but as a human being.
The Villarreal loss was a boiling point for me. So much has been said about instilling the right mentality and non-negotiables yet Arsenal looked disinterested and apathetic for the large part of these 180 minutes.
I'd love Arteta to turn this around and I hope he learns from his mistakes but at this point, after this dreadful season, I no longer believe in him.
What do you think about this season? How would you answer these 5 questions?
