Arsenal will put their European heartbreak behind them as they travel to face champions Liverpool in the Premier League.
Thierry Henry has criticised Arsenal for failing to win a trophy for the fifth consecutive season amid a Champions League semi-final defeat to PSG.
Ian Wright has backed Mikel Arteta to be the man to lead Arsenal to a major trophy but frustrations are growing amongst supporters.
Bukayo Saka and William Saliba are among star players who may need convincing to sign new contracts this summer and Jamie Carragher has given Arteta a major piece of advice ahead of next season.
Jamie Carragher’s advice to Mikel Arteta
Writing in the Daily Telegraph, Carragher has shared his belief that Arteta must win a major trophy next season in order to keep his job at the Gunners.
The former Liverpool defender now pundit has also highlighted one major change that could help bring the title to the Emirates Stadium next season.
Carragher stated: “The reason Arsenal are granting rather than receiving a guard of honour on Sunday is because they are not the complete package. Out of possession they are the best side in the country, but they lack a creative spark with the ball.
“It is not as simple as saying ‘they need a prolific number nine’. Liverpool do not have such a player – neither do Paris St-Germain – even if Slot obviously has an outstanding goal scorer in Mohamed Salah.
“Liverpool and PSG still create lots of chances and score plenty. Arsenal have scored only one more league goal than Tottenham Hotspur. That is not going to win you a big trophy.
“It’s the area of the team Arteta will try to fix this summer, his targeting of midfielder Martin Zubimendi a signal that he wants to ease away from the reputation of being more defensively solid and add some of the swagger lost over the past 18 months.
“To say his next transfer window might be the last chance sounds extreme. Arteta has so much credit in the bank, it is fair and right there is more resistance to managerial change at Arsenal than desire for it.”
Arsenal will reap rewards by sticking with Mikel Arteta
Arteta has suffered injuries this season and whilst that cannot be an excuse, the club has been decimated in crucial areas of the pitch. At the beginning of the season midfield was stretched and in recent months it has been the attack.
A number of contentious decisions have gone against Arsenal this season, the latest in the semi-final in Paris where Mark Clattenburg disagreed with PSG’s penalty.
The Spaniard has taken this side from mid-table uncertainty to one of Europe’s most respected and feared sides – a major trophy is inevitable.
| Viktor Gyokeres Sporting Lisbon record this season | Appearances | Goals | Assists |
| Gyokeres | 49 | 52 | 12 |
There has been progression year upon year under Arteta and if Arsenal can land Viktor Gyokeres or another big name forward, those margins they have fallen short with can suddenly change.
Everybody at the club will be hurting over their failures this season however, a wounded animal is always dangerous and the Gunners and Arteta will be back firing next campaign.
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