Arsenal’s failed bid to win this season’s Premier League title has come down to a mixture of factors throughout a long campaign.
Mikel Arteta has been dealt a difficult hand as injuries have hit the Gunners hard, alongside referee decisions at key moments.
Beyond that, an assessment of Arsenal’s performance as a whole needs to be taken into account too, with some sub-par displays at pivotal times.
Despite all of that, the Arsenal boss has come under fire at some points in the season for apparent excuses for not winning the Premier League.
Arteta may well be justified for his concerns, particularly surrounding injuries, following on from a previous claim made by Jurgen Klopp.
Jurgen Klopp’s previous claim about Liverpool injuries explains Arsenal’s Premier League predicament
Arsenal’s injuries have been a talking point for much of the season, with issues for players across the whole team.
A mixture of long-term concerns for key stars alongside plenty of short-term problems elsewhere have left the side light in areas.
“I was very shocked just before the game against PSG at home because I was walking into the dressing room and suddenly I saw all of them sitting together,” Mikel Arteta said, realising the state of the injury crisis at hand.
“It was [Takehiro] Tomiyasu, next to him [Riccardo] Calafiori, next to him Gabriel, next to him Thomas Partey, next to him Kai Havertz, next to him Gabriel Jesus, next to him Jorginho. I said, that’s a starting line-up. And we don’t have them.”
Arteta has come under fire for using injuries as an excuse, but former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp said similar about his own team’s struggles back in 2021.
“With our injuries it was not the year to become champions,” the German head coach explained.
“No chance – for nobody. As good as they are, if [Manchester] City have their three centre-halves out, no [they don’t win the league]. Three centre-halves of [Manchester] United, no.
“We have fought back a bit, accepted the difficulties and made the best of it, and if we win on Sunday, and if we qualify for the Champions League, then we made the best of it. That is it.”
With Liverpool going on to gain Champions League qualification that season, the Reds made the most of a difficult situation.
Arsenal, facing similar struggles through periods of the current season, have been criticised for their displays but have still finished second and will look to bolster further in the coming transfer window.
Arsenal given chance to address problems in summer transfer window
As Arsenal close in on the final game of the Premier League season, the owners and hierarchy will start dissecting what went right and wrong for the side.
While there may be some luck involved, or a lack of it, when it comes to injuries and officiating, some changes may follow in the market to stop luck being as big of a factor.
The summer transfer window offers a chance to bolster in key areas, such as up front, where a striker and a winger are on the cards.
Further support in midfield is being addressed, with Arsenal signing Martin Zubimendi from Real Sociedad.
Depth in all of those areas could help alleviate the problems Arsenal have, with rivals Liverpool having a mixture of depth across the attacking areas in particular.
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