Arsenal’s 2024/25 campaign has come to an end, with another season of going close, yet so far, from landing silverware.
The Gunners had aimed to win the Premier League this year, having finished second behind Manchester City in successive seasons.
Mikel Arteta got the team close, and it only seemed a matter of time before the title would head to the Emirates Stadium.
Arsenal have been forced to wait yet again, though, with a mixture of injuries, suspensions and poor performances costing the team at key moments.
It means another second-placed finish for the North London side, a third in a row, which has only happened one other time.
Coincidentally, that was also Arsenal under Arsene Wenger, who responded to those setbacks in fine fashion.
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Arsene Wenger won Arsenal the Premier League after three successive second-placed finishes
Mikel Arteta has had some challenges in his time as Arsenal boss, but he has done a good job of progressing the side in almost every season he has taken charge of.
While the challenge of this season has seen a backward step for the Gunners, the Spaniard isn’t the only one to suffer the fact of three consecutive second-placed finishes in the Premier League.
Arsenal legend Arsene Wenger managed just that, finishing second in the 1998-1999, 1999-2000 and 2000-2001 campaigns.
What happened in the season after in the 2001-2002 season is something that fans will never forget.
Arsenal went on to win the Premier League at the fourth time of asking, finishing seven points clear of Liverpool in second and ten points ahead of Manchester United in third.
In the years that followed, Arsenal finished second again, before the famous Invincibles season of 2003-2004.
That was the last time the club won the title, something they’re looking to replicate in the 2025/26 season.
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What Mikel Arteta has said about the 2025/26 season at Arsenal
With Arteta now looking to replicate Wenger to win the Premier League after three seasons of finishing second, the 2025/26 season is set up nicely for Arsenal.
The Arsenal boss has revealed his excitement for the coming challenge, telling the press before the match with Southampton: “I am excited, but now I need to rest a little bit, to calm down and to start to make certain decisions in the most efficient way with the right timing to make sure that I can rest.
“A big part of the rest is when you start to see things are happening and happening in the right timing and in the right direction.”
Another big part of it will surround the recruitment that Arsenal manage to conduct over the summer transfer window.
With some fresh recruits coming in to strengthen the side, the Gunners are looking at making next year their year.
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