also, if we want to talk about challenging circumstances, i think its fair to go back and re-examine what wenger went through with the move to the emirates.
in the 06-07 season, the first at the emirates, we spent like £10m on 3 players (rosicky, song, denilson) and got gallas on a swap (sigh), and we lost bergkamp, pires, campbell, reyes, cole, and lauren. you can argue that pires and bergkamp were at the end of their careers so it doesnt matter, but they were huge figures at the club and leaders in the squad.
despite losing those big talents and leaders, and spending very little, and moving to a new stadium, we still managed 4th that season (level for 3rd on points, 4th on GD) and had a +28 goal differential. the next season we finished 3rd, despite a net profit of £18m in the market with henry going to barcelona.
arteta is just never to blame. its always the players fault, or the weather, or the referee, or the flight pattern of birds over the stadium, or something else. never arteta.
