Lots of talk on social media about whether top4 is a realistic target or if it would be a case of over-achievement with top6 being the more realistic target. I'm very much of the opinion that top4 should have been the target from the outset and not top6, and that our inaction to resolve the issues in midfield OR attack are detrimental to our opportunity to do so.
A couple of points stand out from this article
https://gunnerstown.com/arsenal/2022/02/17/arsenal-top-four-finish-ahead-of-schedule-or-overachieving-expectation-burns/
"Quite simply, Champions League positions should be the minimum expectation for a club the size of Arsenal, in any given season. Arsene Wenger worked his fingers to the bone to create this legacy. He was ultimately derided for “top 4 is not a trophy,” and his failure to achieve it for the second time also spelled the end of his tenure. So, for other coaches and managers to come after him and be allowed to miss this target every season without expectation seems like lowering of standards."
IMO this is only relevant if the match day squad is fit for purpose, which it hasn't been since prior to AW's departure. Yes we've had quality players but much like MU we are still not a team that can play together effectively (and we're taking far to long to resolve the issues, with only the back5 resolved going into our 4th season post AW).
It’s been well documented how Arsenal earned the third most points in the “since Christmas” league table to the end of last season, and also pipped Manchester United by one point to finish the 2021 calendar year with the 4th most points. If this team can average 3rd to 4th place over these hybrid league tables, why is it unreasonable to expect the same over a football season? Why is the expectation dialled down even as the team is showing that they are capable?"
For me this is the big one = if we're good enough to do so in all these mini table snap shots used to support Arteta, then the same standards/expectation should be applied across the 'normal' season.
"Earlier, I mentioned how this was the “no distractions” season. After being knocked out of the League Cup by Liverpool, this confirmed that the league would really be the sole focus now, much earlier than has been the case for a long time. With nothing else to play for, it would be disappointing for this team to be satisfied with aiming for less than top 4."
Much like the LCFC title season, we are not going to get another opportunity as good/clear as this season. Not only would a return to UEFA comp via the UEL increase the number of games it will also be a distraction to regaining top4/UEL unless we won it (which is no guarantee). Further to this it is likely that MU & TH will both improve compared to this season, meaning the task will be that much harder even without UEL distractions/impacts. Lastly there is the potential for negative impacts if we were to miss top4 this season, not just in regards to signing players (as already seen this season), but also in being able to retain those that we have.
Bottom line for me is both Arteta and Edu should go if we fail to regain top4, if for no other reason than simply failing to maximise the opportunity presented this season from the outset, let alone in Jan.
