Expectations - 2023/2024 Season - The Arsenal discussion community: One More in the Tolly

Expectations - 2023/2024 Season

Phil

I suspect that we will struggle quite a bit in Europe - the level jump and fixture congestion really wears at teams who aren't used to it.

Hoping for a good showing in the league (2nd) and the cup.

Mirth

flobaba The aim has to be to win the league though, right? It's no longer the oh we didn't expect this so let's just sit back and enjoy the ride type scenario anymore. We have just spent 200million in the transfer window. We can't spend that sort of money simply to stay in CL slots.

To be honest, by the time the window is shut I suspect a few clubs will have spent around that mark as well. City are about to spend £100m on Gvardiol, Chelsea will spend similar amounts on Caicedo and United no doubt will find a way to set fire to millions as per usual.

But either way, you're point is valid - the only way to guarantee we finish in the top four next season is by aiming to win the league.

Qwiss

Of course we have to aim for the title. And TBH we should aim to win the CL too, if you are PL top 2 then you are capable of winning the CL. However aiming and succeeding aren't the same. We have our aims and we have to ask whats an acceptable distance from those targets?

naz

Do you guys think White could be considered for a more advanced role? Maybe DM to let Rice play 8? Havertz wouldn't fit in the team anymore though.

I'm intrigued by all the options we can use and want to see how Arteta deploys all the new pieces. White and Tomi must feel weird about this all

Coombs

No CBs in midfield please.

Don Pacifico

Still waiting to see how Kolo works out in midfield, partnered with Vermaelen! 😂

Qwiss

Don Pacifico Kolo was a midfielder converted to a CB. Never wanted him to play there for us once he made the switch though. And Vermaelen was only suggested in midfield because he abandoned defence so often.

Gazza M

with the trajectory we've been on and the age of the squad, if we don't give the title at least as good of a shake as last season I'll be disappointed. city might be in state of mini upheaval with experienced players leaving. beating them to the signing of rice also hampers them a bit, because they have no depth for rodri, and getting rice wouldve solved that problem emphatically. their fans know an injury to rodri actually puts them in the shit

very interested to see how artetas tactics hold up in the champions league as well

awooga83

Have to be in a title battle for me to prove that last season wasn't a fluke. City may not drop as many points as last year which could make the end result a little worse but we need to be the team closest to them in my view. We also have to get out of the groups of the champions League and depending on draws possibly progress through knockouts decently.

Also a good run in the cups. I said In the other thread that we need to start converting promise and potential to actual outcomes I think the whole ahead of schedule stuff has to not be a factor now. We are in the period where I think we need to start winning trophies if we really believe that the team has been built towards. There can not be I don't have the squad I need we've had multiple seasons and windows you have to do something with it.

I'm curious to see how we manage this different feeling of being expected to do more etc.

Don Pacifico

Can we agree that trophies aren't necessarily the hallmark of success?

The reason I say that is because Arteta has already won an FA cup (which seems to have been forgotten/discounted) in a season where I think most would agree we took a step backwards. Similarly, Wenger's last FA cup was in a season where we dropped out of the top four for the first time in his tenure with us. Now I love winning trophies but those wins didn't diminish from the fact we were on a downward trajectory at that point.

To that end, when we talk about trophies as a marker of progress, it feels to me like an inaccurate barometer of performance by itself (let's not forget Wigan winning the FA cup in a season they got relegated). Hence, why I think the season as a whole needs to be taken into account (ie. performance in the league, Europe etc.).

Qwiss

Don Pacifico Can we agree that trophies aren't necessarily the hallmark of success?

No. For me they are the mark of success. I'm just willing to wait a little longer for them as long as we are getting closer to them. Progress always has to be towards the goal of winning big trophies at Arsenal.

Don Pacifico

Qwiss Progress always has to be towards the goal of winning big trophies at Arsenal.

I agree with this but I think big is the operative word here.

I'd take five years of no trophies if we won the league in the sixth season versus five seasons winning a domestic up or two and never winning the league.

Conversely, if Arteta won the FA cup next season but we dropped out of the top four, I'd consider that worse that no trophies but finishing in 2nd place again.

KingslandBarge

Would agree with embracing a holistic assessment of campaigns but trophies is still a hallmark of success. More so than ever, if this article is accurate in indicating 600 million spend (530 net): https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2023/07/05/arsenal-reach-600-million-arteta-rice-timber-transferf/
Interested to see what happens to White, Tomiyasu and Vieira by seasons end - 100 million worth of investment.

Clrnc

Don Pacifico Nah.

Trophies >>> fake achievements

I would rather win a Carabao cup and finished 4th than win nothing and finish 2nd.

I would rather win the Europa League and finish out of top 4 than win nothing and finish in top 4.

flobaba

Not trophying is not good for brand or business. Ask old Harold Kane and Levy's merry band down the road.

Trophy > no Trophy
And The sooner you trophy, the better.

Qwiss

flobaba agreed. The likes of Odegaard and Saliba won't stay here if they aren't winning things.

Burnwinter

flobaba I reckon the aim is to win and our transfer strategy is telling the players that, but I can't see myself expecting us to win against the City we saw last season.

We'll give them a close run if we execute near perfectly, but equally it could be all over by November with one little slump.

TambourineMan

Title push and a trophy.

Sicario2 - Tier 1

I think full expectations will be determined on 1st Sept when we know exact outgoings/incomings as that will have the biggest impact on our season.

Kel Varnsen

A few things:
Top three in the league and in the race all season.
CL semi finals.
A cup final.

lorddulaarsenal

I’d also like us to beat City - still a bit of a mental hurdle that one

Burnwinter

lorddulaarsenal Do the double over them I reckon we win the league.