What a season it would have been but for Aubameyang
For The Arsenal, it is another season of same old story as things got worse after it looked really promising at the start.
The Gunners have finished their lowest in 26 years. Although it was the same last season, but the FA Cup triumph had overwhelmed everyone at the club from realizing how close they were to a disaster, that has finally catch up on them.
Mikel Arteta's side finished eighth, the same position they ended up in the league in the 2019/20 campaign but did sealed Europa league qualification after beating Chelsea 2-1 in Wembley.
However, Mikel Arteta's side did not get so lucky this season, after their early elimination from the FA Cup in the hands of Southampton in the fourth round. Their hopes were built on winning the Europa league or in the least finish in a European place in the league.
This time, things would not go their way as they lost 13 Premier league games in total, in a disappointing campaign that saw them lost to Wolverhampton Wonderers, Aston Villa and Everton home and away, while also failing to beat Burnley over two legs.
Amongst other disappointing results were the home draws against Fulham and Crystal Palace. Games they dominated and could have won easily and earned points which would have seen them make the top four.
Although, poor officiating and The VAR played a significant part in the events leading to the awkward situation they find themselves, Mikel Arteta also deserve a part of the blame for his adamant to understand certain players are off, and when to play the more hungry ones.
The most disappointing part of their season nonetheless is form and glib contribution of their main man, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
The Gunners handed their captain a lucrative contract after his stellar performance in the 2019/20 season, however, instead of the Gabonnesse to repay the club with improved performances, he downgraded, down to as low as his career can ever get.
A player who had scored over 20 league goals in each of his first two full seasons in England, managed just 10 league goals in the just concluded Premier League season, disappointingly scoring in only seven league games.
Putting into perspective that nine of Arsenal's loss in the league were one goal margin loses, while also drawing seven times, and Aubameyang only scored in seven of his 29 league appearance, one can't help but think of how different things would have turn out for Mikel Arteta and the team, had their talisman performed at the top of his game.
Looked like every one of other Arsenal players turned up in the season, with Nicolas Pepe also scoring 10 league goals from 16 starts, and Alexandre Lacazette also registering double figures for goals, 13 in 26 starts, with other players also contributing decently for the good of the team. But overall, that Aubameyang 20 goal factor was dearly missed.
It will forever haunt the club faithfuls that in their worst season in so many years, that they even went seven consecutive league matches without a win, they ended up missing out on the tip four by only six points.
Away from the league, Arsenal were eliminated from the Europa League in the semi final by Villareal after a goalless draw at the Emirates, in a match which only a goal would have seen them into the final of the competition, their captain was on show for 80 minutes, and couldn't make a difference.
The Gunners have had a decent run in the competition trusting in youth and fringe players in the team. But call on the big names for the later stages, and leading the line, the 31 year old was found wanting, again.
It is imperative that the Gunners concede that this is a time to rethink and monitor the project well, since they will have less to worry about in terms of tough competitions in the coming season, and come back better and stronger, in the nearest future.
Afolabi Kehinde Hassan
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