Martin Keown recognises a Premier League title is inside Arsenal’s grasp, however their brilliance can be forgotten if they continue to be the perennial bridesmaid.
The Gunners are on monitor for a 3rd consecutive season through which they’ve completed second within the Premier League as they continue to be 12 factors behind Liverpool with 9 video games remaining.
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The primary of Arsenal’s runners-up placings noticed Mikel Arteta’s aspect end 5 factors behind Manchester Metropolis regardless of sitting first up till late April.
The hole narrowed to 2 factors between the golf equipment within the 2023/24 season as Metropolis pipped the Gunners to the put up by way of a sensational 23-game unbeaten stretch.
Metropolis’s underwhelming efficiency this marketing campaign offered a main alternative for Arsenal to lastly break the mould and land their first Premier League crown because the Invincibles season of 03/04.
As an alternative, it has been Liverpool who seized the second below first-year coach Arne Slot.
With Slot’s aspect storming to the title as an alternative of Arsenal, who’ve steadily in-built latest seasons, Arteta should marvel if his time will ever come.
However, as Keown identified, the street to success can typically be a ‘lengthy and winding’ one, as he discovered to be the case throughout his enjoying days at Highbury.
Most significantly, the Gunners nice believes all of the constructing blocks are in place for Arteta’s aspect to finish the 20-year title drought – it simply wants that ‘X-factor’ to supply the ‘icing on the cake’.
“Some persons are fortunate and the street to success is a straight line,” Keown instructed talkSPORT.com.
“Not for this Arsenal group.
“I have been in an analogous state of affairs. Three years on the bounce we completed behind Manchester United and you must ask your self the questions. It’s a must to have a robust group and I feel Arsenal have gotten that. The foundations are there.
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“After which after all it is the calibre of the gamers. There can be purchases in the summertime. However it’s been difficult for the back-end of the season the place you’ve got had 4 or 5 strikers that aren’t obtainable. Then it seems like you must have purchased one, which is sort of a hindsight state of affairs.
“However wanting again to final 12 months, Arsenal had been scoring buckets filled with targets. In order that appears to be the apparent areas, within the inventive extensive positions and down the center, I am certain that is the place Arsenal will make investments in the summertime.
“There’s a whole lot of good about Arsenal. Loads of groups would have a look at Arsenal and say, ‘I want we had their defence, their goalkeeper and their midfield’.
“It is simply the icing on the cake now could be getting these particular gamers, that X-factor participant to complete issues off and win titles.”
Arteta got here below fireplace for not buying an additional ahead throughout January as season-ending accidents to Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus left the Gunners mild on attacking reinforcements.
Star winger and key goalscorer Bukayo Saka’s long-term damage has additionally proved damaging whereas Arsenal misplaced twice within the league throughout Martin Odegaard’s seven-game absence following an ankle challenge picked up whereas on worldwide obligation in September.
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The Gunners have been closely linked with a big-money transfer for Newcastle celebrity Alexander Isak, with many supporters hopeful he’s the reply to their striker woes.
Benjamin Sesko is one other who has been mooted with a transfer to the Emirates as Arsenal re-ignited their curiosity within the Slovenian in January, though a mid-season transfer proved sophisticated given RB Leipzig had been reluctant to promote.
talkSPORT additionally revealed Arsenal are one in every of a number of Premier League groups concerned about Lille’s Jonathan David, who can be a free agent on the finish of the season.
On the very least, the Gunners can dangle the carrot of enjoying within the Champions League for a potential new signing thanks to what’s looming as a third-straight second place end.
Nonetheless, as Keown rightly identified, historical past solely remembers the victors.
However it’s in these near-misses that the group develops its psychological resolve to go one higher, one thing they have to do ahead of later given their rivals are solely going to strengthen throughout the board.
“You get nothing for second,” Keown stated.
“No-one even remembers however the one that comes second. You examine it to different sports activities, say you get a silver medal within the Olympics, however in soccer, within the Premier League, you get nothing.
“No person actually desires to be second place. In a cup closing, you get a runners-up medal.
“We had been 4 or 5 instances in second place, however you do not really feel such as you’re second-best, and that is the factor. You want robust characters.
“And that is the place you develop that sort of veneer to say, ‘No, I’ve had sufficient of this, I need to go the subsequent step and we are able to do it, we’re succesful’. It’s a must to retain that perception.
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“It isn’t a straightforward street as a result of everyone else will strengthen now and get even higher. Metropolis will come again.
“So Arsenal want to verify now that the subsequent two or three signings are key for his or her future success.”
Arteta is aware of he can not afford to whiff on any new signings in the summertime window.
If he does, it might imply Arsenal’s greatest window of alternative for Premier League titles has closed.
