Arsenal’s performances in the Champions League have underlined one thing, that they are one piece of the jigsaw away from being a trophy-winning team. The only problem is, it’s the biggest and generally most expensive piece of the jigsaw.
To date, Mikel Arteta has spent around £650million in his five and a half years in charge. Arsenal have to be prepared to go again and, if not, I fear the manager may be looking for a new job come the end of next season.
Mikel said his side were the best in the Champions League after their semi-final defeat, that even staff on Paris Saint-Germain’s bench agreed with him. But they weren’t the best team.
The top teams put the ball in the back of the net when it really matters and that’s how you win the big competitions. Arsenal will not beat their biggest rivals to the big trophies unless they find a goalscorer and greater creativity in that final third.
Twelve months on from criticising Arsenal for lacking a killer edge, here we are again going over the same shortcomings.
There’s a difference of opinion within the club as to whether Sporting Lisbon’s Viktor Gyokeres is the right choice for striker. Apparently, partly because he is 27 next month and plying his trade in Portugal.
Mikel Arteta said his side were the best in the Champions League after their semi-final defeat, that even staff on Paris Saint-Germain’s bench agreed with him. But they weren’t the best team
There’s a difference of opinion within the club as to whether Sporting Lisbon’s Viktor Gyokeres is the right choice for striker
If they think Gyokeres is the right man but turning 27 means he doesn’t fit their profile, his age shouldn’t be coming into the equation
If resistance is because he is playing in a weaker Portuguese league, then I can understand the doubts. Yet if they think Gyokeres is the right man but turning 27 means he doesn’t fit their profile, his age shouldn’t be coming into the equation.
Mikel is not in a position to wait for someone of better age profile. He needs a finisher immediately, as in now, for next season.
For me, 27 is a great age to be getting a striker so that shouldn’t be up for debate. He has scored 56 goals this season so far for club and country. If he’s 27 in June, he is coming into his prime. The way footballers look after themselves these days, he can give them three good years if not more. Age is not a factor in this instance.
And how long does Mikel think he has got? He has got to be thinking: if I don’t win trophies within the next 12 months, I could be down the road and out of a job here. So, getting a proven goalscorer, in his prime, through the door is the priority.
I have said it before here, take Arsenal’s inordinate amount of set-piece goals out of their tallies this season and I’m not sure they even finish second in the Premier League. That’s 14 goals out of their 64, so it would put them on a par with Fulham in 11th place.
When you come up against the best teams you must have greater creativity and better finishers. Against PSG, statistics showed they had the possession, and got into the final third with ease, but it’s not enough.
When you break it down, it was long throw-ins and crosses into the box that were the biggest threat. There was minimal creativity or cute play which wins games at that level.
Mikel went long against PSG. Carlo Ancelotti did similar with Real Madrid against Manchester City earlier this season. I understand why they both did that, and I’ve got no problem with that. But there’s another unforeseen issue here.
I have said it before here, take Arsenal’s inordinate amount of set-piece goals out of their tallies this season and I’m not sure they even finish second in the Premier League
That’s 14 goals out of their 64, so it would put them on a par with Fulham in 11th place
When you are a team that train all week on possession and pressing high, playing out from the back, then suddenly changing it, you’re basically admitting you can’t deal with PSG’s press.
I personally never experienced that as a player and I’m not sure what my attitude would have been. If I was one of that midfield I’d be thinking ‘hey, he doesn’t fancy us here. He thinks they’re better than us’.
Never in my seven years at Liverpool did we not set out to take a team on at our game.
The only tactical change we ever made was Bob Paisley, five minutes before kick-off against Bayern Munich in the European Cup semi-final, asking Sammy Lee to man-mark Paul Breitner.
Out of possession, Arsenal are very damaging to teams. They work very hard at forcing you to make passes that you don’t want to make but they need more going forward.
There’s no disgrace losing to PSG, they are a very good team, and proved that beating Liverpool, Manchester City and Aston Villa, but Arsenal need to be better equipped to take these teams on.
They have lost four two-legged semi-finals since 2020 and scored just two goals.
There’s no consolation, but they were part of four terrific games across the two semi-finals. All four games were a great advert for the Champions League, and also underlined the enormous gulf in class between that competition and the other two European competitions.
Sammy Lee (left) was the subject of the only tactical change we ever made at Liverpool in my seven years there
Five minutes before kick-off, Bob Paisley asked Sammy to man mark Bayern Munich’s Paul Breitner (right)
Arsenal have lost four two-legged semi-finals since 2020 and scored just two goals
Full English shows how strong Premier League is
Despite protestations to the contrary from the respective managers, the Europa League final is a chance of redemption for Manchester United and Tottenham.
It’s been pretty miserable for both teams this season but if you win a trophy, it makes your supporters happy and it makes the bean counters happy. You go into the Champions League via the back door and come the new season everyone is approaching it with their tails up; onwards and upwards – you hope.
The response from the two managers reflects the varying attitudes to their jobs. Ange Postecoglou is looking over his shoulder waiting for the end and Ruben Amorim is approaching it knowing he’s reasonably safe in his job.
Ultimately, they know 15th and 16th in the Premier League is not good enough but to have two struggling teams in the final of a European competition once again underlines why ours is the most competitive league in the world.
Despite protestations to the contrary from the respective managers, the Europa League final is a chance of redemption for Manchester United and Tottenham
It’s been pretty miserable for both teams this season but if you win a trophy, it makes your supporters happy and it makes the bean counters happy
A bitter blow for Villa
The absence of Youri Tielemans for Aston Villa’s Premier League run-in could be a telling factor in their quest for Champions League qualification.
He has established himself as the first name on the team sheet for Unai Emery and his injury couldn’t have come at a worse time. He’s a cute and clever passer of the ball who also chips in with vital goals and I’m a big fan.
Fighting for that top five place, Villa don’t want to be facing teams who still have something to play for. Bournemouth on Saturday they could do without, but then they have Spurs and United who will both have an eye on the Europa League final.
The absence of Youri Tielemans for Aston Villa’s Premier League run-in could be a telling factor in their quest for Champions League qualification
In Bob Paisley’s last season as Liverpool manager, in 1983, we won the title in April and didn’t win any of our last seven games
In these type of games, players can drop off a yard or even six inches and it makes all the difference. Not getting to the challenge quick enough, not getting their shot off, the intensity may only need to drop by 0.5per cent for it to tip in Villa’s favour.
Liverpool, with the title in the bag already, were a perfect example at Chelsea last Sunday.
I’ve been there. In Bob Paisley’s last season as Liverpool manager, in 1983, we won the title in April and didn’t win any of our last seven games. It’s unintentional but that little switch off can make the difference and could play into Villa’s hands.
Hearts in Bloom
The prospect of Brighton owner Tony Bloom buying into Hearts can only be good for Scottish football.
Here is a guy who seems to have got the infrastructure right over the past decade in finding a method to recruit well and finding real talent to compete at the top level.
Hearts last won a trophy in 2012 and, if I was a fan I’d be hoping to see what talents could be loaned out from Brighton. If this happens, it’s going to improve the competition. After all, isn’t getting the best 11 players on the pitch what football is all about?
The prospect of Brighton owner Tony Bloom buying into Hearts can only be good for Scottish football
Hearts last won a trophy in 2012 and, if I was a fan I’d be hoping to see what talents could be loaned out from Brighton
Though I risk upsetting the Hibernian supporters, Hearts are the third-best supported club in Scotland, averaging just over 18,000, so he would be buying into a club with a very passionate support. And living in Edinburgh is no hardship. It’s a fabulous city.
Similarly with Rangers, and the potential investment from the 49ers Group who own Leeds, I believe tapping into the know-how from people who have made steps up in English football can only improve Scotland’s competition.
A huge thank you
Finally, I’d just like to say a big THANK YOU to those who supported me and Team DEBRA in our cross-Channel swim.
We’ve raised over £650,000 towards the charity that aids those living with Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB), within touching distance of our target. The funds raised will make a difference, but the fight goes on. Thank you.
