FA Cup success huge for Arsenal, now a huge summer awaits them

In May 2019, Arsenal headed to Azerbaijan for their Europa League Final clash with London rivals, Chelsea.

Having missed out on a place in the top four by just goal difference, the Gunners knew victory in Baku would give them place in the Champions League – something that would have been a huge success in Unai Emery’s first season at the club.

But it was a final most Arsenal fans wanted to forget, the Blues trounced them 4-1. Ex-striker Olivier Giroud’s opener just after the interval was arguably the biggest kick in the teeth of that night.

A place amongst Europe’s elite would have been a real platform for Emery to help bring the club forward. Would being consigned to a third season of Europa League football hinder them next season?

In terms of recruitment that summer you would have argued no.

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“Make no mistake Arsenal needed the FA Cup win more than Chelsea”

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The Gunners spent under £140 Million that Summer, bringing in the proven talents of Kieran Tierney, Nicholas Pepe and David Luiz, as well as the young protegé Gabriel Martinelli. Signings which, taken together, made a statement about Arsenal’s ambitions.

But the loss in Baku proved many of those concerns right. Cracks began to appear at the start of the 2019/20 season. Poor results as well as equally poor performances saw Emery pay the price, with former Gunners’ captain Mikel Arteta taking over as manager.

Many expected it to be a write off campaign for Arsenal, especially with a new manager coming in trying to find his formula and integrate his players into his style of play.

But good form at the turn of the new year helped the Gunners to an 8th place finish, just three points behind Wolves. On top of that a victory in the FA Cup Semi-Final over holders Manchester City saw them reach their fourth FA Cup Final in six years. For the second year running their opponents were Chelsea.

Once again the questions were being raised – What will happen if Arsenal lose? Will their senior players look for a move elsewhere? Who will they bring in the Summer? Where will they go from there?

Make no mistake Arsenal needed the FA Cup win more than Frank Lampard’s side who had already qualified for next season’s Champions League. With the likes of Hakim Ziyech and Timo Werner signing for the Blues, they will be looking strong next season.

But everything went right for the North Londoners, despite going a goal down in the 5th minute through a slick Christian Pulisic goal, Arsenal responded positively and equalised through Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s spot-kick on the half hour.

 

From that goal until the half-time interval, they were on top.

As Guy Mowbray expressed in his commentary for the BBC: “(Arsenal) could have done with that first half being five or ten minutes longer.”

In truth he was right, because Chelsea came out at the break with fire and started the second forty-five the stronger.  Pulisic burst through the Arsenal backline and had he not pulled his hamstring before he took his shot would have put his side back in front.

But that was Chelsea’s last meaningful attack until the 71st minute. Just three minutes before that Hector Bellerin surged forward and was tackled by Marcos Alonso. Sadly for the Spaniard, the ball fell to record signing Pepe who slotted it to Aubameyang.

The Gabon striker skipped past Kurt Zouma and Jorginho, leaving him one-on-one with Willy Caballero. He chipped it into the corner of the net. Arsenal had turned the game around and gone in front. Now it was about holding on to that lead.

Arsenal would see the game out, Chelsea were unable to break down the Gunners resilience. Goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez played a huge part in that, keeping out Tammy Abraham by catching the ball on the edge of his area – a save where his hands were the only part of his body in the box – then in stoppage time sliding in to stop Pedro having a chance on goal.

That challenge on Pedro was the last bit of action in what was a entertaining FA Cup Final. Arsenal were cup winners again, and most fittingly it was their number 14 who gave them FA Cup number 14.

The celebrations said it all at the end, most notably from Martinez who was emotional during his interview with BBC’s Dan Walker. Martinez was a man who left his native Argentina in order to help his family out financially and a man who has impressed since injury to first choice keeper Bernd Leno

Arteta also expressed his joy too. Questions were raised about the Spaniard when he returned to the Emirates, but now the former captain had won his first trophy for the club as manager after just eight months in charge.

In what was a season that started with many frowns, it was a season which ended with smiles.

Arsenal are back in Europe next season, something no one would have expected back in December. What is most fitting for Arsenal fans too is that it comes at the expense of their North London rivals Spurs, who must go through the qualifying rounds of the competition.

Important Summer for the Gunners

So what happens now? Where do Arsenal go from here? That’s where the summer transfer window comes into play.

This is going to be Arsenal’s most important window for a very long time. If Arsenal are to go the extra mile next season and aim for Champions League football, this window must go right.

There’s a few positions where Arsenal need to strengthen, but arguably their biggest ambition is keeping hold of their captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

The striker has only one-year left on his deal and many would be hoping that he signs a new deal at the Emirates. Presumably one is Mikel Arteta who hopes to build a team around his skipper.

But when Aubameyang was asked if he was going to stay in North London at full-time, he seemed very non-committal.

It is vital Arsenal keep hold of Aubameyang. Aubameyang is a world class striker who will be difficult to replace should he leave this summer. He also could be important in the development of the club’s young strikers, Eddie Nketiah and Gabirel Martinelli, being someone the pair could learn off in terms of finishing.

Keeping hold of the striker could also be important for the acquisitions Arsenal make this summer, a higher calibre player is more likely to be attracted to join the club, knowing that they will be in a team with a striker like Aubameyang.

Transfers is also a key factor on how Arsenal do next year, in what has been a unprecedented year for everyone, how much will the Gunners get as a transfer budget? Will Arsenal get more for getting into Europe?

These are all questions that lay ahead for the Gunners. But maybe the fact they are FA Cup winners for a record 14th time and are in Europe next season, may answer a lot in where the club go.

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