2020 has been an up and down year for Arsenal. We’ve had the major highs of winning the FA Cup, winning away to a big six team in almost six years but we’ve also had some lows. Crashing out to Olympiacos in the Europa League and more recently a dreadful run of form leaving us 15th in the Premier League. As the year closes out, what can Arsenal do differently in the next one? I’ll try to propose some ‘New Year’s resolutions’ for 2021.
Trust the youth
One could describe 2020 as the ‘year of youth’ for Arsenal with Bukayo Saka, Emile Smith Rowe, Gabriel Martinelli and Reiss Nelson among others all hitting their best form for the club in the year. As Bukayo Saka’s incredible form has proven, a lot of these youngsters are more than ready to make the step-up to the Premier League. To Mikel Arteta and Arsenal in 2021, trust the kids. They are the future of this club after all.
Sort out the recruitment
2020 unfortunately didn’t spell the end of ‘dodgy’ recruitment for Arsenal. As Willian seemingly gets further and further away from the standard of the starting team, his signing makes less and less sense. Signing aging players on big contracts seems to be an idea Arsenal are quite fond of and in fairness, it hasn’t always blown up in their face. David Luiz, despite enjoying a very rough time under Unai Emery, was undoubtedly pivotal in the FA Cup winning run and has had an all round positive impact on his teammates.
The transfer fee and failure to shift last summer makes the signing of Sokratis less understandable but again, the experienced Greek had a good 18/19 season and has always worked hard for the club when called upon. Cedric’s impact is possibly too early to judge. Willian however, has not made a great impression since arriving in the Summer. His body language has been lackadaisical and his output very weak. It’s of course possible we’ll see a turnaround for the Brazilian but the early signs are not very positive.
With this in mind, please leave the aging signings in 2020 please Arsenal, for our sake.
Back Mikel Arteta
With a squad proven to be rather weak under two managers before Arteta, the Spaniard guided Arsenal to their 14th FA Cup this year, beating Manchester City and Chelsea in the Semi-Final and Final respectively. In his first Managerial job, Arteta has had to deal with movement in the club board, a pandemic (a virus he caught himself!), various in-club situations and contract dilemmas.
Despite the poor form in the current League season, which in fairness seems to be turning around now with wins against Chelsea and Brighton, the former Arsenal Captain has coped very positively. He has shown a willingness to enforce his will while forming good bonds with his squad and looks to be progressing constantly.
Now is the time to back the Arsenal Manager. The pandemic was incredibly harsh on finances for the 2020 Summer but 2021 serves the perfect opportunity to give this squad the surgery it desperately needs. January 2021 and Summer 2021, back Mikel Arteta!
Give the fans something to cheer for!
2020 has been an incredibly tough year for everyone and if there’s something that can always put a smile on the face of any Arsenal fan no matter what, it’s seeing the Arsenal win. So in 2021 let’s have more of those FA Cup winning moments with some of us hopefully watching from in the stadium. Come on you Gunners!
