Pain in the Arsenal
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Arsenal: The tantalising and terrifying effect of change

By Rory Picton

LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 06: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang of Arsenal celebrates after scoring his sides first goal with his Arsenal team mates during the Premier League match between Arsenal and Burnley at Emirates Stadium on May 6, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 06: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang of Arsenal celebrates after scoring his sides first goal with his Arsenal team mates during the Premier League match between Arsenal and Burnley at Emirates Stadium on May 6, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images) /
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For Arsenal, this season is done and dusted. Any points gained now is just icing on the cake. But while the present may be meandering towards its completion, the future offers change, change that is both tantalising and terrifying.

With the season essentially over for Arsenal — they are locked into a sixth-placed finish and have no more cup campaigns running –, fans can start to look forward to next season. The season can still end on a high with wins at Leicester City and Huddersfield Town, and with the attacking talents on show, the Gunners have every chance to grab six more points. But, in all reality, it has little bearing on the season or the club as a whole.

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That said, Alexandre Lacazette is on fire and new boy Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is banging in the goals. Fans should be licking their lips for next season. A new manager is on the way in, plenty of transfers will be happening. This will be a very interesting summer and 2018/19 season.

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The 2017/18 season had its ups and downs like every other season But for some reason, there was an element of finality to this one. There was a different feeling. Maybe it was the contract disputes between Alexis Sanchez, Mesut Ozil, Aaron Ramsey and Jack Wilshere. Maybe it was dropping points to lower league sides? Was it the poor cup runs, dropping out of the FA Cup early before losing in the final of the Carabao Cup to Manchester City?

Whatever it was, this season felt as if a wind of change was sweeping through the Emirates. Obviously, that feeling was vindicated when Arsene Wenger announced that he would end his 22-year tenure in the summer. Change indeed is coming to north London. But with change, comes excitement.

Take the tools that the new manager will be working with as an example, especially those signed more recently. There have been some very interesting signings made this past year. Those signings have set the club up nicely for the upcoming season.

Signing creative players such as Henrikh Mkhitaryan from Manchester United, swapped for Sanchez, and pairing him with serial goalscorer Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang from Borussia Dortmund, a place where both players flourished together earlier in their careers. Adding young defender Konstantinos Mavropanos, promising left-back Sead Kolasinac and current top goalscorer Alexandre Lacazette also add to the intrigue ahead of next year,

The new manager may not have a very large “war chest” to help in recruiting additions that might strengthen the side. But there is plenty of quality already at this club, as Wenger has been keen to highlight in his interviews during his extended and undulating goodbye.

Next: Arsenal Vs Leicester City: Predicted starting XI

With the right leadership and know-how, this group of players could achieve plenty. Fans and even neutrals should be excited for the season ahead. Change may feel scary, but it is also an opportunity. That is what awaits Arsenal in the post-Wenger era.

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