Arsenal: Now is the time to return to the Champions League

Arsenal squandered two glorious opportunities to qualify for the Champions League last season. They cannot do so this season.

If Arsenal Football Club fail to qualify for the Champions League this season, I fear that it will be Unai Emery’s final season in charge. When analysing our nearest rivals, you cannot help but think that he will not get a better chance.

As we have said on numerous occasions, Arsenal have a better squad this season. They addressed positions of need over the summer in a savvy and ruthless manner. There are still holes within the squad, most notably at centre-back, but it has greater balance and dynamism when compared to last season.

Nonetheless, this club must capitalise on the current predicaments of their nearest rivals. Chelsea were hit with a transfer embargo and are now without the incredible Eden Hazard. However, you know for a fact that they will invest heavily next summer in order to compete for major honours once more. The same can be said for Manchester United. I believe that the Red Devils pose a bigger threat to Arsenal than Chelsea this season, but I still have concerns about Ole Gunnar Solskjær and their ability to create chances.

I believe the highest that the Gunners could finish this season is third. Above Tottenham Hotspur. Our fierce rivals have been able to keep their nucleus together, so I do expect them to regain their place in Europe’s premier cup competition, but it would be nice if they did not. I do not see the point in studying Liverpool or Manchester City, as I think it is a given that both clubs will maintain their Champions League status whilst Pep Guardiola and Jürgen Klopp are in their respective dugouts.

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The January transfer window is a notoriously difficult time to buy. Clubs are understandably reluctant to allow key players to leave mid-season, meaning that prices inevitably inflate. However, part of me expects Raul Sanllehi to try and make a big signing in January, partly because I believe that he is smart enough to recognise that their rivals will soon get better. And the must strike will they are ahead.

As of this moment, I believe that the Gunners will qualify for the Champions League alongside Manchester City, Liverpool, and Tottenham Hotspur. I think that we are better than both Manchester United and Chelsea. Nonetheless, it makes sense to further solidify that belief if the opportunity to improve arises. Highly regarded RB Leipzig centre-back Dayot Upamecano was heavily linked with the club towards the end of the summer window. Perhaps the club will re-explore that possibility considering that the Frenchman’s contract supposedly expires in the summer of 2021.

The Gunners came close last season. You could easily have said that Unai Emery would not get a better chance to qualify for the Champions League. Nonetheless, this season represents an even better opportunity. It is one that Unai Emery and his players simply have to take.