Arsenal: 3 things that need to happen next season

Arsenal’s season came to an end in eighth place, so here are three things that need to happen next year to see improvement.

Arsenal has brought the curtain down or what can only be described as a dreadful season. We still have a chance of salvaging something next week in the FA Cup final against Chelsea, but even if we do win I certainly won’t be looking upon this season fondly.

In fact, I think it would be best if we could scrub it from memory.

Hopefully, we can now move forward and look to a brighter future under Mikel Arteta, but right now that is a massive ask and in order for us to be a force again certain things need to happen next season,

Here are 3 of them, starting with No. 3.

3. Nicholas Pepe needs a big second season.

At this point, I think it’s a little harsh to label Pepe an expensive flop, but he’s certainly not been worth the £72m we paid. For the most part, Nicholas Pepe has been very, very average.

He has shown in small doses what he is capable of, however, these have been few and far between. Perhaps the most telling statement of the season is what Mikel Arteta said shortly before the lockdown—”I need to teach Pepe to be a winger,” he said.

He must be having difficulty because Pepe is still struggling. He has trouble beating his man frequently and he never seems to make the penetrative runs he became known for at Lille.

Next season is a massive one for Pepe because if it continues in the same vein as this one, he will be rightfully labelled a waste of money. Mikel Arteta needs to find the right role for him and hopefully, we will see the player we all thought we had signed.

On to No. 2.