Why Arsenal’s top four ambitions are still very much alive

It is the hope that kills you. At the end of a transfer window that once promised so much, when many of us dared to indulge dreams of signing Europe’s most coveted attacking talents, Arsenal have navigated January without completing any business of note and frustration is palpable among supporters heading into the final months of the campaign.

To not bolster the squad at such a critical juncture is a bold step from the Gunners, and our winter inaction will undoubtedly be deemed culpable should we fail to make the top four for a sixth consecutive year. However, despite the current pessimism regarding the club’s immediate prospects, there are reasons to believe that an imminent return to the Champions League is still possible.

Grounds for reassurance can first be found with closer inspection of recently-sanctioned deals. Although reinforcements are needed, the team has not been weakened by outgoing players as they have only performed minor roles of late, with the six senior departures combining for little more than 2,500 minutes across both the Premier League and Carabao Cup this season, some of which was clocked up during the exceptional makeshift selections that featured in the opening weeks.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang accounted for the vast majority of them.

https://twitter.com/Arsenal/status/1488819734175006722

Plenty of reasons to believe Arsenal can still reach the top four despite underwhelming January transfer window

And fears relating to numbers can be further assuaged courtesy of the rotation offered by the remaining cast. Regulars including Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka are capable of performing in multiple roles on the pitch, while versatile options such as Nicolas Pepe and Emile Smith Rowe have found game-time hard to come by and will surely play a much bigger part in upcoming fixtures.

Additionally, it is worth remembering that Arsenal are a formidable and well-balanced side when at full strength. Of course, pinning hopes on escaping injury in a contact sport is a risk which borders on lunacy. But Arteta’s fundamentals are well-instilled in the group and provide a foundation to cope with adversity, which suggests there is every reason to believe that – as long as a medical catastrophe can be avoided – the squad is capable and has just enough depth to successfully negotiate the final 17 matches.

Finishing in the top four was merely a pipedream at the start of the campaign and, while many would still consider it unattainable, a change in circumstances – namely the fallibility of pre-season favourites Manchester United – means right now there is no outstanding contender for Europe, and a light schedule could give us a competitive edge during the run-in.

This will perhaps compound disappointment about the lack of recruitment, but the club appear committed to avoiding the compromises or stop-gaps that have stung them in years gone by and that should put us in a very strong position for the summer.

For the moment the dream is hanging in the balance, but it is far from dead.