Arsenal: 4 reasons why losing out on top four would be majorly disappointing

2. Arsenal’s Rivals Are Highly Flawed

When Leicester won the league in 2015/16 it was the perfect storm. Claudio Ranieiri unearthed a system that suited to his squad at a time when the rest of the division all floundered. The Top Six were awful that season, whereas Leicester were magnificent.

Arsenal are clearly not challenging for a title – they should have that season – but they do boast a similar chance to take advantage of a season in which their top four rivals all have their flaws.

Manchester United are a squad in disarray. A panoply of individual talent nonfunctional as a group. Tottenham have a manager openly admitting his side are weaker after the January transfer window, coupled with an atrocious defence. West Ham have a squad even thinner than Arsenal and their focus will shift to a historic Europa League campaign. Wolves, meanwhile, don’t score goals.

There is an opening there. A clear one.

Next summer Antonio Conte will get the money to spend, while West Ham will finally bolster their own ranks. Equally, Manchester United may well land Mauricio Pochettino or Erik ten Hag and perhaps finally have some clarity about their direction.

In other words, it isn’t known how much stronger everyone else will become in the off-season, so the best course of action is to assume that there will be improvements. Hence why coming up short now, while the iron is hot, would be hugely disappointing.

This is Arsenal’s chance to sneak out in front.

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