Despite being the 2nd most successful football club in English football for over 100 years, times have never looked bleaker for the once invincible Gunners. A 2-0 loss to Brentford, a side that has not appeared in the English top-flight since 1947, has certainly got Arsenal off to a shaky start in this seasons Premier League campaign, and unfortunately, it doesn’t look as if any kind of improvement is on the horizon.
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| Arsenal vs Brentford - bleacherreport.com |
In the early 2000s, Arsenal was the number one name in English football, and with managerial legend Arsene Wenger at the helm, the North London side was truly unbeatable. From 2003-2004, Arsenal went unbeaten during their 38 game Premier League season, a feat not accomplished by any other side in the competition's history. With a star stud-studded lineup that included Thierry Henry, Dennis Bergkamp, Patrick Viera, and Sol Cambell, it’s easy to see why this side was such a success both in England and abroad, capturing the Premier League crown and finishing 11 points clear of London rivals Chelsea.
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| Arsenal 2003/04 “The Invincibles” - goal.com |
Fast forward to the present day, and Arsenal could not be further apart from their predecessors. After the departure of Arsene Wenger in 2018, Arsenal has failed to finish inside the top 4, despite employing three different managers over a three year period. Actions both on and off the pitch have thrown the club into utter disarray, resulting in the laughing stock that Arsenal has become. Unlike other ‘Big Six’ clubs, Arsenal’s focus will not be adding silverware to the trophy cabinet or acquiring big-name signings in upcoming transfer windows. Like the runt of the Premier League litter, Mikel Arteta’s young Gunners will be in pure survival mode until the season concludes in May and must do anything they can to avoid further embarrassment.
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| Mikel Arteta - vbetnews.com |
It’s a spectacular fall from grace for the North London side, and it’s a fall that has most football fans either scratching their heads or rolling around the floor in a fit of laughter. With the likes of Bukayo Saka, Kieren Tireny, and Emile Smith-Rowe all coming up through the ranks and onto the forefront of Arsenal’s starting lineup, the future looks bright(ish) and there are at least some signs that point toward a resurgence back to the top of the Premier League - just not in 2021.
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| Arsenal’s Emile Smith Rowe (left) and Bukayo Saka (right) - acefootball.com |
With Champions League winners Chelsea next and Premier League champions Manchester City soon after, a 0-3 start to this seasons campaign is almost certain. However, if anything, 2021 will at least provide a chance for Arsenal’s young players to showcase their elite sense of character and determination. This years’ Premier League season may bring the Gunners to their knee’s and keep them their permenantly, but how they get back up will be what defines them moving forward into their unknown future.
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