Thread by @WilliamConboy

Another season without top 4 has, inevitably, brought familiar tension to the fore despite reaching our initial target.

Progress was made. 4th shoulda been secured. BUT…

The #Arsenal could not be in better shape.

A 🧵

We *might* close on 69 points. More than last season, and the season before.

More than enough to finish top 4 in several of the last #EPL seasons.

Why the uproar?

Because Spurs smashed us en route to pipping us to fourth. With £100m Kane & the imperious Son.

Given our status -

youngest team in EPL / young & naive manager / new PROGRESSIVE system / HUGE squad turnover / injuries / lack of quality depth / slow start / no #9 / an ambitious but failed Jan window / etc.

- it’s entirely expected and reasonable.

Let’s start with age.

Saka - 20
Martinelli- 20
ESR - 21
The Ø - 23
White / Gabriel - 24
Tomi - 23
Ramsdale - 24

Our entire attacking outlet, minus a #9, with average age of 21

Our entire defensive unit, 3/5 brand new, with average age of 24

Minimal leadership exp. beyond this

They will ONLY get better.

They have all talked up how elite the atmosphere is.

They are ALL capable of naivety & complacency as the hype rose.

21/22 was all about bedding them in, building an elite mentality and allowing them to grow.

Beating them because they ran out of steam with a handful of games remaining, against ever increasing challenges, is plain BONKERS.

Reviewing them vs initial target, witnessing the improvement and backing them to flourish makes so much sense.

Next, Mikel.

First gig. He’s set incredible standards across every area. Has literally revolutionised the club from 🔝 to bottom. We were a mess 2 seasons back

#Arteta has profile / blueprint to join the very best in modern management. Expecting this immediately is also BONKERS

Team Spirit
Talent ID
Removing the ENTIRE previous squad of stale personnel
Wonderkid Development
Winning BIG games again
Implementing an elite strategy - JdP
Backroom staff
Fanbase Synergy

He will learn and he will improve. 100%

Bringing our #Arsenal back

What’s not to love?

The system. Jeugo de Posicion. A special system. This takes some time to implement. To educate players within.

Pep developed his approach with Xavi, Iniesta and Messi.

MA has attempted amidst HUGE squad turnover.

Patience is paramount.

We started September ‘20 with:

Auba
Lacazette
Sokratis
Kola
AMN
Özil
Mustafi
Guendouzi
Willock
Mari
Torreira
Mkhi
Bellerin
Willian
Chambers
Luiz
Leno

All players that DO NOT fit an Arteta system nor mentality. If we want this path, the BIG changes needed take time and patience

Getting back to 21/22.

When our first XI, which IS heading to ELITE standards, we’re fully fit - we balled.

Expecting us to have a FULL squad fitting new profile by now is fantasy.

As soon as key players flagged - GX early / Partey & Tierney latterly - we felt it

MA found surprise solutions - Elneny / Cedric - but neither are / were sustainable. Our squad simply couldn’t cope.

Note what happened to Liverpool last season with their light (then, less so now) squad.

The timing of injuries couldn’t have been worse. Smack bang amidst run-in.

This will resolve itself. 100%. Another summer of elite talent acquisition, we’ll be far better prepared.

Remember, it’s a process. In this age of immediacy in football (and everything else), patience through planning is a virtue. Respect it.

We signed 6 players last summer. 4 have been exceptional. Again, within context. All were young with minimal exp. Let them grow.

Summer before - Gabriel & Partey

It’s evident MA’s approach to talent is elite

Plus, he’s Daniel Plainview levels of salesman (bonus points for ref)

We cannot build like City do.

Liverpool we’re supercharged by MAD fee received for Coutinho.

Chelsea and Man Utd have spent and spent… and spent.

We’re attempting to join this gaggle of juggernauts through a different route. One that requires patience. And support.

We tried HARD for Vlahovic. & Arthur. Possibly others too, in Jan.

We failed yet avoided panic buys.

The SMART approach, again.

Powder dry, we unleash this summer.

Tielemans/ Gabby J / Dybala all in focus.

When did we last acquire talent so effectively (within constraints)?

Signal after signal suggests we have a long-term plan.

Arteta’s contract amidst 3 daft defeats
Transfer strategy
Happy to go without a #9 whilst finding ideal profile

Let’s not build pressure to upset this.

Rather, let’s be excited and not react to Sky Sports’ lazy punditry

Finally, some sexy perspective!

How many games did we lose where we had impressively superior xG?

How much fun have the fans had this season?

How connected do the players seem?

WHAT MIGHT BE IN 2/3 SEASONS IF WE MAINTAIN & BUILD ON THIS SQUAD?

Add the following, and we’re gonna be just FINE!

FB support - Hickey / Spence
GK #2 - Turner
CB - Saliba (HELLO Ligue 1 Rookie of ‘21)
CM x 2 - Tielemans / Zakaria
CF - Dybala / Isak
WF - Gabriel J / Gnabry

A summer of excitement awaits. Again.

This project deserves full support

Tantrums and tension on Twitter will not help. Sowing doubts into young players minds will not help. Feeding media to build clicks will not help

I’ve seen MORE than enough to believe in this project.

MA and Team need, and deserve, our support