May 15, 2004, the day Arsenal’s name was etched in history, the day the north London club ended their campaign going unbeaten in 38 league matches. The only team to achieve this remarkable feat after Preston North End in 1888-89. From being unbeaten in 38 games to no European football, how the mighty have fallen.
Arsene Wenger was the manager of the club from 1996-2018. In this 22 year tenure, the Frenchman had led his team to 3 Premier League, 7 FA cup, 7 community shield triumphs. Undoubtedly the Invincibles era was the greatest years of his managerial career, the years that followed were not so pleasant for him.
The wretchedness was evident in the final years of Wenger, as he oversaw some bizarre recruitments, lavish spending on players whom the club had to pay to leave, and building a side that slipped into mediocrity.
The Invincibles team was arguably the best squad to ever grace the Premier League. But, the north Londoners never managed to retain these players on a long-term basis. Several players who were an integral part of the squad left for other clubs in the following seasons. Wenger brought in players but they were unable to achieve the standards set by their predecessors.
Things took a drastic turn in 2017 when Arsenal suffered an embarrassing defeat to Bayern Munich across two legs with a scoreline of 10-2. This result proved to be the final nail in the coffin for Wenger, as the Frenchman left the club next season.
Unai Emery was appointed as Arsenal’s manager at the start of the 2018 season. During his short stint in London, the Spaniard managed to keep the team unbeaten for 22 games in the Premier League that season. He even led the Gunners to the Europa League final but failed to secure Arsenal’s first European trophy after they lost to London rivals, Chelsea.
Seeing the lack of intent from players and poor results, the fans turned their anger towards Emery. He was under a lot of pressure from both fans and the management. He was sacked shortly after, leaving behind a team in disarray.
In December 2019, the Emirates club appointed former midfielder, Mikel Arteta, as their head coach. In his first season, the Spaniard led them to a record 14th FA Cup triumph. However, that historic win seems to be a distant memory as the Gunners have hit a new low. They finished eighth in consecutive seasons and have missed out on European qualification for the first time in 25 years.
The current state of Arsenal cannot just be blamed on the managers and players as the club’s owners and board have played a major part in this decline. Years of mismanagement of assets, improper use of funds, and a lack of commitment shown by the owners has driven the club to this despairing situation.
Arsenal are now stuck in a loop and they will find it hard to come out of it. Without European football and the pandemic impact on budgets, it will be difficult to attract top-class players. What the North London club and the squad desperately require are confidence, patience, and a talismanic leader at the helm. One can only hope for calmer seas and brighter days ahead. Only time can tell at this point.
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