Former Liverpool defender and widely-respected football pundit, Jamie Carragher, has recently suggested that Arsenal may have already hit their zenith under the guidance of coach Mikel Arteta. These comments arise amidst Arsenal’s struggle to make any significant strides in recent seasons, a trend that shows no signs of abating.
For the third season in a row, Arsenal has found itself in the hunt for the coveted Premier League title. However, their hopes of clinching the title seem likely to be dashed once more. Echoing last season’s narrative, Arsenal, fresh from a mid-season training camp in Dubai, stormed the league with an irresistible form that carried the title race to the final day. However, Manchester City edged them out in the end.
This season, their nemesis could be Liverpool. However, the question that continues to linger is whether Arsenal can ever again reach the dizzying heights of performance they displayed in the latter half of the previous season.
Carragher is skeptical. He strongly feels that Arsenal might have reached its pinnacle under Arteta and that a return to such heights might prove a steep climb. During an appearance on the Overlap, Carragher was quoted by the Daily Mail saying, “I think we’ve seen peak Arsenal under Arteta. I think last season, the second half of last season I was looking at Arsenal thinking wow, this is a team. I was watching them week in, week out and thinking I’m watching a team that’s as good as any team in Europe here.”
He further added, “The last 18 games, you won 16, drew one away to City and lost one at home to Aston Villa. That three or four-month period, I’m not sure Arsenal will get back to that.”
The challenge for Arsenal now is to display consistency over multiple seasons, a crucial factor in winning the Premier League. It would indeed be a letdown if last season’s phenomenal run turns out to be the high-water mark under Arteta’s stewardship. In order to secure the league title, Arsenal must find a way to maintain, if not surpass, that level of performance rather than viewing it as an insurmountable peak.
While fans and pundits alike continue to speculate on Arsenal’s future, one thing remains clear: Arsenal’s journey under Arteta is one to watch closely, whether it is a climb to new heights or a struggle to return to past glories.