At the end of another Premier League season, Arsenal will again look back roughly and think what could have been.
Try it the way they could under Mikel Arteta, the Gunners simply have not been able to reach the line in their attempts to land their first English top-flight title since the 2003/04 Invincibles season.
For a club of Arsenal's status that is not nearly good enough.
Arsenal's final position in the Premier LeagueFlash score of 2024/25
Depending on whether you are a glass half or half empty supporter, there are both positive and negative spins that can be placed on what has happened in the last few seasons under the custody of the Spaniard.
It is clear that Arteta has eliminated the problem makers in the dressing room, has a team that all pulls in the same direction and to watch Arsenal is now to see football often in its purest form.
The board of Arsenal deserves the honor of not bending for Fan Power
Although they have not been able to acquire silverware lately, there has absolutely an improvement in Arsenal's playing style, even if it becomes clearer that the evolution of the team is not enough to keep the Emirates Stadium true.
One may understand a supporter when you are placed in context with the last years of Arsene Wenger in the club.
After their victory, proponents of Arsenal celebrate at the end of the UEFA Women's Champions League Finalčtk / Image Sport Photo Service / © Manuel Blondeau / AOP.Press
Not bending for a fan power If things are not going well, the arsenal board takes a lot of credit, but they have to take into account that Wenger could stay in the club for much longer than he should have, which ultimately hurt the North Londers and demonstrably reversed them.
Now a line must be drawn into the sand. Win or bust. The club has to support their manager with enough money in the Kitty for Arteta to go out and buy the players that he believes will finally bring that long -awaited trophy – and if he does not, that should be the time for change.
Gunners must strengthen in multiple positions
A striker remains a priority, because if Arsenal had had a 'right' center-forward last season, there is every chance that his goals would have chased the title more a race of two horses than a canterpool canterpool.
Another area where the club is supposed to strengthen is wide, so Rodrygo from Real Madrid is still being associated with a switch from the Spanish capital to the English.
The Arsenal First team during the semi-final first leg match of 2024/25 Champions League against PSGMickael Chavet/Zuma Pers Wire/S/Slothterstock Editorial/Profimedia
The 24-year-old saw his minutes decrease in 2024/25 after Los Blancos landed Kylian Mbappe, but the Rodrygo camp had been quiet about whether the Brazilian would rather earn his fortune elsewhere from 2025/26.
Even if the discussions are at the earliest stage, it seems pretty clear that Rodrygo is a player who manages Arteta and would like to add to his young team.
Rodrygo will not move Saka
Unless Bukayo Saka is injured, the International of England remains a Shoo-in on the right, so signing Rodrygo would bring him in direct competition with Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Martinelli on the left.
It is worthwhile to immediately point out that Rodrygo played the left wing 78 times in his career, although he has managed 23 goals and 16 assists from that position.
Radar graphic comparison between Leandro Trossard and Rodrygapta perform by statistics
In total since he became a member of the Spanish giants in 2019/20, he has achieved an impressive 66 goals and 46 assists in 264 games played.
Martinelli has 51 goals and 27 assists in 225 games in the same time frame, while Trossard, who only came to the Gunners in the 2022/23 season, collected 28 goals and 21 assists of 124 games with the club.
How do Martinelli and Trossard relate to Rodrygo?
Rodrygo's shooting improvement in 24/25 has certainly also been improved, and although 78.6% may not sound like the best statistics in this respect, it is very favorable to compare with the 62.5% of Martinelli and the 50% of Trossard.
Of course Arsenal ideally only wants real ball players in their team who can zip the ball quickly and accurately, and there is certainly no problem with the death of the Brazilian, who has been completed over 90% in the last two seasons.
Arsenal's Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard celebrate after scoring the first goal against Liverpoolpeter Powell / AFP / AFP / Profimedia
Martinelli's 88% of 25 passes in the FA Cup Run of the season of 24/25 is his best show, because all 18 passes made in the 2023/24 League Cup Run their target. In the Premier League, however, he has difficulty getting a lot above the mid -70s.
Trossard's recent 85% – again from the FA Cup – came out of only eight total passes, so a more accurate reading would be 80.5% in the Premier League.
Arteta and the true ambitions of the board forward when Rodrygo does not sign
It is clear that both are not patches on their contemporary in this area and, what is more, when Rodrygo gets possesses, there is that hint of anticipation that supporters gets from their seats. There is an expectation that something will happen, which is not always the case if Martinelli or Trossard have the ball.
If we look at defensive aspects to get a more rounded perspective, Rodrygo has won 102 out of 169 tackles that he has tried while also making 102 interceptions and has recovered on 557 separate occasions.
Mikel Arteta, who is convinced that he has the unambiguous support of Arsenal -fans, despite the fact that the club falls short in their attempt to get a TropheeaDam Davy / PA images / profimedia
Countryman Martinelli has won an impressive 119 tackles from 197 attempt at, with 61 interceptions and has won 578 times. The Belgian International Trossard has won 48 tackles of only 85 attempts, has only made 32 interceptions and won 289 times.
Looking at the data, at the moment in time, would the only logical question that Mikel Arteta and the Arsenal Board wonder is why they would not sign Rodrygo?
A rumors of € 80 million transfer costs and annual salary of € 8.4 million means that he will not come cheap, but if the club would go to the financial aspects of the deal, that certainly says more about their true ambitions than something else.
Jason Pettigroveflash score