ARE ARSENAL’S TOP- FOUR DAYS NOW A THING OF THE PAST?

Having finished eighth in successive seasons, Arsenal’s realistic first aim for 2021- 22 is simply to break back into the top six. But is that really it? Well... no. Without the distraction of European football for the first time in 26 years, they have an improved chance of cracking the top four again – and shouldn’t be embarrassed about aiming for it.

Last season, Mikel Arteta’s side were second in the Premier League form table from Boxing Day onwards, a period encompassing almost two- thirds of the campaign, showing a huge improvement on their abysmal results up to then. Now they must maintain that momentum. Though they came eighth, Arsenal were just six points behind Chelsea in the Champions League spots, and their closing run of five consecutive wins included a victory at Stamford Bridge.

The north Londoners have a core of exciting young players to build a team around – and they should do just that. Emile Smith Rowe and Bukayo Saka have quickly become established first- team figures, while Brazilian forward Gabriel Martinelli is pushing for greater inclusion. Then there’s Nicolas Pepe. The club- record signing finished last season in excellent form: he ended up with 16 goals and five assists in all competitions, and half of those goals came from April onwards. Pepe can certainly frustrate supporters, but he is ultimately a high- end performer with two seasons at the club under his belt now.

Of course, it isn’t all positive. The Gunners have a very inexperienced coach whose callowness has been exposed regularly. Arteta’s substitutions are a constant bone of contention, as is the impression that his style is too cautious and overly coached. At times, his players haven’t looked as if they’re afforded any freedom to assert dominance over teams in the lower half of the table.

The facts speak for themselves. Despite being able to call on Pierre- Emerick Aubameyang, Alexandre Lacazette, Pepe, Saka, Smith Rowe, Martinelli and, uh, Willian, Arsenal have scored fewer goals in the past two seasons than in any campaign since the days of Bruce Rioch. Too often, the side’s slow build- up play gave opposition defences precious little to fear.

Arteta has to demonstrate that his team can keep rivals under the cosh for longer if they’re to frighten the bigger boys this year. Arsenal’s top- four days may be over for now, but even a fleeting return wouldn’t go amiss. Just when you thought they were out...