00:00After another season marked by close calls but driven by clear ambition,
00:07Arsenal face a crucial question as they prepare for the upcoming campaign under Mikel Arteta.
00:14Where should their focus lie to make the leap from contenders to champions?
00:18The Gunners have carved out a distinctive style, high energy, aggressive and powered by a talented youthful core.
00:25The key challenges remain in turning that potential into silverware.
00:30Squad depth and player fitness remain significant concerns.
00:35Last season's title bid faltered largely due to injuries to key players at critical times,
00:40exposing a lack of reliable cover when it was needed most.
00:44Arsenal must find a way to strengthen their squad to sustain pressure across all competitions,
00:50especially the Premier League and Champions League, while avoiding fatigue and burnout.
00:54We caught up with Jacobello from London World to get his take on Arsenal's transfer priorities,
01:01the positions most in need of reinforcements,
01:04and whether Arteta's squad can finally close the gap and secure the Premier League crown.
01:09Yeah, I mean, if you look at the title race throughout the season,
01:15obviously now the race for Champions League, the race for Europe is incredibly tight.
01:19But in terms of the top two, you have to look back on this season and think it was a massive opportunity.
01:26You had Manchester City who just won four titles on the bounce and they suddenly dropped off.
01:30They've had a terrible season by their standards.
01:32No one else was really challenging. Yes, Liverpool have done a great job.
01:37But Arsenal, as you say, they won 28 games last campaign, only 18 in 36 games this season.
01:43That's just not enough. And you feel that they did have that same form last season.
01:47They'd have probably stormed to the title.
01:49Yeah, I mean, Arsenal finished on 89 points last year.
01:52I think Liverpool can get a maximum of 89 points if they win their last two games.
01:57Arteta's talked about that and about how timing is crucial.
02:01I think Arsenal, over the last three seasons, have the second most points.
02:05Liverpool have the third.
02:07And, you know, Liverpool have won the title this year and Arsenal, you know, have ended up with none.
02:13And I don't think Arsenal's squad is big enough.
02:17You know, you look at the bench, some of the games.
02:20I mean, the options that they bring on you.
02:22He's looking at 17-year-old Ethan Neri or Raheem Sterling, who just has done nothing this season.
02:29The squad isn't big enough.
02:30And then there's also the mental fatigue.
02:32You know, how much does it take out of you to compete for the league two years in a row and come up short?
02:39You know, that physical and mental fatigue, I think, this season has really come to fruition.
02:44And they have looked leggy, you know, physically and mentally, as I say.
02:51And whether they just need a break this summer, you know, there's no international tournament.
02:56They're not in the Club World Cup.
02:58I think they need a real break.
02:59I think they need a real strong summer.
03:01They need to sign a centre-forward.
03:03And hopefully they can come back.
03:06Because the narrative in the media now as well, which is only going to continue, is how long can Arsenal go without a trophy before Mikel Arteta is deemed a failed manager?
03:18I don't think that's a strong sense within the Arsenal fan base, to be honest.
03:23But that narrative will grow.
03:25And, you know, football, we're at an elite level with Arsenal.
03:29And, you know, those questions should be asked at some point.
03:32So it will be interesting to see how it develops for sure.
03:36But, yeah, as you say, if Arsenal had the form they had last season, yeah, they'd definitely be with a shout.
03:43But I think that mental and physical fatigue has just caught up within this campaign.
03:46Arsenal fans are really looking and craving that bigger trophy, like the Premier League and the Champions League.
03:53And potentially if Arsenal won just an FA Cup this season or a Carabao Cup, of course they'd be happy.
03:59But I still get the sense maybe they would think that that's not enough.
04:02But what it would do would be give this kind of squad affirmation and confirmation that they can win things.
04:11And I think that's what's really important is for this squad right now.
04:15Because, truthfully, you know, Arteta's FA Cup that he won, it wasn't his squad.
04:19There were no players that are in this current squad.
04:22So this squad needs to win a trophy, whether that's a domestic cup.
04:27They need to win something so that they can, you know, believe in themselves and go that extra mile
04:34and take home the big prizes like the Premier League or the Champions League next season.
04:40But definitely something needs to give for sure.
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