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As Arsenal await their Tuesday showdown with Paris St-Germain within the Champions League semi-finals, we’ve entered ‘what if’ territory.
On the one hand, getting previous the French champions will see Arsenal of their first Champions League ultimate since 2006. Win that, and every part that has gone fallacious this season shall be forgotten.
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I’m, regrettably, a extra pessimistic Arsenal fan. I’ve began catastrophising what’s going to occur if Arsenal do end this season with none silverware. Anxiousness usually provides us the false feeling of management, so listed here are a couple of of the worst case situations I’ve thought of.
One of many greatest variations between Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal and the one he inherited, is that there are actually bona fide superstars within the squad.
Bukayo Saka, William Saliba and Declan Rice are all exhibiting they belong within the higher echelons of soccer.
However one thing price having can also be price dropping. Actual Madrid have lengthy been linked with Saliba. On Monday, rumours have been swirling that Arsenal have locked in Saka’s contract extension, however they are going to be conscious that hanging on to their superstars will turn out to be more and more troublesome if success doesn’t comply with on the pitch. The vultures from La Liga and past are circling.
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One other fear is that incoming gamers, beforehand believed to be shopping for into the Arteta ‘course of’, could have issues.
Arsenal have been on an upward trajectory, however with three second-place finishes in a row, you would possibly argue they’ve peaked – and a stagnation, or worse a backwards step, is important to progress. That could be a a lot tougher promote to potential signings than a promising however nascent work in progress.
However this isn’t the week for catastrophising.
On Tuesday, Arsenal shall be hoping to copy what they did in opposition to Actual Madrid as they face the French facet. We’ll fear about subsequent season after that as a result of this one shouldn’t be over but.
Discover extra from Laura Kirk-Francis on the
[BBC]