So near yet so far again for Arsenal.
The last two years it was the Premier League , this season it was the Champions League. Improvements and progress? Of course.
It is also nonsense that Mikel Arteta should be under any sort of pressure given where he took this Gunners side from. But, and it is one big but, he has got one more year to make this team successful.
Not that he should be sacked if they remain trophyless next season - but teams have a set time when they have to win something. Otherwise the top players in that squad will start thinking maybe this project isn’t going to satisfy their ambitions.
William Saliba would be the prime candidate there. He’s a world-class centre-back who would have his pick of clubs if he wanted to move on. He will no doubt still be sold on what Arteta is trying to build after a Champions League semi-final exit at the hands of PSG.
Mikel Arteta, Manager of Arsenal, looks dejected during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Everton FC at Emirates Stadium on May 19, 2024 in London, England.
Mikel Arteta's side were dumped out of Europe this week (Image: Getty Images)
But if Arsenal plateau again domestically and in Europe - or worse go backwards in both - then it would be the likes of Saliba who may be thinking Real Madrid, Manchester City or others could deliver what he needs.
That’s where the pressure is now for Arteta. He has built something at Arsenal but he’s struggling to put the finishing touches on it. That’s the silver stuff that gets picked up in May.
Arsenal tick boxes along the way by beating big rivals and showing grit and class to overcome the likes of Real. But they still haven’t shown they can get their hands on what players want the most - trophies.
Declan Rice has said that as much himself. It’s the silverware that matters. Nobody remembers the progressors and improvers. So it will be a big summer for the Gunners.
They need to add real firepower up front and put better than Mikel Merino around Rice in midfield, especially if Thomas Partey leaves when his contract expires.
It’s not like Arteta hasn’t already spent a fortune so they also need to shed this underdog attitude that they have and that the whole world is against them.
Mikel Arteta, head coach of Arsenal FC, speaks during the press conference ahead of their UEFA Champions League 2024/25 quarter final second leg match at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on April 15, 2025 in Madrid, Spain.
Mikel Arteta's players could start to look for roles elsewhere
The chequebook must come out again but that shows Arsenal are just like any other club - heavily investing to try to win. But whoever they buy must be players that are going to take them to the next level and not just squad depth.
Arteta has one more season with this squad to turn them into winners and for the players to prove they’re capable of going all the way.
While it might not cost him his job if they go six years without a trophy, it could cost him some big assets.
Simone Inzaghi
Simone Inzaghi is some coach (Image: Getty Images)
Simone Inzaghi is one hell of a coach.
Inter Milan might be stumbling in the Serie A title race but to have this team competing for a Champions League again is remarkable. He’s witnessed big players get sold and yet keeps unearthing better ones or reinvigorating older ones like Henrikh Mkhitaryan.
Now Inter are in their second Champions League final in three years. They’ve dumped German champions Bayern Munich out and went toe-to-toe with soon-to-be La Liga winners Barcelona in an all-time classic to book their final spot.
There will no doubt be links with failing Premier League clubs coming soon. But why would he leave a giant like Inter?
It would only be for money because the feeling of beating Barcelona at the San Siro must have been unbelievable.
He could become a legend there. Although, losing the Serie A title to Napoli won’t go down well. So he might desperately need that European Cup in late May.
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ONSIDE: Frank Lampard. No matter what happens in play-offs, remarkable job so far at Coventry.
OFFSIDE: Arsene Wenger moaning about Champions League place for Europa winners. It gives it some prestige.