Let's Get Behind Arsenal and Mikel Arteta and fully support our lads in red and white 

Scarlet Katz Roberts says Arsenal are near to that elusive Premier League title - so let's back our boys 

If Twitter is to be believed, Arsenal have reached last chance saloon.

The narrative around our squad building, Mikel Arteta’s premiership, and a few title near misses, has rapidly become if we don’t win now we’re in big trouble or Arsenal are prioritising pragmatism in the window because they want success imminently, or William Saliba will leave if we don’t win a trophy next season, or (and I could go on) Arsenal have spent so much money and continue to be unsuccessful.

Last season has been chalked off to a backwards step despite our European efforts, forever the bridesmaids the popular stick to beat us with.

I am not denying that the past three years in particular, while thrilling, have ultimately been deeply disappointing.

Yes, it feels like we’re close to achieving what we want to with an undoubtedly talented squad, a passionate manager, and a fan base that has largely grown in its commitment and connectivity with the team.

But why are we so terrified that it won’t work out? And what if it already has? And is this attitude a contributing factor to our so-called lack of success? 

Take me back to August 2022, where late summer sun bathed The Vitality in a sepia glow, Gabby Jesus bargained with god to briefly swap souls with prime R9, and Saliba curled a sumptuous left footed strike into the top corner of Mark Travers’ net.

Many Arsenal fans lovingly mark this moment as a passage of Arteta’s tenure where we played our best football.

The transformational signings of Zinchenko and Gabby Jesus instantly elevated the team. Our early form saw us take maximum points from the first five games that season, propelling us to the top of the league.

Post Qatar World Cup and with a seven point lead on New Year’s Eve, the pressure set in. We all know how that season ended, our first brush in recent years with title disappointment.

Since then, we have established ourselves as serious challengers, but that has come with the weight of increased expectations.

The following year, we played like champions and were cruelly denied by Manchester City’s equally resilient late form.

Last season it all cranked up again, and with another near miss in the rear view mirror, it felt right that Arsenal should go on to rightfully claim what they had proven they deserved. But we didn’t. In fact, the closest we got to the title in earnest were the predictions that elected us would-be winners. We never really troubled Liverpool.

I’ll spare you the history lesson, because none of us need a recap of our recent failures. They are perilously close to the surface anyway.

But I will share, ahead of next season, what my greatest fear is, apart from Liverpool signing Isak.

My greatest fear for Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal is Mauricio Pochettino’s Tottenham. At their best, dynamic, physical, the envy of the league for their intensity, but ultimately unrewarded, disbanded and undermined by the need for instant success.

My point is, we’ve got a good thing going.

I started going to Arsenal in 2006 and I am confident in saying that this is the best team we’ve had. Sure, those were the days of mercurial creators like Nasri, RVP, Cesc, Hleb, later Cazorla, Sanchez and Ozil.

But this is a team capable of getting 89 points in a season. Let that sink in. And we have strengthened significantly.

Noni Madueke now looks to be a smart signing, especially as Gabi Martinelli has struggled for form in preseason. While Martin Zubimendi is undoubtedly an improvement on Partey, for multiple reasons.

Victor Gyokeres is guaranteed to take chances even if he is a flat track bully. The niggling question remains, is it worth this scattergun approach to raising the level by margins, when the big fish is out there waiting to be caught? In this case, looking ever more likely to land on Merseyside. 

So, what does success look like?

And should Mikel Arteta depart if we don’t win anything this season?

The obvious answer to this is “not this” and “yes”, according to an ever louder section of the fanbase.

One FA Cup in five years does not a successful Arsenal manager make, that is indisputable. Unless it isn’t… 

With a fully fit squad, we were better than Liverpool last season. This is discounting all the invisible factors that gather and build towards a title run: momentum, confidence, player availability, luck, et cetera.

In October, we battered them in the first half at the Emirates (a game where Partey started at right back). We led 2-1. Then the inevitable happened, injuries brought a Miles Lewis-Skelly pre first choice left back apotheosis into a makeshift defence alongside Jakub Kiwior, who replaced an injured Gabriel.

Mo Salah went on to equalise and, well, we know the rest.

That wasn’t the turning point that lost us the title, there were many of those. But I believe it was a real and pertinent indicator that we are there, more than competitive with our biggest rivals. 

But winning isn’t about just that, is it? And anyway, football doesn’t stand still. Liverpool will arguably be much stronger going into next season than they were as champions.

Chelsea will be a different proposition buoyed by their Club World Cup dollars. I’ve heard Manchester United are better too, but that might just mean they’ll be as good as West Ham this time around. Given every other team except Liverpool had a worse league campaign than us, why are the fanbase on the verge of collapse after two defeats in preseason friendlies? 

We can only control what we can control.

One thing we can and should address is the attitude of some fans that seem bent on undermining their team and manager.

Let Liverpool fans call Mikel Arteta David Brent, at least his hairline is thriving. But protect him, cherish him, knowing the depths he’s delivered us from.

Expectations are a good thing. We are a big fish now. But we have created a fait accomplis for our team. Win or else. And, let’s face it, we probably won’t win the League and/or the Champions League. Those are difficult things to do.

You don’t win just by being good, particularly in football, where the margin between success and failure can be as small as Son Heung Min bottling a one on one. But we are good. What defined our pre World Cup rampaging form? Quality, free flowing football, yes, but joy.

I’ve never heard the Emirates louder. I can’t promise I won’t be slumped, head in hands if we lose at Old Trafford or Anfield.

Yet I pledge here to try and enjoy what we have.

To that end, if Max Dowman doesn’t start on the opening day, I will riot!