When Arsene Wenger finally left the Emirates after more than decades in charge, it did feel like the end was inevitable.
The Gunners had enjoyed an incredible trophy-laden period in the first-half of the Frenchman’s reign, not least that special Invincibles season. But whilst three FA Cups in the final years of his tenure added some gloss, it failed to cover up some of the mounting problems the north Londoners had.
Two successive finishes outside of the top four and thus missing out on Champions League football, and growing fan discontent that manifested itself into vile personal abuse on occasion.
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The one thing the north London side always had going for them however, was their attack. Three of the club’s most-high profile signings in Wenger’s second-half of his managerial reign – Mesut Ozil, Alexandre Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang – helped the Gunners finish with a total of 74 goals in his final season in the Premier League (joint-third most in the entire division).
But fast forward more than two years later, and it appears new head coach Mikel Arteta is keen to start afresh. Unai Emery came, saw, and ultimately left with his tail tucked between his legs after being sacked by the club earlier this season.
Recent reports have claimed Arteta has been left “disappointed by the team’s lack of progress” since taking over, and is of the belief that “major surgery” is required – a stance that is a major threat to the Gunners’ aforementioned attacking trio, although it is suggested the Gunners head coach is “eager” to keep Aubameyang.
But ultimately, Ozil, Lacazette and Aubameyang effectively symbolised the latter period of Wenger’s time in charge. Under the Frenchman, they combined for a total of 64 goals and 81 assists in just 249 games. A pretty impressive total when taken at face value. But what exactly in terms of tangible success did that bring the Gunners? Following Arsenal’s purchase of the latter two, they did not win a single trophy, and finished in the Europa League places.
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And what is worse, this season has seen their form dramatically fall off a cliff, with only Aubameyang getting anywhere close to his best form, with 16 goals. Ozil meanwhile, has yet to find the back of the net at all, whilst Lacazette is on a disastrous streak of eight games without a goal in the Premier League.
That is exactly why Arteta must steam ahead with his reported plans of engineering a revolution in the summer. By getting rid of those three in particular, he would be culling the team of some of the final remaining remnants of the Wenger era. It would allow the north London side to plan more effectively for the future, rather than being burden by players who maybe are high-profile in name, but don’t deliver actual results on the pitch.
The time has come for the Gunners’ young head coach to stamp his mark on things at the Emirates. He could do just that by bringing an end to the misery of Wenger’s final couple of years this summer.
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