Arsenal’s first season under Unai Emery held so much promise, but ultimately fell short of expectations.
It was an interesting season for Arsenal in 2018-19 without a doubt, as they ventured into Premier League football without Arsene Wenger at the helm for the first time in 23 years. The man who replaced the legendary Frenchman, Unai Emery, divided opinions all season long, but most notably at the beginning and end of it.
Arsenal spent money prudently and shrewdly in the summer of 2018, spending just £70 million, but finding some absolute bargains in the market, including Lucas Torreira, Matteo Guendouzi, and Bernd Leno. In fact, the only poor piece of business that Sanllehi and co made last summer was the free transfer of Stephan Lichtsteiner, who proved to be a calamitous right-back, even as a 3rd choice.
It’s been nearly a whole month, but I still can’t believe that Arsenal needed one win from games against Everton, Crystal Palace, Wolves, Leicester City, Brighton & an injury-hit Chelsea side to secure Champions League football for next season, yet we still managed to bottle it.
— Patrick Timmons (@PatrickTimmons1) June 17, 2019
Arsenal started the Premier League season with 2 losses in 2 tough fixtures, against Manchester City and Chelsea, but found their groove nicely following that, going undefeated in 22 matches in all competitions. That run came to an end with a loss to Southampton at the St. Mary’s in mid-December – a defeat which would ultimately lead to some extremely poor away form from the Gunners which would not be repaired by the end of the season.
Toward the end of the season, Arsenal were favourites to secure a top 4 place which would earn them some much-needed Champions League football, but a late collapse, losing to Leicester, Wolves, and Palace in consecutive matches, stifled that hope. Chelsea laid Arsenal’s Champions League hopes to rest for good in the Europa League final, crushing the Gunners 4-1 in Baku.