The Top Flight
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Arsenal: Four Key Matches That Defined Their Season

By Keith Lisenbee

LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 07: Alexandre Lacazette of Arsenal celebrates with teammates after scoring his team's first goal following a length VAR review during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and West Ham United at Emirates Stadium on March 07, 2020 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Harriet Lander/Copa/Getty Images )
LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 07: Alexandre Lacazette of Arsenal celebrates with teammates after scoring his team's first goal following a length VAR review during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and West Ham United at Emirates Stadium on March 07, 2020 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Harriet Lander/Copa/Getty Images ) /
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Arsenal has had a disappointing season so far, but there have been signs of hope. Four matches have been pivotal to their campaign.

Following in the footsteps of a managing legend has been an unenviable task. Just ask David Moyes, who was hand-picked by Sir Alex Ferguson to take over at Manchester United after his retirement. Unable to withstand the weight of the past and unachievable expectations, Moyes was gone in less than a year.

Even though the last few years of the Arsene Wenger era were acrimonious, the Frenchman managed the Gunners for over 21 years, winning the Premier League three times, the FA Cup seven times, and dramatically changed how the Top Flight was managed and played in its early days.

Spaniard Unai Emery was brought in as Arsenal manager at the start of the 2018-19 season. He had managed Paris Saint-Germain the previous two years, winning one French league title and two domestic cups. Emery also had extensive coaching experience in La Liga before coming to France.

The new coach did not meet expectations during his first season. The Gunners finished fifth in the Premier League, just one point from the last Champions League qualification slot.

Arsenal had a second chance to reach the UCL by winning the Europa League. They played against Chelsea in the final, who had already qualified, and got hammered 4-1.

Arsenal was back in the Europa League – again.

Unai Emery came into this season with expectations to change the course and put the Gunners back into the conversation for the reaching the Champions League.

Here are the four matches that told the story of how the season played out.

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