Momentum, or a lack thereof
Reliving the exhausting nature of Arsenal's 2024/25 season as quickly as possible
Two wins to start. Raya’s double save at Villa. Merino’s pre-debut shoulder fracture. Rice delaying the restart. Ødegaard injured with Norway. Raheem Sterling?! One-nil at Tottenham. Raya’s double save at Atalanta. City: Calafiori, Trossard delays the restart, 98th-minute heartbreak, stay humble. 90+4 against Leicester, win from behind against Southampton. Saliba sees red as Webb watches on. Makeshift back four and Liverpool equalise, Arsenal’s winner doesn’t stand. Newcastle away. Inter away. A draw at Chelsea. Beat Forest, love it in Lisbon, five at West Ham, set pieces again against United. Back down to earth at Fulham, 0-0 against Everton. Jesus rises to down Palace. Twice. But Arsenal lose Saka at Selhurst. Nwaneri scores at Brighton, then goes off injured. Clash of heads, penalty, more points dropped. Newcastle again, goalless again. That damn League Cup ball. Lose to United, losing Jesus on the way. Another NLD double. Two-goal lead isn’t enough against Villa, VAR says Havertz handballs. MLS sent off at Wolves but Arsenal rally. Neto not in net in Girona. Arteta asks for a forward, doesn’t get one. Pep finally pummelled. Newcastle yet again, goalless yet again. Fresh legs in Dubai, just not for Kai. Merino brace saves the day. West Ham win at the carpet again, another MLS red card. All square at Forest. What’s Dutch for floodgates opening? Another miserable trip to Old Trafford. Chelsea get Merino-ed. So do Fulham as Saka finally returns … just in time for Gabriel to pull up. Penalty at Goodison. Rice cooks Real. Brentford earn a point. Penalty miss but a Bernabéu night to savour. Ipswich swatted away, Mateta claims a point. PSG strike early. Bournemouth strike late. Heartbreak in Paris. A game of two halves (and another red card) at Anfield. Newcastle again, Arsenal finally score. Second again, olé olé.
Another entire season will be in the bag after this weekend and I can’t remember one more exhausting than this.
Even in some of the really poor seasons, there were spells of good form and good football. And even if there wasn’t, at least there was no expectation, we knew where we stood.
This year, an Arsenal team with all the potential in the world just never got going. From the very beginning it felt like every good half of football was followed up by a disastrous injury/result/decision/suspension in double quick time.
A Champions League semi-final and a second-place finish in the league yet the moments to really enjoy have been few and far between. And you couldn’t enjoy them for long.
After the Women’s Champions League final on Saturday and a trip to Southampton on Sunday that thankfully has nothing riding on it, I am incredibly ready for a lie down.
Give me a week and some transfer rumours and I won’t be able to wait to watch the team in action again.