Arsenal 3-1 Everton
The end of an era or the beginning of a new one?
Only time will answer that question, sports betting fans.
However, what this result does do is confirm many things.
It brings to an end a record of 19 straight seasons in which Arsene Wenger has guided the Gunners to a place in the Champions League – what betting odds would there have been on that in 1998?
It also proves that, despite Wenger’s best efforts, vying with established rivals and the big-money emergence of Chelsea and Man City have made the chase for a top-four spot as difficult as it’s ever been.
It also further proves that, despite the odd cup triumph in recent years, there’s been a clear decline at Arsenal FC over the past decade.
Recent reverses at West Brom and Crystal Palace were among the games which smacked off all too familiar mental failings as Arsenal finished outside the top four for the first time in 21 years.
How and who addresses those failings remains to be seen.
In truth, Arsenal didn’t miss out today.
For this was the latest match in which they have played well – early goals from Hector Bellerin and Alexis Sanchez and a late curler from Aaron Ramsey overcoming Everton, despite the hosts playing most of the game with 10 men following Laurent Koscielny’s 14th-minute dismissal.
Yet a fine finish to the campaign, with the FA Cup Final still to come, could not mask the overall disappointment inside the Emirates.
Victory in the FA Cup would go some way to making up for this setback.
Indeed, rather than fourth place, many fans would much prefer to see their side gets their hands on silverware and go on to become the most successful side in the competition (they currently have 12 FA Cup triumphs with Man Utd).
But the overall atmosphere among Arsenal fans in recent months, however justified, has been widely documented and cannot have helped the players who will now need full backing at Wembley – especially now Koscielny will be suspended while fellow centre-back Gabriel is a doubt after being carried off on a stretcher.
Next weekend’s FA Cup Final could yet be a salvation for this season but, either way, Wenger and Arsenal will expect a big improvement in the Premier League next term.
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