Most Arsenal supporters would have finished sixth in the Premier League after three games in the 2021/22 season. With no points and no goals, the Gunners were anchored to the bottom of the standings, and Mikel Arteta and his players appeared to be facing a catastrophe.
However, context is essential, and fifth place came with a lowered expectation of what may have been. After a late-season collapse that included a table-turning defeat to their greatest rivals, Arsenal were pipped to fourth – and with it the last of the Champions League positions – by none other than Tottenham.
Despite this, Arsenal had a successful season, finishing third in the Premier League for the first time in three years and qualifying for the Europa League after missing out previous season due to their eighth-place result.
Arteta will be delighted with the way the majority of his new acquisitions have settled in. Goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale and center-back Ben White have improved both positions, and playmaker Martin Odegaard has rapidly established himself as an important player after joining on a permanent basis from Real Madrid after spending the second half of last season on loan. Takehiro Tomiyasu, on the other hand, has been a revelation.
As Arteta strives to determine the club's future, the season was also marked by departures.
Hector Bellerin, Lucas Torreira, Ainsley Maitland-Niles, Matteo Guendouzi, and Pablo Mari all secured loan transfers elsewhere and are not anticipated to be in Arteta's plans in the future.
Then there was Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's January departure, when he was benched, stripped of his captaincy, and eventually joined Barcelona on a free transfer following a disciplinary spat with Arteta.
Although there have been hiccups and disappointments along the road, Arteta and his team have a lot to build on for next season and beyond.
Check out the Arsenal player ratings for the 2021/22 season below
Mikel Arteta (Manager) 7.5: After a shaky start to the season, he steadied the ship, parting ways with an uneasy Aubameyang, to lead Arsenal to the edge of the top four. The Gunners may have missed out because they stumbled at the worst possible time, but Arteta looks to be steering the club in the right way.
Aaron Ramsdale (goalkeeper): 7.
Goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale: 7. (Defenders) Ben White (7), Gabriel (7), Rob Holding (5), Kierney (7), Nuno Tavares (6), Ben White (7), Gabriel (7)
Tomiyasu Takehiro: 8
Thomas Partey: 8
Cedric Soares 6
Mohamed Elneny: 7.
Albert Sambi Lokonga: 6.
Granit Xhaka: 5.
Bukayo Saka: 9; Martin Odegaard: 8; Emile Smith Rowe: 8; Gabriel Martinelli: 6; Nicolas Pepe: 3;
Alexandre Lacazette 5
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang: 2 Eddie Nketiah: 7