Let’s address this straight away – you’re probably baffled after reading the title, and you have every right to be.
After all, why on Earth should Arsenal – one of England’s biggest clubs – possibly be satisfied with finishing 10th in the Premier League?
Well, there’s one major reason why it’s a big positive for Mikel Arteta.
If Arsenal finish 10th, and don’t win the Europa League, there will no European football at the Emirates Stadium next season.
As a result, there will be less fixture congestion, and less physical demand on Arsenal’s first-team stars. There will also be more time for Arteta to work on game plans with his squad.
You’re probably still baffled, and again, you have a right to be. European football is a big thing, and the immediate feeling of missing out on it is a negative one.
However, you only need to look at what happened to Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea team in the 2015/16 season to see there is logic in what we’re saying.
After a dreadful campaign, in which the ex-Real Madrid boss was sacked in December 2015, the Blues finished 10th.
Understandably, it was all doom and gloom at Stamford Bridge.
However, in the following campaign under Antonio Conte, Chelsea went on to win the Premier League by seven points.
That season included a 13-game winning run in the Premier League, as Chelsea’s Italian tactician had more time to work on game plans, and fitter players to carry those plans out with.
We’re not saying that finishing 10th will see Arsenal win the 2021/22 Premier League title.
However, it should set the Gunners up for a much more productive campaign – it’s not the be all and end all, by any means.
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