Gabriel Martinelli admits Arsenal have failed to deliver their expectations on winning titles in recent seasons and now need to qualify for the Champions League, via the Daily Mail.
The Gunners have endured a string of disappointing Premier League finishes since ending the 2015/16 campaign second to Leicester City. The Foxes’ shock title win remains the last term in which Arsenal ended the season inside the top-four after 20-straight campaigns.
In the following years, Arsenal have produced two fifth-place finishes, but ended each of the last two in eighth. This year could finally end the north London natives’ dry spell, with Mikel Arteta’s side sitting fourth by three points and with a game in hand with 10 to play.
Yet the 2021/22 campaign will not return a title for the Gunners in any competition. They exited the FA Cup at the first hurdle with a 1-0 defeat at Nottingham Forest. Liverpool also eliminated the Emirates Stadium natives from the Carabao Cup with a 2-0 semi-final win.
Meanwhile, Arsenal last lifted a title when they won the Community Shield at the start of last season. The Gunners earned their place following a record 14th FA Cup win in ‘19/20, beating Chelsea in the final. They had gone the ‘18/19 campaign without any silverware.
This season will see Arsenal match their barren ’18/19 campaign when they finished one point from the top-four. Tottenham Hotspur edged their north London rivals that season, and Spurs are the Gunners’ closest challenger this term, followed by Manchester United.
Martinelli admits Arsenal ‘didn’t deliver’ and need Champions League berth
Having failed to achieve their trophy targets this term, Martinelli admits Arsenal now need to secure a Champions League berth for the first time in six years.
“Arsenal always go into competitions thinking of winning titles,” Martinelli said. “We didn’t deliver on this objective for a few seasons, but we are now leaving it behind us.
“We have the chance to be in the next Champions League and we are fighting towards it. It is the main objective for the club. We need to do it.”
Should Arsenal see through their top-four push, Martinelli will have had a big say in sealing their Champions League return. The 20-year-old has scored five and created three goals so far over 19 appearances. He is also often one of their talismans and shines even in defeats.
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