EXCL: When Arteta will sign new contract, Arsenal left-back links, Ramsdale's exit inevitable, plus thoughts on Klopp farewell & more

This week's column on all things Arsenal FC, featuring Arteta, Ramsdale, and LB targets...

Arsenal were unlucky not to win the title, but it won’t be this team’s last chance

Obviously Sunday didn’t pan out the way everyone at Arsenal wanted it to, but that shouldn’t take away from what was a remarkable season for the club - a season that saw them set new standards. 

Mikel Arteta’s side ended the season with 89 points. Only the Invincibles in 2003-04 have ever amassed more during a 38-game season for the club. They won 28 out of 38 league games, which is a new club record in the Premier League era. They scored 91 league goals, again, more than they have ever scored in a Premier League campaign. And they had the best defence in the Premier League, only conceding 29 goals. Their final goal difference of +62 was their best since 1935 and since the turn of the year they dropped just five points, picking up 49 from a possible 54. 

In 2024 they had a record of 18 games, 16 wins, one draw and one defeat. 54 goals scored, nine conceded. Those are simply incredible numbers by a team who in any other era would have been worthy champions with at least a couple of weeks to spare.

When you have gone on a run like that, it is obviously demoralising to end up empty handed. But I am absolutely convinced that there is success coming to Arsenal in the very near future. This team is too good for it not to bring major silverware to the Emirates. Missing out this season will only fuel their fire even more.