Arsenal’s heroic failure to advance past Monaco into the quarterfinals of the UEFA Champions League raised hopes in some circles and reinforced the spirit of pessimism in other corners of the club’s fan base.
Arsenal defeated Monaco 2-0 on Tuesday at the Stade Louis II, but the Gunners’ 3-1 loss to the same opponent Feb. 25 in the first leg sent them out of the tournament on the away goals rule. Arsenal’s performances over the two legs were not good enough to avoid the shock elimination, but the outcome of the round of 16 series reveals next to nothing about the Gunners’ place in European soccer’s pecking order that we didn’t know at the start of the season.
Manager Arsene Wenger has assembled a talented, young squad that is hungry for success. Arsenal hoped to build on last season’s FA Cup triumph and third-place finish in the Premier League and pursue greater targets in 2014-15. One such goal was to reach the Champions League quarterfinals for the first time since 2010.
Arsenal failed to do so because it made a fatal mistake and conceded a goal in the dying moments of the first leg. Arsenal earned a measure of redemption Tuesday but fell agonizingly short of an achievable goal. Advancing to the quarterfinals would have represented progress, but Arsenal couldn’t have reasonably expected to advance beyond the last eight when the season kicked off without the help of luck or more powerful forces. Wenger’s group hasn’t reached the standard of Europe’s leading clubs yet.
Arsenal’s progress this season has been incremental, full of setbacks and slow for reasons both in and out of Wenger’s control. Wenger has assembled his squad around a core of young British players, foreign-born academy graduates and impact signings he made in recent years. It’s important to note almost half of Wenger’s best team was absent from the starting 11 in both legs.
Midfielder Aaron Ramsey played 27 of the 180 minutes against Monaco. His late goal Tuesday reminded Arsenal of what it missed in the absence his balky hamstring caused. Hamstring and groin problems limited Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain to 22 minutes and one goal in the round of 16. Theo Walcott still is working his way back from a devastating knee injury he suffered 13-and-a-half months ago. Walcott played just 48 minutes against Monaco.
Jack Wilshere, Mikel Arteta and Mathieu Debuchy missed out entirely due to long-term injuries.
Kieran Gibbs’ loss of form cost him a place in the starting 11 between the two legs. Wojciech Szczesny watched both games from the bench for the same reason.
Most of Arsenal’s leading players still are maturing as soccer players and as men. Only defenders Per Mertesacker, Laurent Koscielny and Debuchy and midfielder Santi Cazorla are Arsenal regulars who will be on the wrong side of 30 when the 2015-16 Champions League group stage kicks off in September. One or more could be out of the lineup or at another club by then if Arsenal finds upgrades at their positions.
Arsenal’s other regulars — 12 by my count — either are entering or firmly are in the prime years of their careers. They will play a higher level more consistently in the years to come because of the progression of time. Wenger can accelerate their growth by adding impact signings and developing his own methods and tactics in the advanced stage of his own career.
The Gunners missed a sitter in losing out to Monaco, but they can continue on their path among the ranks of the elite by scoring these other attainable goals for next season and beyond.
Thumbnail photo via Christophe Ena/Associated Press
