The 2016-17 Premier League season has just ended for the Gunners and it was a god awful one. Arsenal for the first time in 22 years will not be playing in the Champions League after ending the season in 5th behind Chelsea, Tottenham, Manchester City, and Liverpool in the Premier League.
This 5th place finish and a potential FA Cup title brings more questions than answers. Perhaps the biggest one being will the board let go of Arsene Wegner? A manager who has brought consistency and profits for the club but can't look past his own success as the club hasn't won a Premier League title in over 10 years.
This past season has sadly brought the worst of the Wegner saga as Arsenal fans continue to be divided over wether Wegner should be involved in the club anymore. Some stating that Wegner's conservative transfer philosophy is still the way forward for the club while others are calling for Wegner to let the club go and bring in new blood like the fiery defensive tactician, Diego Simeone.
However; it looks like for now, Wegner will stay unless the Arsenal board and Stan Kroenke decide otherwise. Meaning Arsenal will continue to be run more like a company instead of a soccer club. Something Arsenal fans are tired of.
So what will the new season bring. No one really knows but maybe this 5th place finish will be good for Arsenal. By being in the Europa League, the board will understand that the club needs some overhauls or they will be left behind as other Premier League clubs continue to make changes while Arsenal has continued to be the same old Arsenal. Overhauls could come in Wegner leaving or a change in attitude amongst Arsenal's players who often look disinterested and don't start acting like it matters until late in the season. Also Arsenal will probably have to let some great players like Alexis Sanchez go, given that they aren't in the Champions League. This could be a good thing, as Arsenal has the chance to recruit new players and build a better team that actually plays for the badge and the manager whoever they may be.
Arsenal's past season was pretty dismal but now the club has a chance to change for the better. The question is whether the club will continue down this path of malaise as they continue to be left behind by other Premier League clubs or will the board and Kroenke wake up and try to change the culture around the club, so Arsenal can get back to their glory days.
