sport news Arsenal's Champions League collapse will leave them trapped in the same vicious ... trends now
The irony in Bruno Guimaraes slamming the Champions League door in Arsenal’s face on Monday night was inescapable.
The interest in Guimaraes from north London during the January window was entirely genuine, but it is said they were indecisive and slow in trying to close a deal.
Newcastle were less hesitant and the rest is history; Guimaraes scoring the second in a 2-0 win at St James’ Park to - barring the unlikely scenario of Tottenham losing to Norwich on Sunday - end Arsenal's hopes of qualifying for the Champions League.
There was a similar theme behind Arsenal’s failure to land Emiliano Buendia last summer.
The irony in Bruno Guimaraes ending Arsenal's Champions League hopes was inescapable
The Gunners were given ample opportunity by Norwich to complete a deal for the Argentina international - but dithered, dallied and haggled.
Like Newcastle did with Guimaraes, Aston Villa executed with minimal fuss to leave Arsenal floundering.
It appears Arsenal’s faults aren’t only restricted to the pitch.
But more of the Gunners’ recruitment problems later because, invariably, it’s on the pitch where they have really come a cropper.
They’ve choked. It’s as simple as that really. Any criticism of Mikel Arteta and his team should be tempered, of course.
Guimaraes was a player the Gunners missed out on in January after being too indecisive
Their defeat at St James' Park was a reflection of their failures both on and off the pitch
Unquestionably, they’ve taken steps in the right direction this season. They are close to qualifying for the Champions League - and head into the final day of the season with a, albeit slim, chance of finishing inside the top-four.
That signifies progress. That’s why Arsenal have handed Mikel Arteta a new three-contract, although there are some at the club who have questioned the timing of this month's announcement believing the club should have waited until the end of the season.
Arteta probably deserves his new deal, he’s building a young team, who for much of the season have impressed.
But to capitulate in this manner, losing five or their previous nine matches will cut to the core and illustrates deep-rooted problems.
Much of those deficiencies are mental, and in many ways the only way of rectifying this ailments is with experience; suffering heartache like they did on Monday night.
Mikel Arteta's men have made good progress but this collapse illustrates deep-rooted issues
His young Arsenal team can only rectify mental deficiencies with experiences like Monday's
But it's this distinct lack of experience and depth which has cost the Gunners this season
In reality, only Bukayo Saka, Thomas Partey and Kieran Tierney would interest the traditional big six clubs. The fact Partey and Tierney have missed the season run-in due injury hasn’t helped Arsenal’s cause.
But therein lies the problem; a distinct lack of depth in the Arsenal squad.
The starting XI is blessed enough to compete for a top-four place; had Tierney and Partey been available then the season climax may have transpired differently.
But moving forward, who’s to say Saka will stick around at
