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Arsenal will have to defy the odds to finish in top four next season

By on June 27, 2021

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Arsenal will have to defy the odds if we’re to get back in the Champions League by finishing in the top four next season.

It’s been a number of years since Arsenal last played top tier European football as we’ve spent the last few seasons playing in the Europa League having struggled to compete consistently in the Premier League.

We’ve had moderate success in the Europa League after reaching a final and two semi-finals but we fell short of winning the competition. Last season was hugely disappointing on all fronts and not only did Arsenal fail to get past Villarreal in the semi-finals of the Europa League, but we also finished way down in eighth position in the Premier League table.

This means we’ll be playing no form of European football next season for the first time in 25 years. Mikel Arteta is now under increasing pressure to turn things around and get Arsenal back challenging where we belong at the top of the table.

A title challenge is obviously out of the question for next year but the Arsenal board will no doubt demand Arteta makes a real push for the top four. We should have a big advantage over our rivals as we won’t have any midweek European games to contend with and can fully focus on the league.

However, Arsenal are still being backed by the bookmakers to miss out as we’re currently priced as the 11/2 seventh-favourites to finish in the top four next season. Obviously Manchester City are nailed on at odds of 1/33 at www.paynplaycasino.org while Chelsea and Liverpool are also expected to finish in the top four again at odds of 1/4. Manchester United are tipped to take the final top four place as they’re priced at 2/7 by the bookies.

It’s then a long way back to Leicester City at 3/1 with Tottenham sitting at 4/1 at some bookmakers, just ahead of Arsenal in the betting stakes. So based on the bookies, it looks like Arsenal are going to comfortably miss out on the top four so we’ll have to defy the odds if we’re to get ourselves back in Champions League football.

Arteta is expected to be busy in the market this summer overhauling his squad with a large number of incomings and outgoings. The likes of Granit Xhaka, Lucas Torreira, Matteo Guendouzi, Hector Bellerin, Sead Kolasinac and Joe Willock will be sold to raise funds for Arsenal to sign a couple of full-backs, two midfielders and an attacking midfielder.

The Gunners are also in the market for a centre-back to replace David Luiz with the club close to signing Ben White from Brighton. A proposed £50m deal is in the pipeline and White should be a terrific addition as he’s developed into one of the hottest talents in British football in recent years.

Arsenal have also been linked with highly-rated Sassuolo midfielder Manuel Locatelli while they’ve reportedly tried to hold talks over shock moves for Manchester City duo Raheem Sterling and Riyad Mahrez. So the Londoners are clearly showing ambition in the market this summer and if Arteta can land some of his big-name targets, then the Gunners will look great value at 11/2 to finish in the top four next season.