If Arsenal got “anywhere near the top six” this season then Gunners great Ian Wright says he would be “happy with that” and consider foundations to have been put in place for future success.
Mikel Arteta appeared to be carrying out that construction work in 2020 as he oversaw FA Cup and Community Shield triumphs.
Those successes proved to be another false dawn for Arsenal, with the north London giants getting off to their worst start to a season since 1974-75.
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A run of three consecutive victories around the turn of the year has helped to turn the tide somewhat at Emirates Stadium, with the Gunners looking up again rather than over their shoulder.