Emile Smith Rowe discussed how tough it was as Arsenal missed out on top four last season.
It is now five years since Arsenal played in the Champions League and, after their painful end to last season, the hunger to return is greater than ever.
Arsenal had been on course to finish in the Premier League’s top four with three games to go, but back-to-back defeats by Tottenham and Newcastle ended that dream.
Mikel Arteta’s young side had to settle for finishing fifth — and the pain of last season is acting as the perfect fuel as they bid to do better this year.
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Emile Smith Rowe tells the standard sport:
“It’s definitely tough looking back on it, it was in our hands.”
“The Spurs game… it was tough. It wasn’t a nice atmosphere [in the dressing room]. All the boys were down.
“The manager picked us up and we had another chance after that, but it didn’t go our way in the end. Going forward, we have just got to stick together as a team.
We are a young team, we are still getting there. It’s fuel for us going forward and we can’t wait to start the season.”
The race to finish in the top four next season looks as if it will be more competitive than ever.
Chelsea and Tottenham have embarked on aggressive recruitment drives,
whileManchester United will be hoping to turn things around under new manager Erik ten Hag.
West Ham will expect to contend again with David Moyes at the helm, and Leicester and Newcastle could also be in the mix.
“It will be a good season, a tough season,” adds Smith Rowe.
“The big clubs are buying players and every season is hard, but we are confident.
It’s been a long time since we’ve been in the Champions League.
We need to get back in it, not just for us but for the fans as well.”
Arsenal are keen to strengthen the connection with their fanbase — and they used USA-based supporter Aston Mack in part of today’s launch for their new away kit.
He shot to prominence in July 2020, when a photo of him at a Black Lives Matter
demonstration went viral, with Mack stressing the importance of him wearing an Arsenal shirt in helping spread the message and keep him safe.
