The One That Got Away

I've always had some belief that we'd win the title, and even now, because of the unpredictability of the game and the fact that I just can't let go until it's gone, I still do, just the tiniest bit. But realistically, it's over now. The preceding the games, where we should have been aiming for at least four more points that we got, crippled us. City just executed a coup de grace with last night's defeat.

The way things have gone is really, really disappointing. To make it this far and come away with literally nothing from the season is so disheartening, especially since this is the closest we have come to winning the league since Leicester won it, and this time we were much, much closer. I'll always look at this as the one that could have been, and maybe should have been, but never was. Top four may originally have been the goal but that changed once things got going, and I will view this season, at least to a degree, as a bit of a disappointment. The worst part was how we were the engineers of our own downfall in the last few games especially:

Ramsdale Vs Southampton: When you give away a goal with a completely avoidable, horrifying mistake after 28 seconds, you're chasing the rest of the game and your team is unsettled. We needed to win that game. Ramsdale has come through for us a number of times this season but that was an immense letdown. I can't remember having been so furious at anything else I've watched live this season.

Jesus' profligacy: Jesus has been a great acquisition for us, and I feel we really missed him while he was injured. But against Southampton - and it wasn't the only time - he missed chance after chance, when we needed an early and full turnaround. He was guilty of what I'd criticised Nketiah for all season. He's not a proper CF and this is somewhere we've fallen down.

Rob Holding: I almost don't need to add anything to this. He's simply not of a standard that belongs in the squad. People say he's fine as a squad player, but squad players have to be used sometimes and that really has backfired on us. Had we had other options, I wonder what could have been. He belongs in the Championship.

Partey's flick: I still don't know what he was trying to do. To get mugged by Rice like that and give away a chance that led to the penalty was inexcusable. Wrong place on the pitch, poor choice of action, poor execution. We took a very early lead in this game but then sat back and this bit of complacency let West Ham back in just when they were starting to tick again.

Gabriel: Holding isn't alone in our defensive failures. Gabriel is a fine defender and he is of starting quality - IF he is paired with a competent partner. Otherwise he is rash and he has picked up cards and given away fouls (such as West Ham) that didn't need to happen. I can't understand why White wasn't used at CB with him, as Holding has exposed everything bad about him.

Saka's penalty: Saka has dragged us to where we are this season and deserves tremendous credit for that. I wouldn't be without him - he's absolutely indispensable. That's why this occurrence - minor and completely excusable though it may be - was painful to watch. 3-1 changes that game entirely. Would a win there have changed things going forward? Who knows?

Arteta's tactics: Continuing to use Holding, leaving Trossard until very late when we need energy, using Vieira at all and then keeping him on for far too long once he'd been found out - don't get me wrong, Arteta has impressed me this season, but some of his decisions, especially under pressure recently, have confused me.

I'm hoping we can build on this next season. I hope we reinforce where needed and challenge as vigorously as we have this season. Individual errors happen, but hopefully the team will learn. What I don't want is a "Well done on top four" message from the board and an assumption that where we are is good enough, otherwise that will make the disappointing end to this season hurt for much longer.