Arsenal legend Thierry Henry has set a target for his former club for the 2025/26 campaign and shared his thoughts on head coach Mikel Arteta. Under Arteta, Arsenal have made significant progress over the past few seasons, establishing themselves as one of the best teams in Europe.
However, the Gunners have not won a trophy since lifting the FA Cup at the end of the 2019/20 campaign, having finished second in the Premier League for three consecutive seasons. Arsenal also fell short in the Champions League last season, losing in the semi-finals to eventual winners Paris Saint-Germain.
Despite dealing with an injury crisis last season, which was often cited as an excuse for their shortcomings, there is less weight to this argument this term as the Gunners boast multiple top-quality options in every position. Henry claims “it’s a must this year to win something” as they “can’t hide”. “Right now, I would say that nobody has a squad as deep as Arsenal in terms of the quality available,” Henry stated during CBS Sports’ Champions League coverage (via Football 365).
“Some teams can provide a good challenge for the starting eleven, but if you look at the overall squad, it’s almost like two teams. When you see who is on the bench tonight and are still missing [Martin] Ødegaard, Kai Havertz, Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Jesus… it’s clear the team is well-equipped for all competitions. But let’s be honest, it’s a must this year to win something. It’s essential; you can’t hide. Whatever it is that you have to bring, people will discuss the title, and I believe it’s going to be a battle between Liverpool and Arsenal. You can’t write off Man City yet; they’re experimenting with new players. However, you must win something; finishing second doesn’t bring a trophy. It’s commendable, but at some point, you must validate your efforts.”
