Part One of the 2021/22 European football season preview features Arsenal, Atletico Madrid, Barcelona, and Bayern Munich:
Arsenal
Last Season: Premier League – 8th; Top Scorer – Alexandre Lacazette (17)
For all the sense of difference they wanted to infuse since Arsene Wenger left in 2018, and the philosophy they want to instil under Mikel Arteta, it’s quite something that Arsenal are still very Arsenal. In every way possible.
This is a side that was the second-lowest scoring team in the top of the half of the Premier League last season. The side that couldn’t muster a real ounce of creativity and invention when their season needed it against Villarreal. A side whose manager went on something of a rant about stats when things were going badly, a sign of one desperately grasping for control.
Yet, this is the team that had the best form in the league from December bar champions Manchester City. Arsenal won 10 of the games in the second half of the league last term, seven of their last 11, and their last five. They had the third best defence in the league, and won at Old Trafford and Stamford Bridge. But it was testament to their horrible early mid-season form that their end-of-season run could only earn them eighth place.
So, the question remains, is that end-of-season form a sign of things to come or another false dawn that fans shouldn’t get too excited about? Despite the change the club tries to foster, Arsenal still have the same questions hanging over them.
The Manager
Early in the season, Mikel Arteta looked to be building on the goodwill and feelgood atmosphere that was created at the end of 2019/20. By early December, some were starting to wonder when he was getting a free pass. By the end of the season, opinion is divided on the former Arsenal skipper.
The manager has made no secret of his desire for a revamp of the squad, but Covid setbacks means he’ll have to make do once more. 18 months on, there’s still no clear sign of where Project Arteta will lead.
One Thing to do: Sign a creative attacking midfielder. The Gunners had the third best defence last season, but struggled for goals and invention. The winter signing of Martin Odegaard was a boost in attack, for the Norwegian has returned to parent club Real Madrid, and while Emile Smith-Rowe has shown signs of being the main man, Arsenal are still light in terms of creative players.
Time-turner (Ten years ago): This time in the 2011/12 season, Arsenal were about to lose their captain Cesc Fabregas, as well as Samir Nasri, and there were genuine questions about their top-four credentials.
Atletico Madrid
Last Season: La Liga – Champions; Top Scorer – Luis Suarez (21)
Amidst the wobble, Atletico Madrid held on. Eventually, a double-digit lead at the top of La Liga became two points, but it didn’t matter in the end. The fact was Atleti went top of the Spanish top-flight on Matchday Nine, and barring a brief period on Week 33, never lost that position.
Now, Diego Simeone and his side are in an unprecedented position. Not only do they enter the season as champions, they’re pretty much favourites to retain the title, given the uncertainty surrounding the other contenders. Unlike 2014, Los Colcheronos have lost no key players, while the rest around them look weaker.
The Manager
Until last season’s league success, talk had started to brew over whether Diego Simeone had run his race with Atletico Madrid. Atletico’s strength still lies with their defence (they conceded just 25 league goals last season), but the attacking play is changing, Simeone’s repeated use of a 3-5-2 last season reflecting that. Perhaps the Argentine could have called time on his tenure at the Spanish capital, but he enters the new season with as much goodwill as he has done in the past.
One Thing to do: Win the Champions League? Atletico have created pedigree for themselves in Europe, but they haven’t gone past the last eight of the Champions League since 2017. The past few years in particular have featured some tepid eliminations and collapses, and while winning it isn’t exactly a primary aim, a better showing is definitely a must.
Time-turner (Ten years ago): In the 2011/12, Atletico Madrid signalled their intent to challenge when they splashed the cash on Radamel Falcao. But by December, they were mid-table, and Gregorio Manzano was binned for Diego Simeone. The rest is history.
Barcelona
Last Season: La Liga – 3rd; Top Scorer – Lionel Messi (38)
What a time to be alive. In January, Barcelona welcomed back Joan Laporta as president of the club. By June, there was uncertainty over Lionel Messi’s future. Then came news that they couldn’t register their new signings, nor Messi, despite the Argentine having agreed to take a pay cut to re-sign. Now in August, Messi has been confirmed that he won’t play for Barcelona, and they still can’t register their new signings.
Such is the chaos going on at Barca that they’d actually pray for mild uncertainty – Laporta has revealed that even without Messi on the books, the club still spends 95% of their revenue on player wages. A Super League entry in April, more crises in July, and the appalling way their greatest player of all has left the club; it’s quite weird how Barcelona, built on being ‘more than a club’, epitomise football’s relationship with late-stage capitalism more than anyone else.
The Manager
Where else to insert the ‘this is fine’ in a burning house meme than with Ronald Koeman and Barcelona. Last season, his arrival was met with some cynicism, and despite a sense of flexibility with his tactics, the same flaws and limitations rear their heads all the time. But amidst obvious tactical shortcomings, the Dutchman is very much out of the picture in terms of the headline at the club so far.
One Thing to do: Get rid of players. Balance the books. Appease an increasingly antsy fanbase. Deal with the Antoine Griezmann problem. Solve the Philippe Coutinho puzzle... One thing, you say?
Time-turner (Ten years ago): Barcelona went into the season as European champions, and arguably the best side of all time, under Catalan manager Pep Guardiola. What they’d give for that now.
Bayern Munich
Last Season: Bundesliga – Champions; Top Scorer – Robert Lewandowski (48)
The air around Bayern Munich is different. They come into the season as champions – having won nine Bundesliga titles in a row, but there is a sort of uncertainty surrounding the side. A sense of discord between manager Hansi Flick and members of the board became more obvious as last season kept progressing, especially in terms of squad strength. ‘Everyone knows that the squad was better last year, quality-wise’, said Flick in April.
Flick has gone – taking the German national team job – and has been replaced by young hotshot Julian Nagelsmann, while the departure of Karl-Heinz Rumenigge, and arrival of Oliver Kahn in the background, suggests a new direction for the club. But Bayern are still short on squad depth, and uncertainty still lies off the pitch. Die Roten have had success in the past five years, and yet managerial upheaval has reflected the shakiness of things off the pitch. A need for stability can’t be overstated.
The Manager
Julian Nagelsmann hasn’t exactly hidden his ambition to be Bayern Munich manager, and after laying the groundwork for himself with first Hoffenheim, and then RB Leipzig, here he is. Nagelsmann is ambitious, as RB Leipzig found out to their detriment, and should fit it in with Bayern, but it’s a case of ambition meeting ambition here. At the Allianz Arena, it’s not just about winning, but winning it all, with style.
One Thing to do: Solve the Leroy Sane problem. Despite ten goals in 45 games last season, the German winger didn’t have the best season after joining from Manchester City, and had an even worse Euros with the national side. At times, it felt like Bayern Munich had a problem fitting him in, one Nagelsmann has to deal with.
Time-turner (Ten years ago): After losing the title to Borussia Dortmund, Bayern appointed Jupp Heynckes, as they had an eye on regaining the Bundesliga, as well as triumphing in the Champions League on home soil.
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