Arsenal 2017-2018: The good, the bad and the ugly

MADRID, SPAIN - MAY 03: Danny Welbeck of Arsenal and Henrikh Mkhitaryan of Arsenal look dejceted during the UEFA Europa League Semi Final second leg match between Atletico Madrid and Arsenal FC at Estadio Wanda Metropolitano on May 3, 2018 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Lars Baron/Getty Images)
MADRID, SPAIN - MAY 03: Danny Welbeck of Arsenal and Henrikh Mkhitaryan of Arsenal look dejceted during the UEFA Europa League Semi Final second leg match between Atletico Madrid and Arsenal FC at Estadio Wanda Metropolitano on May 3, 2018 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Lars Baron/Getty Images)
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LEICESTER, ENGLAND – MAY 09: Arsene Wenger, Manager of Arsenal gives instruction to his team during the Premier League match between Leicester City and Arsenal at The King Power Stadium on May 9, 2018 in Leicester, England. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
LEICESTER, ENGLAND – MAY 09: Arsene Wenger, Manager of Arsenal gives instruction to his team during the Premier League match between Leicester City and Arsenal at The King Power Stadium on May 9, 2018 in Leicester, England. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)

Arsene Wenger ends his Arsenal career with the team’s worst finish in 22 years

Arsenal finished outside the top four for the second straight season. Last year they ended the campaign in fifth. This year they dropped a spot to sixth place.

Of course this is part of the reason that Wenger is moving on. To be fair, part of it is out of his control. Here’s what competing clubs spent on players last summer:

  • Manchester City £217.3m
  • Chelsea £202m
  • Manchester United £169.5m
  • Everton £152.9m
  • Liverpool £89.5m
  • Tottenham £61.4m

Watford and Leicester City are next on the list followed by Arsenal.

Of course it’s not just about spending money, but in a league where the difference between the haves and the have-nots is getting larger, Arsenal need to keep up with the Joneses.