Arsenal Invincibles Gilberto has revealed his frustration after the Gunners missed the Premier League title for a third consecutive season, with Liverpool crowned champions.
The Premier League title race ended on Sunday after Liverpool demolished the Gunners’ North London rivals, Tottenham, 5-1 at Anfield, making it mathematically impossible for Mikel Arteta‘s men to catch them. And while a second-place finish hasn’t been confirmed for Arsenal just yet, with Newcastle five points behind and Manchester City two wins away, Liverpool‘s latest triumph has left Gunners legend Gilberto admitting frustration at coming up short again.
“I believe it’s frustrating for them. I think for the fans also, because if you reflect two seasons ago, the position they were in, they did have a very good run. And then last season again, they were so close, and this [season] gets away from them,” the 2002 World Cup winner and Striver co-founder Gilberto told Liverpool.com.
“And the expectation for this season was for them to fight and be at the top of the league at this stage. And I think it’s tough because when we look at the table, the position they are, and the games they’ve got, especially the draw they’ve got along the way, it’s a lot. It costs a lot.
“It costs a lot for them in order to be in a better position to fight for the title. I think for me, at the beginning of the season, if you ask me the chance of Arsenal to win the league this season, I say, well, I think this is the time for us because two years in a row, knocking on the door, fighting with City, and they lost, and now it’s time for them. Obviously, it’s frustrating for them.”
The Gunners’ silverware hopes now rest on Champions League glory. Despite an array of injuries, Arsenal convincingly beat holders Real Madrid home and away. They now face PSG in the semifinals, an opponent that knocked out Liverpool in the Round of 16, with the Parisians traveling to the Emirates on Tuesday, followed by the second leg at the Parc des Princes next week.
(Image: Getty)
Waiting on the other side will be one of Barcelona, or Inter Milan, in the Final. “I hope that this frustration of not being there and seeing Liverpool win the league – and they have done the job – that Arsenal keep their focus on the Champions League because there’s still a lot to do,” Gilberto added.
“There’s still a lot of work as long as there is no hope for the Premier League. But the Champions League is something that would be fantastic for Arsenal, too.
“But, yeah, I think there are a lot of problems also with injuries, as we have seen. Let’s see. But it’s important, you know, to learn the lessons.”
