Arsenal currently possesses a squad of players at the peak of their form - Photo: Reuters
But contrary to what Man United fans imagined, the successor to that era was Mikel Arteta and Arsenal.
Farewell to the Pep-Klopp era.
Four years ago, upon arriving at Old Trafford, manager Erik Ten Hag made a statement widely considered "arrogant," declaring that "the era of Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp is coming to an end." As a result, Ten Hag was sacked after just over two years. Meanwhile, Manchester United struggled until this season, only gradually recovering under former player Michael Carrick.
But Ten Hag is certainly right about one detail: the era of Guardiola and Klopp will soon come to an end. In the summer of 2024, Klopp will leave Liverpool after 9 years. And two years later, Pep will follow in the footsteps of his arch-rival.
Liverpool's championship win last season, though no longer under Klopp's leadership, was still a triumph heavily influenced by the German coach. In the summer of 2024, Liverpool's management brought virtually no new signings to Anfield. Coach Arne Slot led Liverpool to their 20th domestic league title purely based on the team built by Klopp. Throughout the season, the Dutch coach's victories were largely achieved using a single formula: Van Dijk led the defense, while the attack relied heavily on Salah, hoping the "Egyptian king" would shine.
This season, Salah, Van Dijk, and Robertson declined due to age, Arnold left, and Arne Slot immediately collapsed under the new team that the management built for him. It was at this point that Liverpool fans truly understood the concept of the "Jurgen Klopp era".
As for Man City, everything is in the future. Pep Guardiola chose the path that suited him best, feeling that he was no longer suited to the current state of English football. And there is no guarantee that Pep's successor will maintain Man City's winning streak.
Coach Arteta played a crucial role in bringing the championship trophy back to Arsenal after 22 years - Photo: REUTERS
The Arsenal era
With Liverpool in decline, Man City uncertain about their future, and Chelsea mired in crisis, the ball truly rolled into Arsenal's court. Winning the league title this season would be a fitting reward for the immense effort Mikel Arteta and his team have put in over the past four to five years.
Ugly, pragmatic, boring, a betrayal of traditional flamboyant principles... these are the criticisms Arsenal has received throughout this season. But we also need to sympathize with manager Arteta and his staff. Arsenal has failed so many times that they have had to pursue pragmatism throughout the season. And in the end, football history will only remember the champions.
Things will be easier for Arsenal next season now that they've ended their trophy drought. Once the psychological pressure is over, Arsenal can play with the confidence that they are currently the strongest team in the Premier League.
Indeed, manager Arteta has a deep squad with mostly young key players. The average age of the entire Arsenal team is only 26.3, placing them among the youngest teams in the Premier League. Their core players, from Saliba, Gabriel, Timber, and Rice to Saka, Odegaard, Havertz, and Gyokeres, are all between 24 and 28 years old. A team like this is likely to maintain at least another 2-3 years of top-level football.
Furthermore, consistent performance in both the Champions League and Premier League over the past three years has generated enormous revenue for Arsenal, allowing them to spend heavily on player transfers in the next one to two years. This is a luxury that Chelsea, Liverpool, and Man United currently lack.
In the race for next season, Arsenal are almost in a position where every rival will have to work hard to catch up. A true era is dawning for the "Gunners," for Arteta...
Source: https://tuoitre.vn/ky-nguyen-moi-trong-tay-arsenal-20260521095552651.htm
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