Finishing second in the Premier League for Arsenal would be no failure

If statues were to be erected outside the Emirates to honour the Arsenal B@nter Years, Marouane Chamakh, André Santos, “Troopz” and Sébastien Squillaci would all have a good shout about being permanently cast in bronze – cautionary tales to stand alongside Thierry Henry and Herbert Chapman, reminders that they have a proud history of being a laughing stock as well as one of the most feared clubs in English football. That period, for the outsider at least, was a lot of fun. William Gallas being given the No 10 shirt, Emmanuel Adebayor’s full-pitch sprint in celebration, the 8-2 at Old Trafford, Cheick Tioté’s volley, that Milk Cup final defeat to Birmingham, Kim Källström arriving with a broken back, losing 6-0 to Chelsea in Wenger’s 1,000th game, £40m + £1 for Luis Suárez – there are countless rose-tinted memories, tucked away in the archives for a rainy day. Even the Nicolas Pépé era was quite fun, as the club emerged from their Emirates-enforced austerity and decided to splurge gargantuan sums on hopeful, flickering talents, only to find new ways of falling short.

This team is a different animal, and finishing second in the Premier League should not be deemed a failure. Unless you are of a Spurs persuasion or Troy Deeney, they are objectively very likable. Bukayo Saka would surely hold a door open for you, Aaron Ramsdale would probably get the first round in. Players have been plucked from the academy, or Real Madrid’s reserves, or Brazil’s fourth division and moulded into superstars. Somewhat more sensible transfer fees, good coaching, lovely retro kits: Arsenal have defied the critics to lead the table for most of the season, playing scintillating football but running out of gas, like an elite marathon runner