JAKARTA - There is a legendary quote from the Liverpool team in the 1980s every time they win trophies, especially in the famine season, "First is the first and the second is nothing".
Mikel Arteta may take the quote and attach it to the wall of Arsenal's dressing room to motivate his troops to avoid the nickname "nearly Team" that has been attached.
When the Gunners faced Paris Saint-Germain in the first leg of the Champions League semi-final at the Emirates Stadium, Wednesday, April 30, 2025, early in the morning WIB, the tantalizing prospect of victory in the tournament would be on the one side of the currency.
The other side is the weakening reality that Arsenal have developed a habit of failing right as they desperately want to move forward.
So, where will their Champions League journey end this season? Printing history or again failed to win?
As far as the history of the tournament since it was named the Champions League, the Gunners' best achievement has only been as runners-up. The only achievement was created in the 2005/2006 edition.
If they fail to win again, it is clear that Arsenal will be labeled again as "nearly Team".
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On the one hand, it feels like a quote from Liverpool is not suitable for Arsenal. You see, it's an easy sentence to say by the winners as a mantra.
Liverpool won seven league titles, four League Cups, two FA Cups and one European Cup (now known as the Champions League) during the 1980s.
Success that allows them to be arrogant. However, in the current conditions, almost winning is usually part of the process.
Liverpool learned this during the early nine-year period of Jurgen Klopp as manager.
The Reds finished as runners-up in the Europa League, Champions League, Premier League, and League Cup before finally lifting the trophy by winning the 2019 Champions League final against Tottenham Hotspur in Madrid.
The success sparked a flood of trophies at Anfield, with each Premier League, League Cup and FA Cup winning at least once by Klopp before he stepped down as manager last summer.
Meanwhile, Arsenal are still waiting for their breakthrough moment under Arteta. The success of the 2019/2020 FA Cup, when Arsenal beat Chelsea in the final during the Covid-19 pandemic, at least gave Arteta the main trophy on his list of achievements.
However, the only member of the first team at the time who was still at the club was full-back Kieran Tierney, a player who will leave as a free agent after becoming out of the first team in recent seasons.
At that time, 18-year-old Bukayo Saka, a substitute who was not used at Wembley against Chelsea, was the only player to survive the trophy victory who was part of Arteta's new team.
Jadi, seluruh squad The Gunners masih menunggu untuk merasakan kesuksesan bersama klub.
No one can question Arsenal's transition as a challenger under Arteta.
They are now competitors in every major event and are on track to record a third consecutive runner-up position in the Premier League this season.
However, the failure to challenge for this season's title only adds to the narrative. The Gunners have drawn seven Premier League games in 2025, as much as Liverpool have won so far this season.
A 5-1 aggregate win against Real Madrid in the Champions League quarter-finals was a significant statement of intent, but Arteta's side now have to back him up and win something.
"Our dream is to win, win big trophies, and that's where we are. We have turned things around and now is the time to win."
"The reality is we've made so many moves that it's time to win."
"In the end, an assessment is a natural thing because it is Arsenal. People have to judge whether we win or not. If you almost win, it's your turn (to judge) at the end," Arteta told the US earlier this month.
For all the progress of the team under Arteta, since Arsene Wenger's "Invincibles" made history in 2003/2004 by winning the Premier League without a single defeat, Arsenal only won four trophies, namely four FA Cups.
During the same period, Manchester City (19), Chelsea (18), Manchester United (15), and Liverpool (10) have all beaten Arsenal with their trophies.
Since winning the FA Cup under Arteta, Arsenal have reached two semifinals - in the Europa League and League Cup - and lost in both events, each from Villarreal and Newcastle United.
Arsenal are favorite to advance on both occasions, but eliminated. They also handed over the leading position in the race for the 2022/2023 and 2023/2024 Premier League titles.
So, ending their trophy drought will involve more than just winning on the pitch.
If you want to win trophies, Arsenal will have to overcome psychological hurdles to win when pressure and expectations are at their highest.
Liverpool managed to do so under Klopp, and the dominant Manchester United under Sir Alex Ferguson in the 1990s also had to cope with the pain of failure before finally achieving extraordinary success.
However, Mauricio Pochettino's Tottenham team consisting of Harry Kane, Dele Alli, Christian Eriksen, and Son Heung-Min failed to advance from challengers to winners after almost winning in the Premier League and Champions League.
Arsenal have yet to show whether they will follow in Liverpool's footsteps or stumbling like Spurs.
A team of talented players such as Saka, Declan Rice, William Saliba, and Martin Odegaard seem to be winning trophies at a time.
Just pray, until they win, Liverpool's saying on the other hand will still apply. The first is the first, and the second is nothing.
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