Game breaker.
Last year was Rodgers' first ever season in charge. He was trying to start implementing his new philosophy, his stature in the dressing room, and his say on the team. It was a year totally in transition, where again, people expected us to be finishing around 6th-7th. And again, hindsight is being used to say he should have finished higher, but hindsight makes everyone correct. Also, Pardew had the players at his disposal to at least get them in Europa League. But there's a big gap between Europa League and Champions league qualification. But Rodgers in his first year had to compete with a rising Spurs driven by Bale, a very solid Everton team greatly coached by Moyes, Arsenal, Utd, Chelsea and City, and yet, you're saying he shouldn't have finished 7th? Fine, let's say he finished 6th at the expense of Everton. 6th to first is still absolutely massive.
Yes stadium aside, Arsenal are renowned for being tight, because they don't spend much in the transfer market, despite sitting on pots of gold.
