OK - fair enough - but your assessment depends upon Arteta's system remaining competetive (in terms of being able to win the league) if we bring in the players he wants (itself by no means a given by reference to our past few transfer windows).
Both City and Liverpool are going to have to re-build. Citeh's because of ageing players dropping off and Liverpool's because of the 3 key players at the end of their contracts. We have to have the best transfer Summer in living memory - even if we retain faith in Arteta's system.
Honest (and open) question - who would you back to do the above most quickly and effectively? For me - given Citeh's wealth and the fact that (if he retains his drive and desire) Guardiola is a winner who has shown he can evolve and adapt, and given how impressive and what a perfect fit Slot has already proven himeself to be - I would be inclined to back either team over us.
Of course, we are ignoring the chasing pack here...there are a number of well managed and administered teams in the EPL now. Even if not winners, they are certainly disruptors.
This is not an over reaction to a season ending defeat. It is based more on trajectory and the eye test of what we are seeing on the pitch. Let's be honest, we have not really been functioning as a team all season, and having levelled out, Arsenal is now on a downward trajectory - and I feel that this is as much in the boardroom as on the pitch. Is this temporary, and does the club and manager have the will and the ability to arrest it?