Arsenal begin their 2022/23 campaign against Crystal Palace, with Mikel Arteta hoping his side can get off to a better start compared to last season.
The Gunners have signed five new players in the summer transfer window so far with Gabriel Jesus, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Fabio Vieira, Matt Turner and Marquinhos making the move to the Emirates Stadium. Jesus has had a stellar pre-season and is set to make his official debut tonight against Palace, with Zinchenko likely to start at left-back.
Arsenal lost 2-0 to Brentford in their opening fixture in the 2021/22 season and Arteta will be hoping to avoid a repeat of their poor start last term. Martin Odegaard will captain his first official game for the Gunners after being confirmed as the club's new leading man, inheriting the role from Alexandre Lacazette who assumed the position after Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's departure in January.
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Speaking to Sky Bet, Alan Smith revealed expectations are high for Arsenal fans this season and has sent a message to Mikel Arteta ahead of the new campaign. The SkySports commentator said: “He's [Mikel Arteta] coming into a time now where he knows what’s required from him, he’s been given the time and the transfer windows to bring in his sort of players and get out those who aren’t his sort, so it’s his team now and that brings with a bit of pressure.
“It is time to deliver but I’m so pleased that the board stuck with him because there were times when his coat looked on a shaky peg and at another club he might have been out. But he’s got the backing of the owners, the board and he’s been given money to spend, they clearly have faith in him.
“Arsene had been there for 24 years or something ridiculous so it had obviously come to the end of the line. With Arteta, it’s relatively new. Listen, if they start off badly and are floating about in mid-table, of course there are going to be questions asked, but if they are having a nibble at that top four, then I think the optimism that Arsenal fans have at the moment will be maintained.”
Smith believes Jesus could be the missing piece of the puzzle for Arsenal as they look to fight for a top four spot, and admitted Odegaard deserved to be picked as the new club captain. Smith added: “I think Arsenal are better than where they were last season. I don’t know about much better ahead, but I think Gabriel Jesus is the missing link in terms of how they construct their attacks.
"People at Arsenal have spoken about his movement and what he gives the team and how he can link up with those boys just behind, Martin Odegaard, Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli, Emile Smith-Rowe and the like. I think he will transform them.
“From the outside looking in, you’d think Odegaard’s only just got to the club, he’s only a young lad but he’s captain of Norway and he someone that takes responsibility on the pitch. I think he’s a good captain, I don’t know how much of a talker he is or what he’s like in the dressing room, but the fact that Arteta has given him the armband does speak volumes about what he thinks of him as a leader."
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