The Arsenal squad for 2024/25 entered the season looking to turn their creeping progress in previous campaigns into tangible, silverware-based success.
A somewhat distant second-place finish in 2022/23 was bettered last term by taking it to the final day of the season, but on both occasions, Mikel Arteta’s master and compatriot, Pep Guardiola, proved too canny to be shifted from the summit.
It may seem ludicrous to discuss potentially decisive results from games that happened in August, but when the Gunners dropped points in their draw against Brighton at the Emirates — not helped by Declan Rice being dismissed for, in all honesty, gently brushing the ball before the visitors free-kick — alarm bells may have started sounding. Fans will be all too aware that a near-perfect record will be required to topple Manchester City’s monopoly.
In 2023/24, Arsenal had the league's best defence, keeping a club-record six away clean sheets in a row, and the best expected goals difference - they were almost perfect. Yet, up against a relentless Guardiola side, 'almost' doth butter no parsnips.
Two clean sheets in their first three outings suggest that the north London side are going to be just as sturdy this time around. Adding Riccardo Calafiori and Mikel Merino to the mix, and reclaiming last summer’s signing Jurrien Timber from a long stint in the treatment room, is only likely to give Arteta more flexibility.
Whether the Arsenal boss uses that to its maximum advantage remains to be seen. He must learn from another Pep staple: rotating often can keep your players fresh for the final furlong. Arsenal's ultimately-defining loss last season, a 2-0 home defeat to Aston Villa in April, came from tired legs and minds rather than any tactical failing.
With the talk of the summer being the Gunners need for attacking reinforcements; two goals in the first three league games for Kai Havertz is a strong start. The Germany international is showing early signs that the club may have been right not to go to market.
Arsenal squad for 2024/25
Arsenal squad for 2024/25: Mikel Arteta's full team
- GK: Neto
- GK: David Raya
- DF: William Saliba
- DF: Kieran Tierney
- DF: Ben White
- DF: Gabriel Magalhaes
- DF: Jurrien Timber
- DF: Jakub Kiwior
- DF: Oleksandr Zinchenko
- DF: Takherio Tomiyasu
- DF: Riccardo Calafiori
- MF: Declan Rice
- MF: Jorginho
- MF: Martin Odegaard
- MF: Thomas Partey
- MF: Mikel Merino
- FW: Bukayo Saka
- FW: Gabriel Jesus
- FW: Gabriel Martinelli
- FW: Leandro Trossard
- FW: Raheem Sterling
- FW: Kai Havertz
Arsenal squad numbers for 2024/25
Arsenal manager
Mikel Arteta
It's hard to decide Mikel Arteta's finest achievement at Arsenal: an FA Cup win with David Luiz at the back or turning Kai Havertz into the world-class attacker he had always threatened to be, all while uniting the most fractured of fanbases.
For his next trick, Wenger's former club captain is looking to dethrone Pep.
Arsenal's key player
Bukayo Saka
Bukayo Saka said Arsenal fans "deserved better" during their 2020/21 nadir. He's since put this side on his back, assumed penalty duties and represented the team's brain, class and tactical flexibility.
While neutrals may normalise this 22-year-old's rise, he is the Goonersphere's cherished son.
One to watch
Leandro Trossard
Leandro Trossard, with his knack of scoring on cue in spite of how well he's playing, rather than because of it. His strike against Aston Villa proved that, and he looks set to become an even more integral player to Arteta's attack in 2024/25.
Last term, the tired-looking Belgian struck against Liverpool, Chelsea, Manchester United, Porto and Bayern at key times: it's an inevitability Arsenal fans - Anne Hathaway included - absolutely love.
The mood
The last time Arsenal fans were this hopeful, Bukayo Saka was barely out of nappies.
In 2023/24, the Gunners won more games, scored more goals and picked up just one fewer point than the Invincibles, but even their greatest side would have been unable to get past Manchester City's robots in late-season, game-in-hand mode.
Most likely to...
Field a chocolate Labrador. Arsenal's club dog, Win, has been a social media hit since arriving last summer, rapidly replacing Gunnersaurus as the fans' favourite mascot, after his redundancy in lockdown. Ever the opportunists, Arsenal now sell cuddly Win toys, too.
Least likely to...
Leave quietly after a big win. Jamie Carragher criticised Martin Odegaard for 'over-celebrating' a 3-1 win against Liverpool, and if we have learned anything from this Arsenal team, it's that they seem to revel in s**thousery.
View from the stands
Tim Stillman (@Stillmanator)
Last season was really great fun and a bit gutting.
This season will be different because the data suggests Manchester City slightly overperformed in many of their expected results. The universe owes us a reversion.
Look out for Ethan Nwaneri. The youngester ever Premier League player - he was 15 at the time - is now 17 and in a position where there might be room for a squad player.
The thing my club really gets right is the way we put the women's team at the heart, for decades, and have now made the Emirates their rightful home as well.
The opposition player I'd love here is Ollie Watkins, a superb striker who fits our style nicely. Plus, we deserve revenge on Unai Emery.
The opposition player who grinds my gears is Son Heung-min - a dirtier player than people realise, and he always scores against us.
The pantomime villain will be the brilliant Ben White, waiting to tie a goalkeeper's shoelaces together at an attacking comer.
Fans think our owner is OK. Stan Kroenke's son Josh has greater cache with the fans, but nobody is holding up any banners in their honour yet.
The one change I'd make would be the Visit Rwanda sleeve sponsorship.
I won't be happy unless Gabriel Jesus has two fully functioning knees.
The fans' opinion of the gaffer is that we've lucked out: Arteta is one of the world's best young coaches and has transformed the club. If he thinks running over your cat might get him one more point, then you'd better seal up your cat flap.
If he left, he should be replaced by Santi Cazorla. It would be impossible to dislike him, even with bad results.
We'll finish as campeones.
