Arsenal head into the 2023/24 Premier League season as one of the favourites for the title. It shows just how far the Gunners have come under Mikel Arteta. A title push is now expected and the Emirates will be playing host to Champions League football once again.
How the team did last season
Arteta’s side flew out of the traps and as domestic football came to a pause for the World Cup, Arsenal held a five-point lead at the top of the Premier League table.
The Gunners had won 12 of their opening 14 matches, they had the joint-best defensive record in the league and their 2.64 points per game average would’ve seen them equal Manchester City’s centurions campaign had they been able to prolong it for the entire season.
Eventually, however, their lack of depth caught up to them and they finished the 2022/23 season in second place, five points behind Man City. While the season might’ve ended in disappointment having held the lead for so long, it was a significant campaign for the project under the Spanish tactician.
Players he put his faith and trust in all delivered. For example, Martin Ødegaard, Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli all caught the eye. All finished with 20 or more goal involvements in the English top flight but it was Saka who lead the way with 25. The England international was also the highest-rated player on the FotMob app with a season average of 7.68.
If the 21-year-old manages to build on that, Arsenal will be in the title picture once again.
What has happened during the summer?
The 2022/23 Premier League runners-up have been busy in the transfer window.
Declan Rice was signed for a British record fee believed to be £105million. The former West Ham United captain will no doubt anchor the midfield three in place of Thomas Partey, giving the Gunners a lot more power in that area of the pitch now.
Kai Havertz made the surprise switch from Chelsea. It had looked as though the Germany international would be returning to his homeland with Bayern Munich believed to be keen but they reportedly baulked at the £65million price tag whereas Arsenal did not. He’s been playing in midfield in pre-season but his versatility means he could well end up leading the line at some stage during the campaign. After all, Arteta loves a fluid system (Editor’s note: Check line-up from the Community Shield shown below!).
The club also bolstered their defensive options with the acquisition of Jurrien Timber. The Dutchman was linked with Liverpool and Manchester United but it was Arsenal who stumped up the money to pry him away from Amsterdam. Again, he is fairly versatile and this allows the team to line up in a few different ways.
Arteta now has that depth in most areas of the squad that he’s been wanting in order for him to compete.
What they should be aiming for next season?
Given Arteta has been backed in the market and this is now his team, they are going to have to be competing for the title. You can’t finish as runners-up, spend £200million on transfers and then not expect to be under pressure.
A good run in the Champions League will also be the bare minimum for this talented group of players, especially after so long outside of the competition. This is going to be Arteta’s most difficult season and how he handles it will perhaps shape how he’s viewed as a manager.
Their aim should be a top-three finish and a quarter-final appearance in the Champions League. But, ultimately, their biggest aim for the campaign will be to not disappoint. Every single Arsenal fan will have their own way to judge that.
Prediction
2nd.
(Images from IMAGO)
Think you know better than our Premier League expert? Then play the FotMob Predictor Game and decide where your team will finish this season! Find the game in the More tab of the FotMob app, which you can download, for free, right here.