Home of football statistics and historyHaving squandered an eight-point lead in the Premier League title race last season to finish runners-up behind Manchester City, there were some who expected a potential hangover for Arsenal this term.
However, after a positive summer of recruitment and stability in the dugout, the Gunners look ready to go again and challenge for the English crown this season.
Gunners ran out of steam
At one stage last season, it looked like the Gunners would not be caught, as they built up a strong lead in the first half of the 2022/23 Premier League campaign. Arsenal, who are 5/1 in the betting on football to win the league title this season, stumbled towards the crucial final few weeks and saw Man City come flying past to claim a third consecutive English crown. City showed their class in the end and the Cityzens are once again favourites at 4/7 in the Premier League winner odds to retain the title this term. After pushing a star-studded City side so hard for so long, it was a tough end to the campaign for Arteta and his players.
Arsenal had a similar situation in the previous 2021/22 season as they found themselves battling at that time for a top-four finish. With a return to the Champions League within their grasp, the Gunners floundered in the final weeks to see arch-rivals Tottenham Hotspur leapfrog them to fourth place. That too was another tough experience for this Arsenal side but they responded well to the disappointment with an impressive start last season.
Arsenal showing character once again
The Gunners have shown they can bounce back from disappointment before and, with Champions League football to enjoy again this season, the North London outfit are ready to go again this term. Consistency in the managerial position has unsurprisingly helped the club continue their progress as they went unbeaten in their first seven league games of the season. So often managers in the Premier League are not given enough time to implement their ideas and bring in the players they want to affect change.
Arteta took up the managerial role at Arsenal in 2019 after working under the iconic Pep Guardiola at Man City. Having previously played for the Gunners between 2011 and 2016, Arteta already knew the club and was able to land his first trophy as manager in the FA Cup in the 2019/20 season. The ambitious Spaniard has plans to take the club back to the top of the Premier League, having last won the English crown back in the 2003/04 season.
It certainly won’t be easy with Manchester City going for a fourth consecutive title, while Liverpool and Spurs look resurgent in the early stages of the season. However, this Arsenal side will be hoping to have learnt from the tough times over the last couple of seasons and, under Arteta, should be in the mix for the title come the business end of the Premier League campaign.
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