Arsenal Lock and Load: Reinforced Gunners Set Sights on Trophy Glory in 2025-26

"We're going to make it happen."

Those were the words Mikel Arteta spoke on the Emirates Stadium turf at the conclusion of the 2024–25 campaign, with emotion breaking through his voice and the weight of another squandered chance lingering heavily in the atmosphere.

For the third consecutive year, Arsenal concluded the season as the Premier League's runners-up—a position that wasn't even guaranteed going into the final stages of the domestic season. Following the surprising breakthrough of 2022–23 and the heartbreaking near-success of 2023–24, the Gunners found themselves a substantial 10 points behind worthy champions Liverpool in the previous campaign.

A commanding 5–1 aggregate triumph over Real Madrid propelled Arsenal into the Champions League final four, yet that continental journey would merely provide another path to dashed dreams as Paris Saint-Germain comfortably dispatched Arteta's injury-hit squad.

A lavish summer transfer spree has apparently addressed the weaknesses that were mercilessly exploited in the previous season, leading many—including Arteta—to prepare for another pursuit of silverware that has remained frustratingly elusive.

What Arsenal Hope to Achieve

Arsenal have abandoned any pretense of aiming for anything less than first place in the Premier League. Obviously, this doesn't guarantee they will achieve those aspirations, but becoming the first version of the club since Arsène Wenger's Invincibles to claim the title is certainly the objective.

The club's continental ambitions are less defined. Arsenal had endured 16 years without reaching a Champions League semifinal before PSG arrived at the Emirates with a strangely uninspiring cannon display. Given the unreasonable expectations of contemporary football, the Gunners will naturally be anticipated to automatically return to that elevated level, but supporters would probably accept an early European exit if they secure the league title.

FA Cup or Carabao Cup victories would end the club's trophy drought that has persisted since winning the former tournament five years ago, but neither piece of silverware would satisfy the club's continuously expanding ambitions.

Key Fixture Dates

For the first time in the derby's 129-year existence, Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur met outside the British Isles. Spurs emerged victorious in that pre-season encounter and will visit the opposite side of north London for the genuine article in November.

The Gunners face a challenging season opener, with matches against Manchester United, Liverpool and Manchester City within the first six weeks of the new campaign.

Major Signings

Arsenal have invested heavily this summer. "The budget is like when you organize your wedding," Arteta described, "you plan your wedding with your wife and you set a budget and it's never less, it's always more." There have been numerous new partnerships in north London this summer.

Christian Nørgaard and Cristhian Mosquera represent different career stages but should function as valuable depth in midfield and defense respectively. The former Chelsea duo of Kepa Arrizabalaga and Noni Madueke might not have received such enthusiastic welcomes, but provide the same protective cover.

Viktor Gyökeres and Martín Zubimendi constitute the two significant upgrades to Arsenal's first team. Gyökeres addresses the glaring gap at striker that has plagued the Gunners for years, while Zubimendi's addition could elevate other players.

By settling into his preferred role at the midfield base, the Spanish playmaker should allow Declan Rice to roam between both penalty areas and prevent Martin Ødegaard from consistently dropping deep to initiate attacks.

Ones to Watch, Breakout Stars

Max Dowman has been the clear standout of Arsenal's inconsistent pre-season performances. Even during the club's disappointing displays throughout their international series of friendlies, the graceful 15-year-old has impressed observers. Dowman's ability is well-established.

During the previous season's injury problems, Arsenal desperately searched through the Premier League's regulations hoping to discover a method to register the slender teenager for senior competition. It didn't materialize, but Dowman certainly won't need to wait much longer before making his top-flight debut.

Dowman has already lost the opportunity to break Ethan Nwaneri's record as the Premier League's youngest participant by just a few days, yet this technically gifted winger could earn more than a brief appearance if he continues displaying the moments of excellence he has demonstrated so far.

Season Prediction

Arteta introduced the 2025–26 season by suggesting that up to nine teams could compete for this season's Premier League championship. It's important to remember that Arteta makes many statements. This is, after all, the same person who declared that Arsenal were "100%" the superior team in the previous term's Champions League.

The battle for Premier League supremacy may not be so extensive, but Arsenal will certainly be involved, particularly if their crucial players can stay healthy. The devastatingly lengthy injuries to Ødegaard and Bukayo Saka in the previous campaign weakened the attack more significantly than the post-Christmas striker crisis. Gyökeres's adjustment to the Premier League could prove crucial, though the team should still possess one of the finest defensive units in the competition.

Regrettably for the Gunners, their rivals have also strengthened. Manchester City and Chelsea completed their transfers early and effectively while Liverpool were already the league's top team before adding £250 million in talent.

"This squad of players, I'm telling you, they possess the desire, they have the ability, they have the skill," Arteta assured the home supporters last May. Whether those qualities will suffice to break their streak of second-place finishes appears doubtful.