Arsenal came into the season tipped to end their two-decade wait for a Premier League title, but what followed was an anti-climactic campaign.
The Gunners finished second for the third successive season.
While Arsenal gave a respectable account of themselves in the Champions League, claiming a memorable scalp against Real Madrid, their league impotence overshadowed the run.
Where did the title challenge go wrong?
Arsenal started the season brightly, sealing wins and keeping themselves close to the summit. The Gunners are an exciting outfit when in full flow.
Fans rushed to reliable ticket marketplaces like Seatsnet.com to get Arsenal tickets to see them strut their stuff, but cracks began to appear in October following a 2-0 defeat against AFC Bournemouth.
The North Londoners lost to Newcastle United. They also drew Liverpool and Chelsea in the miserable run that followed.
It was an ominous sign, even when a 14-game unbeaten run in the winter raised hopes.
All the momentum they had built vanished following a 1-0 loss to hapless West Ham United in February at the Emirates Stadium. That was when they began to fall adrift in the title race.
Stalemates against Nottingham Forest, Arsenal, Brentford, Crystal Palace, Everton and Manchester United further derailed their bid to catch eventual winners Liverpool.
Manager Mikel Arteta will point to injuries to his key players like Ben White, Bukayo Saka, Kai Havertz, and Gabriel Jesus. But that holds no water as he always wanted a small, close-knit squad.
The Spanish tactician overused Saka when he had a reliable deputy like Ethan Nwaneri waiting in the wings. Arteta also did not get a proper striker last summer. That was another massive gaffe on his part.
Arsenal did not have the minerals and consistency to match Liverpool. They need to head into the summer transfer window, determined to overcome this hump.
Areas to improve ahead of the 2025 Premier League campaign
Arsenal’s defensive record remained fantastic as David Raya won the Golden Glove. The Gunners conceded the fewest goals in the Premier League (34).
However, they regressed on the attacking front. The Gunners scored 22 fewer goals than they did last term. No Arsenal player finished with double-digit goals in the league this season.
Kai Havertz, Gabriel Jesus, and Mikel Merino took turns leading the line, but neither claimed the starting berth. Arteta must bring in firepower in the summer transfer window.
Arsenal cannot gamble on any young prospect. The club needs a striker who can deliver at least 25 league goals and spearhead the team over the line in the Premier League.
With Newcastle United ace Alexander Isak proving too expensive, Arsenal must be at the front of the queue for lethal finishers like Viktor Gyokeres (Sporting CP) and Victor Osimhen (Napoli).
A reliable back-up for Saka is also a must after his injury struggles. He needs to play less, and Arteta must get a trusted deputy to allow Nwaneri to move back into his favoured midfield position.
Additionally, the 13-time English top-flight champions could also use reinforcement on the left flank, where Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard were uninspiring.
Elsewhere, the squad is crying out for flying full-backs that give the team a new dimension.
If they can sort out these issues, they might finally crack that hurdle and end this never-ending wait for a league title.
Game of the season
Manchester City striker Erling Haaland told Arteta to stay humble after they scored a late stoppage-time equaliser to earn a 2-2 draw versus Arsenal in September.
Haaland also responded to Arsenal teenager Myles Lewis-Skelly’s attempt to confront him with a dismissive “Who are you?”
That, plus the battle for league supremacy between City and Arsenal over the past two seasons, set the stage for an epic encounter at the Emirates. Arsenal rose to the occasion with a rousing display.
Arsenal mullered Man City 5-1, playing them off the park for 90 minutes.
Lewis-Skelly would score and etch his name in Haaland’s mind by copying his famous yoga celebration in a game fans will not forget for years.
Player of the season
Declan Rice enjoyed a sensational debut campaign in North London and followed it with a terrific sophomore season.
The England international registered four goals and seven assists (16 big chances created) in 35 league outings.
Rice came up with several decisive moments and was one of the shining lights of the season. The 26-year-old was given a box-to-box license and has enjoyed the freedom.
Rice still averaged 1.5 tackles and recovered the ball 4.5 times per game, winning 51% of his duels.
His only other competition for the award is David Raya, but he will edge the goalkeeper when fans vote for their player of the season. Rice will likely collect the title from back-to-back winner Martin Odegaard.
Young player of the season
Lewis-Skelly will pip his best mate, Nwaneri, to the Young Player of the Season award because he had more playing time on the field.
Lewis-Skelly emerged as a left-back option due to Riccardo Calafiori and Jurrien Timber struggling with injuries, and Oleksandr Zinchenko disappointing. He has been a revelation.
The 18-year-old shields the ball excellently. The England international can drive with it and has good instincts in the final third. He is a star in the making if he continues his development.
Many will argue that he has to rein in his discipline, but this team needs a player with some edge and bite. Lewis-Skelly fits the bill.
Biggest surprise of the season
Due to a lack of centre-forward options, Arteta stuck midfielder Mikel Merino up top, and it paid dividends as the former Newcastle star showed a knack for the position.
Merino knows how to stick the ball into the back of the net and picks up excellent positions. He is also surprisingly adept at running the channels.
As a matter of priority, Arsenal need a competent striker over the summer, but Merino shocked fans with how quickly he adapted to playing as a centre-forward when the chips were down.
Hopefully, this season marks the end of that experiment.
