What do the Gunners need to do to finally win the English Premier League title again? Finishing second in the table is nothing to be ashamed of but winning the title is long overdue. Will the new signings make the difference in the 2025-26 season?
Last season saw Arsenal fill the runners-up spot for the third consecutive season. They ended ten points behind champions Liverpool. The gap would have been wider but for the Reds taking their foot off the gas pedal once the title had been clinched.
One problem Arteta’s squad had last season was the number of goals scored. 69 in 38 matches does not win a team the title and was 22 fewer than scored in the 2023-24 season. The lack of goals contributed to the fact that the Gunners only won 20 league games last term. That was eight fewer than the previous season.
Only four games were lost and just 34 goals conceded but 14 draws was simply far too many. Being able to convert draws into wins must be a key aim if that title win is to be achieved. Six at the Emirates and eight away just isn’t good enough.
Not one player managed to get into double figures in the Premier League but the chances of that happening in the upcoming season look slim. The arrival of Viktor Gyökeres should make a major difference up front.
Gooners may finally be able to stop shouting ‘we need a striker.’ The Swede has made great progress since Brighton decided to sell him to Coventry City four years ago. He found his scoring boots in the Championship but then found himself being transferred to Sporting.
The past couple of seasons have seen Gyökeres score 97 goals in 102 appearances. If he can get anywhere close to that scoring rate, then the 5/2 on Arsenal winning the Premier League could be good value. Gyökeres is 7/1 to be the Premier League’s top scorer in the 2025-26 season according to these bookies by offersbet.co.uk.
A contribution from midfield is key for any title-chasing team. For three consecutive seasons, the England international got to double figures in the Premier League. Injury restricted him to only 25 league appearances last season but the six goals he managed definitely needs to be improved on.
The same comment definitely applies to Martin Martin Ødegaard who scored just three in 30 league games. Declan Rice is great at free-kicks but just four goals were scored in last season’s Premier League.
It’s not surprising therefore that reinforcements have been signed during the summer. Martín Zubimendi is not the answer to the problem with only nine league goals for Real Sociedad in the past four seasons. As a defensive midfielder though, the Spaniard looks to be an impressive signing.
Noni Madueke has a lot to prove after being signed from Chelsea. He wasn’t always in the good books of coach Enzo Maresca but if he can settle in at the Emirates, those behind the #NoToMadueke campaign may end up with egg on their faces. He is yet to score ten league goals in a season.
Christian Norgaad has arrived from Brentford, so Arsenal certainly won’t be short of midfielders this season. Perhaps giving some more time on the pitch to Leandro Trossard would be a good idea. The Belgian always looks dangerous when on the field of play but did get injured in the pre-season game against Tottenham.
After their pre-season tour, getting off to a good start in the Premier League is always essential. No one wants to be playing catch-up after some poor early results. The Gunners don’t have the easiest of early games, so need to be at their best as soon as possible.
They begin the season with a trip to Old Trafford on August 17th. Only one of the last four league visits to Manchester United have been won with last season’s fixture being drawn. United have also been busy in this transfer window (well they had to be after last season’s disasters) so it’s a fascinating fixture.
Arsenal are 11/10 to get the win with United 12/5 and the draw 5/2. A bet on under 2.5 goals (10/11) could be handy as the last four games between these two clubs have only seen seven goals scored.
The first home league game of the season sees the visit of newly-promoted Leeds United on August 23. That should hopefully produce three points but eight days later, the Gunners travel to Anfield to face defending champions Liverpool. Only one of the last six games against the Reds has been won but four have ended level.
The tough fixture list continues with home games against Nottingham Forest (September 13) and Manchester City (September 21) before an away game against Newcastle United on September 28. If Arsenal can be in the top four after the opening six games of the new season, then their title chances will be looking good.
