Arsenal Football Club, one of the most successful teams in the history of the Premier League, is looking to bounce back after a few disappointing seasons. While the Gunners haven’t won the league title since 2004, there are several reasons to believe that this could be their year. Here are a few reasons why Arsenal can win the Premier League this season.
Strong Squad Depth
Arsenal has a strong squad with talented players in every position. The Gunners have the best defensive record in the league, with the likes of Gabriel, Ben White, and William Saliba leading the backline. The Gunners have conceded the fewest goals and have lost the fewest matches. In midfield, they have a mix of experienced players like Granit Xhaka and Thomas Partey, as well as exciting young talents like Bukayo Saka and Martin Ødegaard. In attack, they have Gabriel Jesus, who they signed from title rivals Manchester City, and Gabriel Martinelli, who has stepped up his goal-scoring form this season.
Mikel Arteta
Arsenal parted ways with their long-time manager Arsene Wenger who served as Head coach for 22 years. Unai Emery was appointed as his successor. However, Emery failed to live up to expectations, and the club brought in Mikel Arteta midway through the season. Arteta brought new energy and tactical awareness to the team. He managed to get the best out of some of the younger players in the squad. Under Arteta’s guidance, Arsenal won both the FA Cup and the Community Shield.
However, Mikel Arteta in his first full season, Arsenal finished eighth in their Premier League season, and following eliminations from the FA Cup, EFL Cup, and UEFA Europa League, they failed to qualify for any European competition for the first time since the 1994–95 season. The story is quite different this season, the Gunners find themselves top of the league with 25 matches played and a 5-point lead gap over their closest rivals Manchester City.
The Emergence of Young Players
Arsenal has a strong tradition of bringing through young players, and this season is no exception. Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli are two of the most exciting young players in the league. Saka, who can play as a winger or a full-back, has already established himself as a key player for both Arsenal and England. Martin Odegaard, who is a creative midfielder, has also shown plenty of promise and has been a regular in the starting lineup this season.
Saka’s Goalscoring Form
Bukayo Saka is one of the best young talents in the world, and he has already proven his worth to Arsenal since joining the club at the age of seven. The young English star is the Gunner’s leading scorer this season with 10 goals and 9 assists in 25 matches. Saka has been essential to Arsenal’s efforts to win their first league title since 2003–04, scoring pivotal goals. On August 20, 2022, he made his 100th Premier League appearance in the 3-0 victory over Bournemouth, making him the second-youngest Arsenal player to accomplish that feat. He scored twice on October 9 as Arsenal defeated Liverpool 3-2, including the game-winning penalty kick in the 76th minute. As a result, Arsenal was now in the first place, where they would remain till mid-February.
On January 22, 2023, Arsenal recovered from behind to defeat Manchester United 3-2. Saka’s second goal earned Arsenal the Goal of the Month award for January. On February 18, he scored Arsenal’s first equalizer against Aston Villa as they rallied from two deficits to win 4-2 at Villa Park. After being defeated by Manchester City earlier in the week, that victory restored Arsenal to the top spot.
The Premier League is unpredictable, and many teams will be competing for the title this season.
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However, with a strong squad, a talented manager, exciting young players, and one of the best young attackers in the world, Arsenal has all the ingredients to challenge for the title. While it won’t be easy, if the Gunners can maintain their current form, they have every chance of lifting the trophy come May.
