Premier League 2025-26 Preview: Arsenal

Mikel Arteta is facing a pivotal season after finally signing a super center-forward and reinforcing both his midfield and defense.

Last season's position: 2nd

Arsenal FC in Brief

Premier League, First Tier

34 years

€1.32 billion

28 players

25.9 years

21 (75.0%)

21

Emirates Stadium (60,704 seats)

€-216.20 million

Prospects

Mikel Arteta vowed this would be a "big summer" after finishing as runners-up in the Premier League for a third consecutive season, and the new sporting director, Andrea Berta, has delivered on that promise with numerous new signings in his first transfer window. The question for Arsenal supporters now is whether Martín Zubimendi, Christian Nørgaard, Noni Madueke, Viktor Gyökeres, Cristhian Mosquera, and Kepa Arrizabalaga can help them take that long-awaited final step to become champions for the first time since the "Invincibles" in 2004.

The arrival of Gyökeres will certainly quiet the long-standing clamor for a new No. 9, although the pressure will immediately be on the Swedish striker to hit the ground running. The long-time target Zubimendi is expected to serve as a precise metronome at the base of a revamped midfield that Arteta hopes can continue to get the best out of Declan Rice and rejuvenate captain Martin Ødegaard. Madueke will likely provide a much better alternative for the team's talisman, Bukayo Saka, than Raheem Sterling did last season, and could even challenge Gabriel Martinelli for a starting spot on the left flank.

Although teenage sensations Myles Lewis-Skelly and Ethan Nwaneri have committed their futures to the club after enjoying outstanding breakthrough seasons, concerns remain about a lack of creativity in the squad. A move for Crystal Palace's FA Cup hero Eberechi Eze could depend on players departing before the end of August to balance the books.

Even though Arsenal has spent more than £200 million on strengthening the squad so far, seeing champions Liverpool comfortably outspend them after finishing 10 points ahead last season has left many fans wondering if they've gone far enough. The squad certainly looks stronger than it did this time last year, but with other rivals also closing in, this season could be make or break for Arteta.

In the first round of the Premier League, Arsenal will begin their league season at home against Manchester United on August 17, 2025, at 17:30.

The Manager

Another season without a trophy was a bitter pill for Arteta to swallow, who celebrated his fifth anniversary in charge just before Christmas. The solitary FA Cup he won a few months after his appointment is not a fair reflection of the progress Arsenal has made since then—especially given their run to the Champions League semi-finals last season—but Arteta knows he will ultimately be judged on delivering titles. He made no secret of his frustration over the lack of cover in Arsenal's squad when injuries piled up last year. Now that plenty of reinforcements have arrived, Arteta must seize his opportunity.

Off-field Picture

The surprise departure of Edu Gaspar in November disrupted plans for the January transfer window, but Berta's arrival in March provided some fresh perspective. Arsenal's American owner, Kroenke Sports & Entertainment, was rated as the most valuable sports ownership group on the planet in July, with an estimated value of $21.3 billion (£16.1 billion), thanks to a portfolio that also includes the NFL's Los Angeles Rams, the NHL's Colorado Avalanche, and the NBA's Denver Nuggets. As a result, funding another summer spending spree was not an issue after they had been relatively restrained last year. The owners—just like the Arsenal supporters, who pay for one of the most expensive season tickets in the country—will, however, want to reap the rewards of their investment at some point.

Star Signing

No Arsenal player managed more than 10 goals in the Premier League last season, so the onus is on Gyökeres—who scored a staggering 97 goals in 102 games for Sporting—to fill that void. The only question is that the 27-year-old never played in English football's top flight despite being on Brighton's books and then excelling in the Championship for Coventry. He will expect to get plenty of opportunities in a team that usually dominates opponents in midfield but struggled to break teams down last season, drawing 14 times in the league. Having eventually opted for Gyökeres over Benjamin Sesko of RB Leipzig or Alexander Isak of Newcastle, Arsenal must now find a way to utilize the Swede's obvious strengths.

Who Will Step Up?

It is highly probable that only Premier League regulations prevented Max Dowman from breaking Nwaneri's record as the competition's youngest-ever player last season. The attacking midfielder started training with the first-team squad after celebrating his 15th birthday, and Arteta called him "special" after he came off the bench to win a penalty in their pre-season friendly against Newcastle in Singapore. "What a 15-year-old did against this team in the time he had on the pitch is certainly not a common thing to witness," the manager said. Dowman is expected to be given an opportunity sooner rather than later, and it will be exciting to see what kind of impact he can have on the team.

A Big Season For…

Martin Ødegaard was the first to admit that his performances last season lacked their usual spark; his three league goals were his lowest since moving to North London permanently in 2021. The 26-year-old captain was also substituted on 12 occasions after missing part of the season due to an ankle injury as he struggled to find his best form. The Norwegian must rebuild his relationship with Saka, which has proved so effective over the years, while Arteta will be hoping that Gyökeres can finish some of the chances that Ødegaard will inevitably create, given the lack of other options besides the inexperienced Nwaneri and Dowman.

The Squad

Based on the data that has just been released, it's clear that Arsenal took their summer preparations incredibly seriously and tried to solve their previous problems with massive investments. Players were signed specifically for the missing positions, as a result of which the squad's market value rose to €1.32 billion, making them one of the most valuable teams in the league. The net spend of €216 million was also by far the largest in the league.

The core of the team is truly brilliant. The squad's most valuable players, like Bukayo Saka (€150 million), Declan Rice (€120 million), and Martin Ødegaard (€85 million), form the spine of the team and rival the world's best in their positions. In defense, William Saliba (€80 million) and Gabriel Magalhães (€75 million) form a duo that is essential on the road to a championship title. This outstanding core guarantees that Arsenal can compete at the highest level.

The summer signings are a perfect fit for the missing links. The arrival of Viktor Gyökeres (market value €75 million, transfer fee €65.8 million) finally solves the center-forward problem, which cost them many points last season. In midfield, the arrival of Martín Zubimendi (€70 million) and the experienced Christian Nørgaard (€11.6 million) adds depth and stability to the central axis led by Declan Rice. On the wings, Noni Madueke (€56 million) creates real competition for the starting positions. All of these steps show that the club is not satisfied with finishing second but is clearly going for the championship trophy.

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