Assessing Arsenal title hopes this season – can they win the PL or CL?
Arsenal fans will still feel a tinge of regret after the 2022/23 season ended without a Premier League title in the bag despite leading the way at the summit for over 200 days.
The Gunners looked on their way to breaking their now two-decade Premier League duck, only for the team to capitulate during the run-in, allowing Manchester City to climb above and pip them to the title.
That failure must have spurred Mikel Arteta’s team coming into this season. They have taken the bull by the horns and re-established a title challenge, but can they sustain that momentum till May?
Also, they have reached the quarter-final of the UEFA Champions League, where a wounded Bayern Munich awaits – can they muster the resilience to challenge the German powerhouse?
The Premier League pursuit
Arsenal sit on top of the PL table with 64 points from 28 games, level on points with Liverpool. Reigning champions City are lurking behind with 63.
The North Londoners immediately surged to the top of the table at the beginning of the season after claiming impressive scalps in the early rounds, defeating Manchester United and Manchester City.
Arsenal did not lose their first PL game until November 4, when Newcastle United clinched a controversial 1-0 win at St. James’ Park, much to the ire of Arteta.
They overcame the setback, but December brought a slump that nearly derailed their title aspirations.
Aston Villa beat Arsenal 1-0 at Villa Park in early December, and the Christmas season did not bring any cheer as they lost to West Ham United and Fulham.
Alarm bells started ringing at the Emirates. This slump was reminiscent of the string of disappointing results that saw them miss out on the PL trophy last season.
However, they arrested the slump, turning into the new year with a newfound viciousness.
Arsenal first bounced back with a 5-0 win over Crystal Palace before a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Nottingham Forest days later.
The Gunners were riding high on confidence and took that swagger into their top-of-the-table clash with Liverpool, dragging themselves back into the title conversation with a win over Jurgen Klopp’s well-drilled machines.
Goals from Gabriel Martinelli, Bukayo Saka, and Leandro Trossard were enough to seal a 3-1 win over the Reds before they steamrolled past West Ham (6-0) and Burnley (5-0).
The 14-time FA Cup winners were not letting up and began plotting revenge against Newcastle. They expertly smothered and dispatched the Magpies 4-1, showing their title credentials and baring their teeth to challengers.
Arsenal continue to forge ahead with momentum on their side, and there is no reason to believe they cannot run over their remaining opponents on their way to claim this title.
However, they have stern tests against City, Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur, Man United, and Villa to navigate. They will likely claim the title if they can pass through this baptism of fire unscathed.
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Talisman Bukayo Saka is in terrific form, notching 13 goals and nine assists this term, although they will be concerned about him pulling out of the England squad.
Captain Martin Odegaard continues to deliver the magic to unlock defences. Leandro Trossard has come up with some clutch goals, and Gabriel Martinelli has begun to hit top form after a slow start to the season.
In midfield, Declan Rice has been one of the best signings of the season and a lynchpin, giving the Gunners a different dimension of drive and physicality.
At the back, Willam Saliba, Gabriel Magalhaes, and David Raya have kept the most clean sheets this term.
Arsenal have everything to secure this league title and bag their first PL honour since 2004. Arteta has put a lot of work into developing his stars and will be desperate to see them clinch that trophy.
The Champions League challenge
Arsenal returned to the Champions League after six years away and were desperate to prove their mettle against the elite sides in Europe.
The Gunners landed in Group B beside PSV Eindhoven, Sevilla, and Lens. They were the absolute favourites to qualify for the knockout rounds and showed their pedigree during the group stages.
Arsenal began their European campaign with a convincing 4-0 win over PSV Eindhoven. It was an attacking masterclass in which Saka, Trossard, Gabriel Jesus, and Odegaard got on the scoresheet.
However, a setback lay ahead as Arsenal prepared to take on a tricky Lens team in the next round. The French Ligue 1 side stunned them, claiming a shock 2-1 win that jolted them back to life.
Arsenal would beat Sevilla over two legs before enacting revenge on Lens for the round 2 hiccup. The Premier League side trounced their opponents 6-0 at the Emirates.
Arsenal had six different scorers on the night and secured qualification to the next round before seeing out the group with a draw versus PSV.
Arsenal were drawn to face Primeira Liga giants FC Porto, and while the PL side carried the title of favourites, Sergio Conceicao’s side has a dogged quality.
In the first leg in Portugal, Porto defended their ranks and looked to hit on counters. They executed their game plan well, and it paid off when Arsenal failed to control the ball in the dying minutes, allowing Wenderson Galeno to pounce.
The Brazilian took aim from outside the box, netting a stunner to give Porto a slight 1-0 advantage. The pressure piled on Arsenal, with many predicting that their round of 16 woes had caught up with them again.
Despite the setback, Arsenal picked themselves up for the return leg. Trossard fired his side back into the game in the first half of the second leg, with Odegaard splitting Porto’s resilient backline.
The game went into extra time and then penalties, where goalkeeper David Raya made two spectacular saves as Arsenal advanced to the quarter-final.
Arsenal have been drawn against Bayern Munich, and they will believe they have a chance against Thomas Tuchel’s team.
Bayern are struggling this term, sitting ten points behind Bayer Leverkusen and could miss out on the Bundesliga title for the first time in 11 years.
They have also crashed out of the DFB-Pokal, and the UCL is their last chance to claim silverware. The stage is set for an enthralling battle.
Arsenal may not be favourites in the UCL, but they have shown their ability to overcome adversity. It could potentially galvanise them to make a deeper run.
If Arsenal can surmount the Bayern challenge and reach the semi-final, then who knows? They may be looking at a place in the final for the first time since 2006 and potentially their first-ever CL trophy.
