Assessing the season so far – have Arsenal dealt with a tough start?
Heading into the 2024/25 campaign, the goal was crystal clear for Arsenal – to dethrone Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City and clinch the Premier League title.
A strong start was crucial to avoid falling behind early and playing catch-up for the rest of the season. Mikel Arteta was determined to lead Arsenal to victory and not let City outpace them in the title race.
Fans who buy Manchester City tickets from Seatsnet.com have been treated to a masterclass in football this season, but Arsenal look like they have what it takes to give the champions a run for their money.
As we approach the end of the October international break, it’s a perfect opportunity to reflect on the season and anticipate what’s to come for the ambitious Gunners.
Arsenal ease through tricky away tests
Arsenal were handed a challenging run of games at the start of the season.
Home matches against Wolverhampton Wanderers, Brighton & Hove Albion, and newly promoted Leicester City offered opportunities for crucial points at the Emirates Stadium.
However, the real test was in the first three away games against Aston Villa, Tottenham Hotspur, and Manchester City.
Arsenal also had to navigate some tough fixtures in the Champions League, taking to Europa League holders Atalanta away from home and Ligue 1 champions Paris Saint-Germain at the Emirates.
Not many would have backed the Gunners to remain unbeaten across all competitions at the start of October or even still be in the title race by the end of September after the fixtures were announced.
However, Arteta’s side have once again proven that they are a formidable team, claiming an impressive seven points from three challenging games.
They kicked things off with a comprehensive 2-0 victory at Villa Park, followed by a hard-fought 1-0 win over Spurs in the north London derby, courtesy of a stunning Gabriel Magalhaes header.
The real test came against City, where Arsenal fell behind early but rallied back to take a 2-1 lead through goals from Ricardo Calafiori and Gabriel.
However, Arsenal’s chances of nicking a win took a turn for the worse just before half-time when Leandro Trossard was sent off for delaying a restart.
Arsenal parked the bus in the second 45 minutes, repeatedly repelling a relentless barrage from City. The tension was palpable as Arsenal bravely fought with ten men, coming agonisingly close to a remarkable victory.
However, John Stones found the net with a last-gasp strike that denied Arsenal and Arteta a sensational victory that could have been a monumental morale boost in the title race.
Arsenal’s home form
Arsenal have been in decent form on the road, but their performances on home turf have been a bit shaky, even though they’ve managed to grind out wins.
After a comfortable 2-0 victory over Wolves to kick off the season, they stumbled against Brighton, although nicking a point against the Seagulls was a decent result considering they went down to ten men early in the second half.
Kai Havertz had given Arteta’s side the lead, but a controversial sending-off for Declan Rice turned the tides against them, and Brighton rode the momentum to level matters just nine minutes later.
Both sides settled for a share of the spoils, but from an Arsenal point of view, it was still two points dropped, as it was the kind of game the Gunners needed to win.
Arteta’s side put in another shaky performance against Leicester. Goals from Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard saw Arsenal head into the half-time interval with a comfortable two-goal lead.
However, the Foxes somehow found a route back into the game as a sensational brace from James Justin stunned the Emirates crowd into silence just after the hour mark.
Just when it seemed like Arsenal might drop valuable points again, Trossard forced an own goal in the 94th minute before Havertz sealed the win with a last-gasp fourth.
It was a thrilling finish, but the Gunners’ reliance on injury-time goals to overcome a newly-promoted side left fans wanting a more convincing performance.
The match against Southampton at home was another challenging one for Arsenal. Despite being at the bottom of the league and without a win this season, Southampton managed to take a shock lead in the 54th minute.
The goal seemed to spark Arteta’s side into life as goals from Havertz, Martinelli, and Gunners talisman Bukayo Saka ensured a comprehensive 3-1 victory for the Gunners.
Arsenal have taken ten points from a possible 12 on home turf so far, but they’ve had to grind out results in front of the ever-demanding club faithful.
However, Arteta’s side can take solace from their never-say-die attitude that ensures they always find a way to win regardless of the challenge, proving their resilience and determination in the toughest moments.
The tough start is not over
Arsenal are far from done with their early-season baptism of fire, with the Gunners still gearing up for some blockbuster contests on the horizon.
After the international break, they will face Bournemouth away from home, and a win at the Vitality Stadium would be the perfect backdrop for tough games against Liverpool (H), Newcastle United (A), and Chelsea (A).
These matches will test Arsenal’s strength, squad depth, and title ambitions, especially with their involvement in the UEFA Champions League and EFL Cup.
If Arsenal can navigate the upcoming fixtures with their unbeaten run intact, it will be a massive confidence boost that sends a strong message to the rest of the pack about their determination to end their 21-year Premier League title drought.
Can Arsenal go all the way?
Arsenal have enjoyed a remarkable start to the season so far, claiming five wins and two draws in seven games, leaving them level on points with City and just one behind league leaders Liverpool.
They are still unbeaten, and if not for needless red cards against Brighton and City, they could easily have emerged from the opening seven games with a spotless record.
Given the challenges they’ve had to face so far, especially away from home, Arsenal can pat themselves on the back after claiming 17 points from seven games.
They’ve shown a remarkable level of fighting spirit to beat Villa and Spurs on the road and were extremely unfortunate not to come away from the Etihad with maximum points in the bag.
Arsenal have stepped up their game this year and are determined to win the title after falling short in the last two seasons.
Arteta has previously emphasised that his side might need a spotless record to stop defending champions City from claiming an outrageous five league titles in a row.
So far, they’ve done a decent job. They have refused to be beaten and look like a force to be reckoned with, giving City a run for their money.
Playmaker Martin Odegaard is set to return from a lengthy injury lay-off at the end of October, and even though they’ve fared well in his absence, Arsenal will be glad to see their skipper back on the pitch.
There’s still plenty of work to be done, but Arsenal can’t afford to take their foot off the gas, especially with Liverpool looking like serious title contenders.
