2022/23 Season Preview: Arsenal

After a progressive season last year, Arsenal will kick off the 2022/23 Premier League season on Friday night at Selhurst Park.

The Gunners will be hoping that this season – Mikel Arteta’s fourth – will finally ensure that they mark their return to the Champions League next year.

Last Season

Although Arsenal have improved from Arteta’s previous seasons, the end of the Gunners’ campaign turned sour as their hopes of being in the Champions League came to an end. But, it is clear that there has been a progression in this Arsenal side and even though this progress is not always linear, they look to be heading in the right direction.

Consecutive opening defeats against Brentford, Chelsea and Manchester City meant that tensions were high at the Emirates in the initial stages of last season. A victory against Norwich and a tightknit win at Turf Moor – courtesy of a glorious Martin Odegaard freekick – bought Arteta time for the first north London Derby of the season.

As shown in Amazon’s ‘All of Nothing: Arsenal’ documentary, Arteta took an unorthodox approach to the team talk: inviting Club Photographer Stuart MacFarlane to rally the players before the match. The decision proved a success and Arsenal beat their rivals 3-1. This seemed to be a turning point in fan relations within the Emirates. From there, Arteta had changed the tune around the stadium: they wanted top four.

But the fairy-tale ending was not to come for the Gunners. A defeat at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium with just three matches remaining put pressure on Arsenal, who had to win against Newcastle United to stay in control of their top four hopes: this was easier said than done.

An own goal from Ben White and a late second from Bruno Guimaraes plummeted Arsenal to defeat in their penultimate league match and meant that their final league position was out of their hands. Despite an outstanding 5-1 victory over Everton on the final day, there was a glum mood around the Emirates as they had lost out on Champions League football to bitter rivals Spurs.

Summer Business

Arsenal’s transfer window has seen them continue with the same philosophy that we saw the previous year: signing young players but also adding experience to the squad. The arrivals of Man City players Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko not only improve the technical aspect of the squad but the depth too.

 

Zinchenko, who can play in the left side of the midfield if needed, brings competition and cover for Kieran Tierney, who had a track record of injuries since his move to London. Jesus also offers the same versatility. As seen at Man City, the 25-year-old forward can operate as a number nine or drift out to play on the left.

The Gunners have also strengthened their defence this summer; without making a new signing. The return of William Saliba from Olympique Marseille will be key for Arteta’s side this season.

The 21-year-old centre-back impressed in France yet again last year and will give support for Gabriel Magalhaes and White: especially when White fills in at right-back.

One To Watch

As always, Bukayo Saka will be one to watch for Arsenal this season, but Jesus may just steal the show. The Brazilian has impressed in preseason – scoring seven goals in the process.

Jesus should be the focal point of Arsenal’s attack this coming season. His ability to drift out wide but still make the forward runs into the box offers something different to what Alexandre Lacazette was giving last year.

A fluid attack of Gabriel Martinelli, Jesus and Saka should have the Arsenal fans excited for the new season. When Odegaard and Fabio Vieira are thrown into the mix too, the Gunners’ ability to score goals should not be a problem.

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