After a commanding 3-0 victory over Nottingham Forest at the Emirates last Saturday, Arsenal have bolstered their campaign for a Champions League spot in the 2025/2026 season. The Gunners currently sit 4th in the Premier League, with 22 points from 12 matches (W-D-L: 6-4-2), level on points with Chelsea (3rd) and Brighton (5th). With Manchester City just one point ahead in 2nd and Liverpool leading the table on 31 points, the race for the top four is heating up as the season progresses.
What’s intriguing, however, is how Arsenal’s performances this season evoke shades of the club’s past glory under Arsène Wenger. While there isn’t a Thierry Henry leading the charge, certain players spark nostalgic comparisons. A tricky winger who can change games—Saka or Pires? A midfield captain delivering consistent 9/10 performances—Vieira or Ødegaard? And in defence, the names Gabriel, Saliba, Toure, Campbell, and Cole could almost feel interchangeable.
Of course, no one is suggesting this team matches the legendary Invincibles, but there’s a sense of transformation within the squad—a growing cohesion and belief reminiscent of those iconic days. It’s a shift and we’re here for it.
A Unique Winning Streak
The numbers speak for themselves. Arsenal’s away performance this year has been nothing short of extraordinary. From January 2024 to September 2024, the team remained unbeaten in 12 consecutive away matches. Even more impressive, they secured 10 wins and only 2 draws—both against Manchester City, no less. This remarkable run is a testament to the club’s revitalised culture that has redefined Arsenal in recent months.
This modern-day success also serves as a reminder of Arsenal’s historical dominance. The Gunners still hold the Premier League’s longest unbeaten streak, lasting 49 matches under Arsène Wenger from May 2003 to October 2004. These achievements, past and present, highlight a club that continues to be a benchmark for success in football.
Expansion of the Emirates
Arsenal are exploring plans to expand the Emirates Stadium to an 80,000-seat capacity, a move that would position it among the largest stadiums in the Premier League and elevate it to the ranks of elite European venues. While discussions are still in the early stages, such an expansion would significantly boost matchday revenue and open opportunities for non-football events, similar to Tottenham’s utilisation of their stadium for NFL games, go-karting, and other attractions.
The Kroenke family, Arsenal’s owners, bring valuable experience to the table through their involvement with major stadium projects, including the state-of-the-art SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles. Coupled with the team’s consistent title challenges, this makes Arsenal an increasingly attractive option for sponsorship deals, a crucial funding stream for a cost-sensitive project like a stadium expansion.
Sponsorships will play a pivotal role in financing these ambitious plans. Despite recent controversy surrounding gambling sponsorships in football, online casino operators—like those featured on platforms such as bonusfinder.co.uk — have a proven track record of supporting high-profile teams and could be strong candidates for partnerships. Additionally, financial institutions and technology companies present viable sponsorship opportunities, aligning with Arsenal’s image as a forward-thinking and globally recognised club.
Arteta’s Impressive Growth
When Mikel Arteta was appointed Arsenal manager in December 2019, the decision sparked mixed reactions among the North London faithful. While Arteta was a respected and influential former midfielder, Arsenal was his first professional managerial role—a risk many fans believed the club couldn’t afford during a turbulent period. Since Arsène Wenger’s departure in 2018, the team had been through Unai Emery’s inconsistent tenure and Freddie Ljungberg’s brief stint as interim manager. Arteta’s arrival seemed more like a gamble than a guarantee.
However, one key credential stood out: his apprenticeship under Pep Guardiola at Manchester City from 2016 to 2019. During those years, as Guardiola refined his brand of total football—originally inspired by Johan Cruyff—Arteta was at the heart of it, absorbing invaluable tactical insights.
Fast forward to today, and Arteta’s Arsenal looks strikingly similar to the beginnings of Guardiola’s golden era at City. Though the Gunners are yet to claim a Premier League title, their progress is undeniable. In the 2022/23 season, they finished second with an impressive 26 wins. Last season, they improved even further, earning 89 points—equal to Manchester City’s 28 wins but falling short due to two additional defeats. Arteta’s influence is clear: he has transformed Arsenal into genuine title contenders, combining tactical brilliance with a renewed sense of identity.
How the Club Culture has Evolved
Since taking the helm, Mikel Arteta has embarked on a journey to reshape Arsenal’s culture and mentality. He inherited a fractured environment—one burdened by underachievement and the bittersweet conclusion of Arsène Wenger’s tenure. Arsenal had lost its identity and sense of purpose, making Arteta’s task clear: rebuild the club’s foundation with discipline, unity, and a shared vision among players, staff, and fans.
Arteta prioritised fostering cohesion both on and off the pitch. He actively encourages players to involve their families in team events, creating a family-oriented atmosphere that strengthens bonds. Demonstrating his hands-on approach, Arteta even relocated his office to the center of Arsenal’s training ground, ensuring greater visibility and accessibility to both his staff and players.
Under Arteta’s guidance, Arsenal’s culture has shifted dramatically. What was once marked by entitlement and inconsistency has transformed into a mindset rooted in ambition, unity, and shared responsibility. The result is a club with a renewed sense of identity, purpose, and drive to succeed.
Tactical Innovations Leading the Way
What Arteta has managed to do on the pitch in the last few years is to speed up the transition from 4-3-3 to 4-2-3-1. The arrival of Kai Havertz from Chelsea at the beginning of 2023/24 made it possible for Arteta to intensify the rotation in the attack. The 25-year-old German is also a versatile attacking midfielder, who can take several positions across the attack. Also, he’s a tremendous player to put some pressure on the opponent’s defensive line. With Martin Ødegaard dominating the middle of the pitch and Bukayo Saka and Martinelli rushing on the wings, Arsenal have one of the most impressive pressing formations in the league.
But several pundits agree that the signing of Ricardo Calafiori this summer was the best move Arteta has taken as a manager so far. Arsenal had problems in the backline in previous seasons, and something had to be changed. The former Bologna defender seems to be the special ingredient that makes Gabriel and Saliba play with more confidence and leaves David Raya with fewer balls in the net.
Paths of Glory Revisited
The last time Arsenal won the Premier League was in 2003/2004, with 90 points tallied in 38 games. So, last season, they went only one point short of that record-breaking year. During the 22-year stint at Arsenal, Wenger won three PL titles. Some would say not too many, others would oppose.
From what we can see now based on the results and the team’s style of play, Arteta has done a great job in establishing Arsenal as one of the most formidable teams in the league and indeed Europe at the moment. His football knowledge and the cohesion among the Arsenal players are the foundation that could easily bring this club back to the paths of glory already this season.
