The start of every season brings massive hope and optimism to clubs, from unveiling fresh kits, new signings and renewed vigour, there is so much to savour for fans.
The 2024/25 Premier League season is scheduled to commence on Friday August 16 2024 and the campaign will run over 33 weekends, four midweek rounds and a Bank Holiday matchweek. Other domestic competitions will start shortly after the main leagues kickoff.
Arsenal, who have been runners-up for the past two seasons will try as much as possible to top Manchester City this term and clinch the title for themselves. The Gunners were excellent in pre-season which promises an even more exciting campaign.
Their pre-season tour kicked off in the USA where they played AFC Bournemouth in a 1-1 draw that ended in a 5-4 penalty shootout victory for the Gunners. Their next match against Manchester United ended 2-1 in their favour with both Gabriel Jesus and Gabriel Martinelli on target to secure the victory at the SoFi stadium (home of the LA Rams also owned by The Kroenkes).
However, the Red devils won in the ensuing penalty shoot-out by four goals to three.
Arsenal proceeded to play against Liverpool and ended up losing 2-1, a game which rounded up their pre-season games abroad.
The North London club then hosted Invincible Bundesliga winners, Bayern Leverkusen at the Emirates Stadium where they trashed the Germans 4-1 in a convincing win.
In their final game of pre-season, Mikel Arteta’s side faced Olympique Lyon where they were once again victorious and had domestic silverware to show for their successful pre-season games. Two goals by the club’s centre-back pairing of Gabriel Magalhaes and William Saliba, each from a corner-kick swung in by Declan Rice in the first half proved to be enough to seal the game. The goals also showed how much of a threat Arsenal could prove to be from set-pieces ahead of the campaign.
As clubs around the world are now gearing up to the start of the new season, they will also look to achieve their main objectives for the campaign which depends a lot on player transfers.
Arsenal’s summer business
Arsenal have been measured rather than reactive in the transfer market, which is thanks to their position of strength compared to most of their domestic rivals.
Arteta’s side conceded fewer goals than any other Premier League team last season, their defense was at elite levels – yet he still identified a weakness.
There was no consistency on the left of the back line, where four different players turned out. The excellent Jurrien Timber was stretchered off in the first game with an Anterior Cruciate Ligament injury, Oleksandr Zinchenko was often exposed defensively and Jakub Kiwior didn’t offer as much support to the offensive play as required.
Quality and availability was an issue there and Arsenal have fortified an already solid area with Calafiori, Italy’s gem at the Euros and the heart of Bologna’s brilliance last season. The Italian made his debut in the game against Lyon, and showed how much of an addition he is to an already formidable defense line.
Real Madrid attempted a late push to sign the 22-year-old, but by that point, sporting director Edu already had the deal sewn up. In fact, most of the leg work had been done months in advance and the only reason a move for Calafiori wasn’t completed before the Euros was to respect the player’s wish of just focusing on the tournament. Edu and Arteta are aware they have to be more patient and considered in the market, given the pool of players that can take Arsenal to the next level is much smaller now than it was at the start of the process, or even last summer. Their standards, expectations and qualities are in a different zone.
A guaranteed goalscorer, who hits 30-plus goals would be a welcome addition but that profile pile is the least crowded, most expensive and often actually not available for sale. It’s why so much work has been put into building a squad of multi-functional and faceted players like Kai Havertz. Gabriel Jesus, judging by his pre-season form is looking sharp and might prove efficient in the long run as the Brazilian’s flair and chance creating abilities will be beneficial to the Gunners in their most important title race yet.
Players’ exit is also a major part of the transfer business as the manager is deemed to shape the squad to how he thinks would work best. Therefore, offloading players is a necessity.
Already, six players have been released from the squad ahead of the new season including Mohammed Elneny, Cedric Soares and academy goalkeeper, Arthur Okonkwo who ran out their contracts at the club while Albert Sambi Lokonga and Nuno Tavares were loaned out to Sevilla and Lazio respectively.
The most significant departure was that of Academy Graduate, Emile smith Rowe who moved to London side Fulham, in a club-record £31 million deal.
As Arsenal look to continue to sell players this summer, it has to now be the blueprint. Eddie Nketiah has attracted interest from a number of Premier League clubs, but Marseille have made the most front-footed move to sign him as things stand.
Reiss Nelson and Eddie Nketiah want more game time and will be granted exits if good offers materialize. So far there have been enquiries but no offers that can be considered serious for the pair.
Given the levels Arsenal will have to reach next season to usurp Manchester City at the top of the Premier League table, Arteta will be desperate to have his late arrivals up to speed as soon as possible.
Hence, a move to North London edges closer for Mikel Merino as the Spaniard has agreed to personal terms already.
Every game is crucial, and Arsenal cannot afford an early slip-up with their first match at the Emirates against Wolves on Saturday, 17 August. The match is expected to be everything but a walk in the park as Gary O’Neil has made recruitments of his own to bring stiff competition to the league.
Arsenal go in search of silverware again this season with a modified team from the previous seasons and having shown immense progress over the years, their fans can strongly hope that this season ends their 20-year premier League title drought.
