Having finished as the Premier League’s runners-up in each of the last three years, Arsenal are the favourites to go one better this term. They haven’t been crowned English champions since their ‘Invincibles’ 2003/04 campaign, when they went the entire season unbeaten. The pressure is on Mikel Arteta and his squad to end the wait in 2026.
With 16 points from their opening seven fixtures, the Gunners are the early leaders, but are only one point clear of their most likely challengers, Liverpool. The North London club have found ways to implode in the latter stages of some of their recent title quests, but there’s reason to think that will no longer be the case.
1. The deepest squad in the league
Arsenal have been criticised for their cautious approach to the transfer market at times, but that’s not an accusation that could be thrown at them this year. They went big in the Summer window, with a net spend of £257m, the highest in the English top flight.
They moved early to sign Martín Zubimendi for the holding midfield role, while their focus was on adding depth in attacking areas, rather than replacing existing players. With Eberechi Eze and Noni Madueke on board, they are now much better placed to cope in the event of an injury to a key player like Bukayo Saka.
No pre season to integrate, no phased introduction, no excuses; just technical brilliance, a creative brain and a deep football intelligence.
Eberechi Eze has already elevated #Arsenal’s fluidity and potency in central spaces. Baller.
📹 @imzftbi pic.twitter.com/ofxtcyWrQq
— Adam Keys (@adamkeys_) October 8, 2025
Arteta now has at least two strong options in virtually every position, with Cristhian Mosquera and Piero Hincapié also joining to serve as capable deputies in central defence. Meanwhile, Kepa Arrizabalaga offers good cover for David Raya in goal.
2. Big-game performers
Recent failures to land that elusive title have not been due to their inability to rise to the occasion. In just the meetings involving two members of the Premier League’s so-called ‘big six’ since the start of the 2023/24 campaign, Arsenal have comfortably the best record.
They’d gone 22 matches unbeaten against Manchester City, Manchester United, Liverpool, Tottenham and Chelsea heading into their trip to Anfield in August. Even though the Reds won their fixture 1-0 thanks to a brilliant Dominik Szoboszlai free-kick, it was another solid display from Arteta’s men , who only allowed 0.53 xG in the contest.
The Basque coach has been criticised for occasionally using defensive tactics in those crunch clashes, with nine of those 22 games ending in draws. However, even Pep Guardiola adopted a pragmatic, careful approach when City travelled to the Emirates Stadium last month. Arteta will feel like his team’s results speak for themselves.
3. The best defence
Arsenal ended last season with the best defensive record in the division. They only let in 0.89 goals per game on average, with Gabriel Magalhães and William Saliba boasting a great understanding at centre-back. With fresh additions from the transfer window, there’s no reason to think they won’t continue to excel at the back in 2025/26.
Gabriel Magalhaes – Big away grounds pic.twitter.com/GOO2suNvP0
— – (@imzftbi) September 29, 2025
The stats again suggest they have the best backline in the division. Despite already facing Liverpool and Man City, they’ve conceded just three times in seven fixtures, the best PL record. The Gunners have allowed only 4.3 xG, fewer than any other team, while their average of only 8.0 shots faced per 90 minutes is also the best.
4. More to come from Gyökeres
Viktor Gyökeres arrived at the Emirates in the Summer with a reputation as a prolific scorer. The powerful striker netted 39 balls in last term’s Portuguese Primeira Liga at a rate of one goal every 72 minutes. He also found the back of the net six times in eight Champions League events.
His start to life in London has been a bit slower than he might have hoped for. The Sweden international is currently going through a six-game goal drought and has only struck once since a brace in the 5-0 victory over Leeds in August. He’s faced criticism for his failure to impose himself on the big matches so far.
🗣️Gary Lineker is confident Viktor Gyökeres is going to start scoring regularly for #Arsenal soon: “I also think that even though he’s not banged loads of goals in yet, but he’s got his fair share, Gyökeres, I think he gives them something different. He gives them a threat… pic.twitter.com/Hk6t1icKEZ
— Arsenal News Channel (@Arsenalnewschan) October 6, 2025
However, with Arsenal’s record in such fixtures already so strong, that may not be as problematic as it initially seems. Arteta’s squad have fallen short in recent years because of too many slip-ups against the weaker teams, often in meetings where they’ve created lots of chances. It’s on such occasions where having a clinical finisher like Gyökeres could earn them many extra points this time around.
5. Cracks showing at Liverpool
With Manchester City rebuilding after a miserable season, and signs of weakness remaining at the other potential challengers, we could end up with a two-horse title race between Arsenal and Liverpool.
The Merseyside club also invested very heavily in the Summer, but haven’t quite clicked as Arne Slot would have liked. Florian Wirtz has been a major disappointment so far, while structural changes look to have negatively impacted Mohamed Salah, the driving force behind their 2024/25 title win.
Liverpool went into the international break on the back of three straight defeats in all competitions. That run of form confirmed Arsenal’s status as the team to beat in the Premier League this term.
