When Mikel Arteta took the reins at Arsenal, he unveiled a five‑stage roadmap designed to transform a club in turmoil into a powerhouse. The final stage—step five—focuses on establishing a lasting dynasty. The first four phases, completed over the past few years, were all about restoring Arsenal to the heights enjoyed under Arsène Wenger, culminating in a return to the summit of English football. Having reclaimed the Premier League crown, Arteta now faces a challenge that even Wenger never managed to conquer.
No Arsenal side has successfully defended a top‑flight title since the Gunners completed a historic three‑in‑a‑row that ended in 1935. Neither Wenger’s double‑winning squads nor the famed "Invincibles" managed to follow their landmark triumphs with an immediate second league title.
Arteta, however, is already using the prospect of making history as a key motivational tool in his pre‑match talks, and it is clear that the "back‑to‑back" narrative will dominate the dressing‑room over the coming months. While the ambition of creating a dynasty is front and centre, Arsenal’s objectives this season extend beyond simply winning consecutive championships. Despite entering the campaign as England’s champions and being tipped by many pundits to repeat the feat, there remain clear areas for improvement compared with last year’s campaign. Arsenal’s defence was rock‑solid, and the team displayed composure in set‑piece situations, but the attacking side left something to be desired.
The previous season was memorable for its celebratory atmosphere—fans partying outside the Emirates and across the globe—but those celebrations masked a glaring short‑fall in the Champions League final against Paris Saint‑Germain, where the Gunners failed to register a single shot on target for the full 114 minutes after briefly taking the lead. That match highlighted a predictable pattern in Arsenal’s forward play: a defensive masterclass paired with a limited capacity to create and finish chances from open play. The problem was not isolated to the final. Throughout the league campaign, Arsenal’s open‑play attacking metrics lagged behind the top three teams, even though the numbers were not disastrous.
The team’s inability to consistently generate quality chances in open play is a clear target for improvement if they hope to become less predictable and more lethal. A promising early sign came in the Community Shield, where Arsenal dismantled Manchester City 3‑0, scoring all three goals from open play and not producing a single set‑piece opportunity. The performance suggested that the side could evolve into a more fluid, attacking unit. Yet the summer transfer window raised questions about whether that progress would be sustained, especially regarding the forward line.
The market saw a flurry of activity. Morgan Rogers, initially identified as Arsenal’s primary attacking target, was snatched up by Chelsea for £117 million, leaving a void.
A pursuit of Vinícius Júnior generated excitement, but Real Madrid’s decision to keep the Brazilian ended that fantasy and forced Arsenal back to the drawing board. The only forward signed before the season began was Christos Tzolis, brought in as a youthful alternative to Leandro Trossard.
Consequently, Arsenal entered the new campaign with essentially the same attacking personnel that finished the previous season. Nevertheless, the window is not yet closed. Late‑season signings like Eberechi Eze have demonstrated that players arriving after the window can still make decisive contributions, so Arsenal retain the possibility of bolstering the attack later on. The early fixtures against Aston Villa and Chelsea will provide a stern early test of the squad’s offensive potency.
Arteta has repeatedly stressed that transfers alone will not solve all of Arsenal’s issues. "We will go from strength to strength," he said during pre‑season, emphasizing that development can come from existing players as well as new arrivals.
The midfield and attacking additions of last summer—Martin Zúñiga, Noni Madueke, Viktor Gyökeres and Eze—delivered solid, if not spectacular, seasons. None of them featured in the starting eleven for the Champions League final in Budapest, where Arteta preferred more familiar options.
If any of those players can elevate their performances, Arsenal’s attacking ceiling could rise dramatically. The challenge is not merely about scoring goals; it also concerns chance creation. Martin Ødegaard, the team’s chief creator, started only 14 league matches last season but still posted the third‑highest chance‑creation rate per 90 minutes in the Premier League.
Greater playing time for Ødegaard would likely boost the team’s offensive output, especially after his strong showing in the Community Shield. Arteta has hinted that Ødegaard’s hunger to prove himself will be a catalyst for the side’s evolution. Another potential catalyst is the arrival of Bruno Guimarães from Newcastle, Arsenal’s second‑most expensive signing.
While primarily a defensive midfielder, Guimarães finished last season among the top ten players for breaking opposition lines with progressive passes. His ability to win the ball back quickly, drive it forward, and arrive late in the box adds a valuable dimension to Arsenal’s attack.
If he can partner regularly with Ødegaard, the Gunners may possess a more dynamic creative engine than many observers anticipate. Arteta has also signalled a shift in philosophy. When asked whether Arsenal were a "defending" champion, he corrected the narrative, insisting the club is now an "attacking" champion. This suggests a willingness to adopt a more expansive style, relying on the resurgence of Ødegaard, the influence of Guimarães, and the contributions of newcomers like Tzolis.
Defensively, Arsenal must contend with the prolonged absence of William Saliba, who is still recovering from a back injury. Saliba has been described as a "Rolls‑Royce" defender, prized for his speed and ability to neutralise counter‑attacks. In his absence, the back line will lean heavily on Gabriel, the ever‑reliable Jurrien Timber (who is still regaining full fitness), and Ben White, whose injury history adds an element of uncertainty.
The impending arrival of Ezri Konsa from Aston Villa may provide additional depth, but the early season will likely test Arsenal’s defensive resilience. Despite these concerns, Arsenal should not forget that they start the campaign as reigning English champions who went unbeaten in 90 minutes of Champions League play last season. They already possess a solid foundation and have added quality, albeit not as much as they might have hoped.
Moreover, they are the only club among the traditional "Big Six" not undergoing a managerial or squad‑building overhaul, giving them a platform of continuity and confidence. In summary, Arteta’s step five is about more than simply hoisting another trophy; it is about cementing Arsenal’s place at the summit of English football for years to come. The focus will be on evolving the attack—making it less predictable, more creative, and more prolific—while managing defensive transitions caused by injuries.
The upcoming season will reveal whether Arsenal can transform the promise of a dynasty into reality.