Arsenal 2023/24 season review: So near, yet so far | OneFootball

It was another case of so near yet so far for Arsenal this season, as they finished runners up to Manchester City in a title race that went down to the final day.

Despite beating Everton at the Emirates Stadium, a win for Manchester City against West Ham ensured that Pep Guardiola’s side pipped the Gunners to the Premier League for the second consecutive season, leaving Arsenal once more to lick their wounds over the summer.

Competition breakdown

Premier League – Runners Up

For the second consecutive season, Arsenal had to settle for a silver medal in the Premier League despite a much better campaign. Taking the title race to the final day, Mikel Arteta’s side won 16 of their 18 games in 2024, losing just once and taking four points against Manchester City.

But it was not enough, as Pep Guardiola’s side once again steamrolled everything in their path in the second half of the season, clinching their fourth successive Premier League title.

Clearly on the right track, the Gunners will be hoping it is third time lucky in 12 months time.

FA Cup – Third round

It was another case of falling at the first hurdle for Mikel Arteta’s side in England’s oldest competition. After losing to Manchester City at the same stage 12 months ago, they were drawn against Liverpool this time around and after a close affair two goals in the last ten minutes saw them fall to a 2-0 defeat and exit the competition.

EFL Cup – Round of 16

Perhaps the most disappointing exit from any competition this season, the Gunners were bundled out of the Carabao Cup in shock fashion by West Ham United. David Moyes’ side raced into a 3 goal lead after an hour mark and Arsenal never really looked like getting back into it, though the scoreline was handed an element of respectability by Martin Ødegaard’s goal in stoppage time.

Mikel Arteta and co. got their own back in the league by thrashing them 6-0, but it was the Hammers that headed into the next round.

Champions League – Quarter-finals

A return to the Champions League for the first time since 2018 was always going to be a useful yardstick to measure just how far Mikel Arteta’s side had come during his tenure, and so it proved.

After making it out of the group stage with relative ease (minus a surprise defeat to Lens), they managed a nervy penalty shoot out win over FC Porto before going toe-to-toe with Bayern Munich in the quarter final first leg. In the return leg though, their inexperience showed and though the scoreline saw the sides only separated by one goal, they never truly looked like challenging the German giants.

Nonetheless, Arsenal fans will take plenty of comfort from the knowledge that they can now compete with the World’s best sides, and will look for improvement next season in the new-look competition.

Player of the season: Martin Ødegaard

There are plenty of candidates for Arsenal’s player of the season, with Ben White, William Saliba, Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka all enjoying fantastic campaigns.

But we’ve gone for midfield maestro Martin Ødegaard, who continues to be at the centre of all the good that Arsenal manage to achieve.

The 25-year-old started every game that he was fit for, and continues to lead the Gunners high press without the ball.

On the ball, meanwhile, the Gunners skipper has grabbed eight goals and assists for his side and continues to be the creative glue in Mikel Arteta’s side.

Game of the season: Arsenal 1-0 Manchester City

The second-highest scoring side in the division, there were plenty of big scores that were certainly more fun to watch than Arsenal’s late 1-0 win over Manchester City.

But we’ve opted for this because of what it represented. Arsenal, so long Manchester City’s whipping boys, went toe to toe with the Champions and came away with three points. It was certainly worlds apart from the games between the two when Arteta first took charge, and a good symbol of just how far the Gunners have come under the Spaniard.

Top goalscorer: Bukayo Saka (20)

Arsenal’s hero so often, Bukayo Saka continued his rise to stardom by topping the Arsenal scoring charts, with the Englishman racking up 15 goals for the second consecutive season on his way to hitting 20 across all competitions.

Impressive strikes against Tottenham, Liverpool and Nottingham Forest to name but three, alongside some stellar defensive work for his side, ensured that he is likely still one of the first names on Gareth Southgate’s team sheet for the European Championships this summer.

Rising star: Kai Havertz

Most of the time this award would go to an impressive youngster at a side, but in truth most of the Arsenal XI are the right side of their prime and few new faces have truly come in and changed opinion.

Except Kai Havertz.

Signed from Chelsea last summer to plenty of confusion, the German has become a fan favourite and looks increasingly comfortable leading the line for Arsenal, with his goal return in the games since he was moved to the no.9 role showing that.

Still just 24-years-old, the former Bayer Leverkusen star could continue to improve and turn around the reputation picked up during his time at Stamford Bridge in the seasons to come.

What comes next?

After two seasons of silver, Mikel Arteta will undoubtedly be hoping that his side can pick themselves up, dust themselves down and go again in pursuit of gold next season in the Premier League, while he will surely have his eyes on other trophies too in a bid to instil a winning mentality in his side.

As Liverpool have shown though, going toe to toe with Manchester City season after season is a tough ask.