Are Arsenal’s new deep quality squad now ready to have European aspirations again? | OneFootball

Arsenal’s European Aspirations: Can They Conquer the Continent Again

With the 2024/25 Premier League season kicking off in August, Arsenal’s impressive 2023/24 performance is still fresh in the memory. Finishing a mere two points adrift of champions Manchester City, the Gunners demonstrated a level of consistency and resilience that has reignited hopes of a return to European glory. Their attacking flair, coupled with a newfound defensive solidity, has transformed them into a formidable force. Can this momentum translate into continental success?

Arsenal’s European Legacy: Key Moments

Arsenal’s history is riddled with several highs and lows. After their first major win of the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup in 1970, the club had a glorious run that spread from the 1990s to the 2000s. During that time, they won the UEFA Cup in 1994 after defeating Parma with just one goal. They also put up a good game against Barcelona in the 05/06 Champions League final. Even though they lost, they were able to make a name for themselves.

Shortly after this, Arsenal’s performance took a nosedive, but that didn’t last long. Under Arsen Wenger, they could make a comeback. During his 22 years of service, they were able to have 49 unbeaten games and won 7 FA Cup and 3 Premier League titles. While Wenger’s time at Arsenal wasn’t without its own downward trend, as they didn’t make Europe’s elite team for some time, we can all agree Arsenal became better under his tutelage.

Currently, the club has become even more effective and is slowly going back to its former glory. They not only qualified for the Europa League in 2019 but even made it to the finals. Even though they didn’t win the last two seasons of the Premier League, they were close seconds.

Strengths and Vulnerabilities of Arsenal’s 2024/2025 Team

Arsenal’s squad is far from what can be called a perfect team. Although as previous seasons had shown, you’d be wrong to underestimate them. Defense used to be a big issue for the Gunners, but that seemed to have been resolved. One of the noteworthy matches that showed the club’s improvement in this aspect is their match against Brighton.

Also, Gabriel Magalhães, William Saliba, and Kieran Tierney are a troublesome trio of defenders, and they have impressive clean sheets to show for it. They’ve time and time again demonstrated their defense capability and growing understanding of the game. The midfield is also a major strength for the club, as Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz had done wonderfully in previous seasons, and despite Jesus’s injuries in the past, his overall performance remains outstanding.

Away from where Arsenal is perfect, there is still work to be done if the club wants to win the title this season. Although there is a consensus among bets experts that the squad has a solid midfield and defense, the forward line still requires more work.

The three highest goal-scorers last season – Saka, Havertz, and Trossard – are still sure to deliver this time. However, relying too much on them as an all-out striker can be detrimental to Arsenal’s success in the Premier League. To echo what Hislop recently said, getting an efficient striker is efficient in adding attack potency to the already excellent team. If you are looking for a zillion ways to bet online this upcoming season, staying up-to-date on any further acquisitions can go a long way.

Arsenal’s Game Changers: Players to Watch

Arsenal’s performance last season has given the experts at Betzillion something to look forward to, especially in regards to some players. Bukayo Saka is a prime example of this. As a promising young talent, Saka has proven himself to be a maestro on the pitch and has been lauded for his versatility and ability to create openings where there seemed to be none. Besides fans and fellow team members, he has also earned praise from veterans like Wayne Rooney, who called him a “clever player” who can “create something out of nothing.”

BOURNEMOUTH, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 30: Bukayo Saka of Arsenal celebrates with teammate Martin Odegaard after scoring the team’s first goal during the Premier League match between AFC Bournemouth and Arsenal FC at Vitality Stadium on September 30, 2023 in Bournemouth, England. (Photo by Steve Bardens/Getty Images)

Martin Odegaard is another key player to watch out for. Besides being the mastermind for some of the club’s most potent attacks, his wide passing range also makes him a formidable foe in a game. One of the club’s recent acquisitions, Declan Rice is also a key team member in the midfield. While all his appearances were worth the £100 million deal that brought him to the Gunners, his performance against West Ham was what drove the point home. His 2 assists and a goal showed just how much of an excellent player he is.

The defense squad also has some promising team members, and one name everyone is looking forward to is William Saliba. Despite just signing a deal in 2023, his performance allowed him to play every minute of the last season, and much to everyone’s expectation, he delivered. The 23-year-old sportsman had an impressive 92.46% pass rate and even won 100% of his aerial duels in the club’s match against Manchester United.

Strategic Insights: Arteta’s Plan for European Glory

Just as Areta said, the “love of defending” has placed Arsenal among the top contenders for the European title. In this upcoming season, we don’t see anything too different from what the manager has been doing in the past. His 1-4-2-4 formation is popular for overwhelming the opponent’s defenders during the low build-up phase. During high tension, the team’s 1-3-2-2-3 formation maintains a tight defensive line.

Even if there are changes, certain things are still expected. Areta’s tactics focus mainly on positional play while also making his squad flexible, allowing them to switch between offensive and defensive in no time. This approach can potentially be the club’s driving force to European success.

Arsenal’s Toughest Opponents This Season

Arsenal’s path to claiming the Premier League title is packed with challenges, primarily by Manchester City. Guardiola’s team has long dominated the English football competitions in recent years and has even claimed 4 consecutive titles. With Erling Haaland, Jeremy Doku, and Kevin De Bruyne, among others, taking to the field once again and the master strategist and Manchester City will be a formidable opponent for Arsenal.

Likewise, Liverpool. With a new coach coming in, Arne Slot would want to make a name for himself. Besides having made a reputation for himself in Feyenoord, Slot is popular for how he develops players and incorporates attacking in his strategy. With able team members like Mo Salah and Cody Gakpo, Arsenal is in for a tough battle.

Conclusion

Even with all the analysis in the world, no one can be certain of what will occur in the upcoming season. However, if there is one prediction that is very likely to happen, it’s Arsenal’s better performance on the pitch. They’ve come so close  in taking the trophy, and we believe the third time’s the charm. With players like Saka and Odegaard, among others, one could expect a fiercer battle from the squad. If this is accompanied by acquiring a more efficient striker, it won’t be surprising to see the Gunners taking the crown this season.