Arsenal have passed every test, can they pass the next one against Manchester City? | OneFootball

After narrowly missing out on the Premier League title to Manchester City by two points last season, Arsenal entered the 2024/25 campaign with a point to prove.

LONDON, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 15: Gabriel of Arsenal celebrates victory after the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur FC and Arsenal FC at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on September 15, 2024 in London, England. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)

With Manchester City facing the reality of their 115 charges, the expectation was clear: Arsenal had to demonstrate their title credentials from the very first whistle. And that’s exactly what Mikel Arteta’s side has done, rising to every challenge and overcoming every hurdle set before them in the early stages of this season.

Arsenal’s Belgian midfielder #19 Leandro Trossard (4L) shoots to score the opening goal of the English Premier League football match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Arsenal at the Molineux stadium in Wolverhampton, central England on April 20, 2024. (Photo by HENRY NICHOLLS/AFP via Getty Images)

The season opener at home to Wolves provided the first test.

Wolves, a side that has often caused Arsenal issues in the past, represented a tricky challenge, but Arteta’s men handled the situation with ease. A 2-0 win, capped by a clean sheet, was the ideal way to kickstart their season.

It wasn’t just the result that impressed but the control with which Arsenal navigated the match, keeping Wolves at bay and avoiding any slip-ups in a fixture that has previously tripped them up.

Next, Arsenal travelled to Villa Park, a venue that held bitter memories for the Gunners.

BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND – AUGUST 24: Leandro Trossard of Arsenal celebrates scoring his team’s first goal with teammates during the Premier League match between Aston Villa FC and Arsenal FC at Villa Park on August 24, 2024 in Birmingham, England. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)

Last season, a defeat at the hands of Unai Emery’s Aston Villa played a crucial role in Arsenal’s title challenge failing, with the former Arsenal manager leaving north London with three points in a late-season encounter.

Arsenal needed to prove they could right the wrongs of the previous campaign and overcome a Villa side that had bested them twice in the last campaign. And that’s exactly what they did, claiming a hard-fought 2-0 win that felt as much about redemption as it did about the three points.

Withstanding Villa’s aggressive pressing and dangerous counter-attacks, Arsenal demonstrated grit, resilience, and an ability to grind out results in difficult circumstances.

Back at home against Brighton, Arsenal faced yet another stern test. The Seagulls have become one of the Premier League’s most unpredictable sides, capable of turning over any team on their day.

LONDON, ENGLAND: Declan Rice of Arsenal interacts with match referee Chris Kavanagh after being shown a second yellow card during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Brighton & Hove Albion FC at Emirates Stadium on August 31, 2024. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)

However, the key moment in this fixture came not from the opposition, but from Arsenal’s own midfield general, Declan Rice. Rice was shown a ridiculous red card, leaving Arsenal with 10 men for the remainder of the game.

It could have been a disaster for a team still haunted by their near-miss last season. Instead, Arsenal dug deep and managed to hold Brighton at bay, securing a vital point in a match that could have easily slipped away.

Then came the North London Derby, a fixture always fraught with tension, but this time the stakes felt even higher. Arsenal travelled to Tottenham’s new stadium, a ground where they have now enjoyed more success in the past five years than their opponents have at the Emirates Stadium in the last 18 (two wins at the Emirates versus three wins at Spurs’ new home).

LONDON, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 15: Bukayo Saka of Arsenal clashes with Guglielmo Vicario of Tottenham Hotspur during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur FC and Arsenal FC at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on September 15, 2024 in London, England. (Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images)

With injuries to key players, including captain Martin Ødegaard, who picked up an ankle injury while on international duty with Norway, and Rice serving a suspension, Arsenal’s chances were written off by many before the match even began.

But Arsenal produced another defensive masterclass. A depleted side showed incredible discipline and tactical awareness, frustrating Spurs at every turn. The match was decided by a familiar strength for Arsenal this season—set-pieces.

Once again, they capitalised on a dead-ball situation to score the decisive goal, with a resilient backline ensuring they left Tottenham’s ground with all three points. The win not only extended their dominant run over their fierce rivals but also sent a strong message to the rest of the league that this Arsenal side can weather any storm, regardless of the circumstances.

LONDON, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 15: Guglielmo Vicario of Tottenham Hotspur clashes with Jurrien Timber af Arsenal during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur FC and Arsenal FC at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on September 15, 2024 in London, England. (Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images)

The significance of Arsenal’s early season form goes beyond individual results. They have yet to concede a goal away from home, showcasing a defensive solidity that has been pivotal to their growing success. Since the start of 2024, Arsenal have conceded just three goals in 10 away games—an astounding record that underlines their transformation under Mikel Arteta from fragile wannabes to this resilient title contenders.

Even when faced with the physical and mental fatigue of a tough fixture list, injuries to key players, and moments of adversity like unfair red cards, Arsenal have consistently found a way to pass the tests set before them.

BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND – AUGUST 24: William Saliba of Arsenal celebrates, after Thomas Partey of Arsenal (not pictured) scores his team’s first goal during the Premier League match between Aston Villa FC and Arsenal FC at Villa Park on August 24, 2024 in Birmingham, England. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images)

From the crucial win at Villa Park to the hard-earned draw against Brighton, and the crucial victory over Spurs, Arteta’s team has shown they have learned from last season’s heartbreak and are ready to push Manchester City all the way again.

In the coming weeks, Arsenal will face further challenges, none bigger than the upcoming clash with City, but if their early form is any indication, they are more than capable of handling what comes next.

The season is still in its infancy and there are many more tests to be faced and passed, not least in the few days.

But Arteta’s side is proving that they aren’t just title contenders—they’re problem solvers, a team built not just on flair but on grit and determination to go one better than last season, just as they have in every season under the Spaniard.

With a perfect blend of defensive discipline and attacking creativity, Arsenal have made their intentions clear: they are here to pass every test, with one eye firmly set on lifting the Premier League trophy come May.