After the battle of the Etihad: Why Arsenal will win their first Premier League in 20 years

Arsenal were unlucky to only take one point from their visit to the Etihad Stadium last week, with Man City needing nearly 100 minutes of football to break down a team with 10 men for over half the game. Now, with their toughest test out of the way, Arsenal will be looking to press home their advantage and kick on to win their first Premier League in two decades.

Before the season started, we took a look at what Arsenal needed to win the Premier League this season, let's take a look at what needs to happen for the Gunners to triumph once more!

Arsenal pushed Manchester City all the way last season, with the Premier League trophy being decided on the final day.

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This year, Arsenal have the chance to go one better and take the Premier League crown they've not worn since the 2003/04 season.

Per the BBC, the Gunners did record the most wins in a season for the club and scored their record number of goals. It was an impressive season, but what do they need to take the next step?

This feels like a cop-out answer, but any time you are facing an all-time great side like Pep’s City, you need a sprinkle of luck. Last season's game against Newcastle at St. James’ Park where the ball seemed to cross the byline during the build-up to the Newcastle winner, and Emi Martinez’s wonder save against Leandro Trossard at the Emirates come to mind. So far, things have seemingly gone against the Gunners, this may need to change moving forward for them to stand a real chance.

Arsenal were the best defensive team in the country last season, conceding only 29 goals all season. However, per the Premier League, they finished with seven errors leading to goals. That is nearly 25% of their goals caused by their own mistakes. City, on the other hand, only made three errors leading to goals all season. Clinical. So far, through three games, the Gunners have conceded just three goals in five games.

Manchester City have an embarrassment of riches in their squad. During their title-winning match against West Ham, their bench included, John Stones, Nathan Aké, Mateo Kovačić, Jack Grealish, and Matheus Nunes. When fit, those players start for most clubs in Europe. Arsenal’s bench is good, but it lacks game-winners. The emergence of youngster Ethan Nwaneri and the addition of Raheem Sterling, plus the signings of Mikel Merino and Riccardo Calafiori, add quality that was previously lacking.

Arsenal scored 91 goals in the Premier League last season, a remarkable, and record-breaking achievement for the club. Yet it wasn’t enough. City scored 96 with Erling Haaland having a “down-year” scoring nine fewer goals than last year with 27, per Transfermarkt. Considering the closeness of the Gunners’ losses, a few more goals would make all the difference.

As part of Edu and Arteta’s revolution, players who aren’t up to their standards are let go with some brutality. Mostly the wheat has been sorted from the chaff in their eyes, but players like Eddie Nketiah, Reiss Nelson, and Emile Smith Rowe lost the confidence of Mikel Arteta last year. Smith Rowe has already been sold, and the club looks set to move on from Nketiah and Nelson as well. We wrote this before the end of the transfer window and Arsenal were able to add via subtraction, moving on from three Hale End products.

Arsenal were desperate for a new left-back by the end of last season's campaign, with Mikel Arteta reportedly making it a priority, per The Athletic. Enter Riccardo Calafiori from Bologna, who looks set to add talent and depth to an area of weakness. So far, he has looked the part, with his long-range strike against City suggesting he could add a new string to Arteta's bow in attack.

A new left-back could signal a change in tactics for Arteta, with the inverting full-back role that Oleksandr Zinchenko helped revolutionise falling out of fashion. Jakub Kiwior and Takehiro Tomiyasu both played LB at times for Arsenal last season and mostly performed well, but neither offer the consistent attacking threat of Ben White on the right side of Arsenal’s defense. Could we see Calafiori's inclusion change the shape of Arsenal's attack?

Arsenal's attack looks potent when the first-choice players are all available, but an injury or two could see the Gunners struggling for goals. Raheem Sterling wasn't the first choice for Arsenal, but the experience he brings off the bench could prove pivotal in the big moments this season.

According to The Guardian, the Premier League's hearing into Manchester City has begun, with the aim to wrap up the verdict, plus any appeals, by the end of the 24/25 season. Should City be found guilty as charged, a potential points deduction could open the door for Arsenal to swoop in during the 24/25 season and seize victory!

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