Arsenal has been the second-best team in the Premier League for quite some time now. Arteta managed to make the Gunners into a formidable force and title contenders, but they always end up close to winning a trophy. As we all know, close is good, but not good enough.
The biggest question that lingers around Arsenal is whether they can turn their contender status into winners. The new season is upon us, and all eyes are on Arteta’s team.
What Do Bookmakers Think Of Arsenal?
Before the start of each season, online bookmakers present their analysis and list their biggest favourites to win certain competitions. In the case of the Premier League, Liverpool remains the club with the best odds of lifting the trophy.
Last year, Arne Slot proved that the club is stronger than ever, even though that was his first season. The Recent Tragic Passing of Diogo Jota may have complicated the situation a bit, but sportsbooks are still confident that they have what it takes to win the league.
Manchester City’s rocky season is the reason why they’re not the second-biggest favourite. Instead, Arsenal have officially taken their spot. Punters are already casting their votes at online bookmakers, and many have the Gunners in their shortlist.
A vast majority of the best come from these sites due to the fact that they offer great benefits for bettors. One of those benefits is the variety of payment methods. Bank cards, online banking, e-wallets and cryptocurrencies are a fraction of the options.
Online banking, for example, offers next-level security for punters and is slowly becoming the most popular deposit/withdrawal option. Take Trustly as an example. A Trustly bookmaker offers payments without fees, and the payment itself is always eligible for claiming sportsbook promotions.
Are Arsenal The Biggest Title Contenders For This Year?
Each season, Arsenal was close to winning the title, but always dipped towards the end of the season. They simply lacked the extra winning mentality which would allow them to convert their goals into reality.
Take the 2024/25 season as an example. Arsenal was trailing behind Liverpool by just 6 points in matchweek 18. Liverpool’s schedule was tightening up, and they had to compete on multiple fronts. One would think that Arsenal would have the upper hand, but that wasn’t the case.
By matchweek 30, Liverpool had 73 points and Arsenal stood at 61. Between matchweek 18 and 30, Arsenal gained 25 points, which was nowhere near Liverpool. Some argued that the club’s injuries were the biggest cause of their drop in form.
That’s also what many consider will play a crucial role in the new season. Arsenal needs to make sure that they have quality players on their bench, not just in their starting 11. The recent drama with Thomas Party is also something that should be taken into consideration.
Arsenal announced that they won’t be extending his contract just days before Party was accused of rape. This may be his battle, but that leaves a void in the team that Arsenal needs to fill.
The main point here is that Arsenal lacks durability, and they’ll have to make sure that they make the right transfers to ensure that they stay on top. For starters, they’ll definitely need a top-rated striker/finisher.
Experts believe that not having a striker is what caused Arsenal to remain second last season. A good striker will always make sure that they score a goal when it’s needed, especially in games where the team’s tactics just aren’t working.
Making the midfield stronger is already something that’s a work in progress. The club recently signed Martin Zubimendi from Real Sociedad. Fábio Vieira is also in the mix as he’s planned to be a supporting player for the striker that Arsenal plans to sign this summer.
Arsenal – Title Contenders or Just A Team That’s Close?
So far, the transfer activity from Arsenal is exactly what the club needs. They’re working on the case to fill out all the missing spots in the team. From the looks of it, they’re creating a dangerous team, but it’s extremely hard to conclude whether they can challenge Liverpool.
After all, Liverpool had a terrific season last year, and they splashed cash this summer to sign the likes of Florian Wirtz (€125m)Milos Kerkez (€46.9m) and Jeremie Frimpong (€40m). One thing is certain – watching these two teams compete will be a sight to behold.
