After finishing runners-up last season Arsenal will be hoping to go one step better by clinching their first Premier League title in 13 years and their fourth in total in 2016/17.
Highest finishing position
Arsenal’s previous titles came in 1997/98, 2001/02 and 2003/04 with Arsene Wenger’s side also claiming the FA Cup in those first two title-winning seasons and managing to become the first team to go the entire season unbeaten in their last triumphant campaign.
SigningsÂ
The Gunners have strengthened in three areas of the pitch by signing Rob Holding, the 21-year-old Bolton Wanderers defender, Granit Xhaka, the Switzerland midfielder, from Borussia Monchengladbach and Takima Asano from Sanfrecce Hiroshima.
Expected formation
Arsenal generally play in a 4-2-3-1 formation and are known for their possession football and entertaining passing game, dictated by the likes of Mesut Ozil, who claimed 19 assists last season, Alexis Sanchez and Santi Cazorla.
The 4-2-3-1 accomodates Ozil in a No 10 role while also making room for numerous midfield options in the centre of the park. Should Wenger draft in a centre-forward before the end of the transfer window though, the north Londoners could switch to a 4-4-2 with a nimble attacker playing off Olivier Giroud – much like Antoine Griezmann does for France – which could help provide more of a direct threat.
Managers
Having been with Arsenal since 1996, Arsene Wenger is the Premier League’s longest-serving manager. Known for deploying sides committed to attacking football and bringing through young players such as Cesc Fabregas, Jack Wilshere and Alex Iwobi, the Frenchman has managed to steer his side to a top-four finish for the last 20 years in succession.
Last season
Arsenal added a bit of gloss to 2015/16 by leapfrogging north-London rivals Tottenham Hotspur on the final day to finish in second place – their highest placing since 2005.
Nonetheless, Per Mertesacker said last month that it was a “miracle” they managed to finish runners-up and the Gunners will be hoping for further improvements this term after losing touch in the title race with a run of two wins in nine matches between January and March.
Pre-season form
With two wins and one draw, Arsenal have looked sharper as pre-season has worn on, rounding off their tour of the US with a 3-1 victory over 11-time Mexican champions Chivas de Guadalajara in the early hours of Monday morning.
Having also beaten an MLS All-Star outfit 2-1 a few days earlier, Wenger’s men face Norwegian side Viking FK and Manchester City on 5 and 7 August respectively before their PL opener against Liverpool at Emirates Stadium on 14 August.
Significant injuries
Wenger recently confirmed that Mertesacker will be out for “months” while Santi Cazorla and Jack Wilshere have also both suffered pre-season setbacks and face a race against time to achieve full fitness.
Danny Welbeck remains sidelined in the long-term and Gabriel Paulista’s pre-season has been affected by a bout of tonsillitis.
Manager quote
“We have [Jose] Mourinho at Manchester United, [Antonio] Conte at Chelsea, [Pep] Guardiola at Man City, [Jurgen] Klopp at Liverpool, so it’s a little bit a world championship of managers as well!”
Did you know?
Arsenal hit the woodwork more than any other club last season, with 21 strikes against the bar or post.
