Arsenal remained unbeaten in August in the Premier League, but the results were not entirely as expected. To surpass Man City, Arsenal has a lot of work to do.
Arsenal started their Premier League campaign with two 2-0 victories over Wolverhampton and Aston Villa, but they were held to a 1-1 draw by Brighton at Emirates Stadium in their latest match. This has resulted in Manchester City and Liverpool creating a 2-point gap on the standings. Here are 5 takeaways from Arsenal’s August.
1. Havertz’s Season
Before the summer transfer window opened, Arsenal explored several top strikers who could capitalize on the creative plays from Martin Ødegaard. However, no striker was signed. As a result, manager Arteta has continued to use Havertz as the central forward, and the German international has performed well, scoring 2 goals and providing 1 assist in 3 Premier League games. This could be a breakout season for the former Chelsea star.
2. Midfield Concerns
Declan Rice received a red card in the draw against Brighton and will miss the upcoming match against Tottenham. This is bad news for Arsenal fans, as manager Arteta now has only 3 fit midfielders available for the derby: Thomas Partey, Jorginho, and Martin Ødegaard. Can Arsenal overcome Tottenham with this midfield? Rice needs to avoid unnecessary fouls and cards.
3. Caution with Partey
Thomas Partey scored against Aston Villa and has been performing well alongside Rice and Ødegaard in Arsenal’s midfield. However, at 31 and with a history of injuries, Partey could face fitness issues that might affect his performance and Arsenal’s ball control. Fans are eagerly awaiting the debut of Mikel Merino, although the new signing will be out for 2 months due to a shoulder injury.
4. Raya’s Reliability
Arsenal’s controversial decision to choose David Raya over Aaron Ramsdale last season sparked debate. However, the former Brentford goalkeeper has proven to be a crucial part of Arsenal’s tactical setup. Since the start of the 2024/25 campaign, the Spanish keeper has made remarkable saves, denying Yankuba Minteh and Ollie Watkins. Arsenal fans hope Raya continues to deliver stable performances to help the team in the title race.
5. Saka’s Hope
After a disappointing EURO 2024, Bukayo Saka has started this season impressively, being central to most of Arsenal’s attacks. In just 3 matches, Saka has contributed 1 goal and 3 assists. Clearly, he will be a key player in Arsenal’s attack as they aim to challenge Man City’s dominance in the Premier League.