The Gunners have emerged as the biggest threat to Manchester City’s dominance of the Premier League crown, with Pep Guardiola overseeing a record-breaking run of four successive triumphs. Arsenal have fallen agonisingly short in each of the last two campaigns.
They are determined to right those wrongs in 2024-25, with ex-Arsenal star Emmanuel Petit – who savoured title glory in 1997-98 – telling BetVictor of why Arteta is under pressure to deliver: “I think Arsenal are going to keep the pressure on Manchester City this season. City are still the reference point, but some of their key players are coming towards the end of their careers – including Kevin De Bruyne. I saw cracks appearing during the Community Shield, with Pep Guardiola visibly upset with Ederson at points. I see Arsenal growing step-by-step, but they need to add a couple more players in order to reach City’s level because their squad rotation is so good. Some of Arsenal’s big players looked physically and mentally exhausted towards the back end of last season. I don’t think City will be as strong this season. I see Arsenal getting stronger and the gap reducing.
“I think this is the season where Arsenal will win another trophy under Mikel Arteta. If Arteta wants the players to trust and follow him then he has to win something. You cannot convince the players that you are going to achieve more and be even more competitive every season if you never win anything. If you don’t win silverware, you can lose players. This season will be Arteta’s most important at Arsenal so far.”
Arteta has shown that he is ready to go toe-to-toe with former coaching mentor Guardiola when it comes to title battles, with Petit adding on the emergence of another passionate Spanish tactician: “Pep Guardiola is the best manager in the world. But he knows that the competition for the Premier League is fierce. It will be even more difficult for him to win it than it was last season, when they had Liverpool and Arsenal both fighting for the title.
“Arsenal look very confident and you can see the work they’re putting in. Guardiola is the main man but Arteta has shown over the past few seasons that he’s here to stay and he wants to win the Premier League. You can see the rage and the passion on the touchline. He gives the players ambition and vision and they’re willing to follow him. Guardiola has been exactly like that at City for the past few seasons, and now Arteta is doing it at Arsenal.”
City are set to open the defence of their title away at Chelsea on Sunday, while Arsenal will be action 24 hours earlier when they welcome Wolves to Emirates Stadium. Both sides will be desperate to get off to a winning start , allowing early momentum to be established.
