As Arsenal's players trickled back for pre-season training, there was a shared sense of excitement that comes naturally to newly crowned champions. Yet manager Mikel Arteta's mood swung between beaming satisfaction and stern intensity, a reflection of a man who still sees plenty of work ahead despite the club's first league title since 2004.
Much of that fluctuating temperament has been tied to a chaotic transfer window, with two weeks remaining for Arsenal to complete their business. Arteta remains determined to add a right-sided defender and a forward capable of operating on the left, while also expecting to sanction one major departure before the market closes.
But the bulk of his focus lies beyond incomings and outgoings. Arteta wants Arsenal to use their title triumph as a launchpad, not a final destination. The Champions League final defeat to Paris Saint-Germain served as a reminder of the next mountain to climb, even as domestic dominance offers a golden opportunity: becoming England's first back-to-back champions since 1935.
That ambition is shared widely across the football world, with Arsenal installed as favorites to retain their crown in a Premier League season clouded by uncertainty elsewhere—most notably at Manchester City, now navigating life without Pep Guardiola on the touchline in various capacities.
Within Arsenal's camp, there's an understanding that such forecasts can be fickle. Just months ago, in April, many had written off their title chances entirely. The manner in which they overturned that narrative, following a tense 2-1 loss to City, is now viewed as a defining moment—one that could have unraveled completely had results not turned in their favor. The pressure of that title run created a string of narrow victories, compounded by injuries and significant behind-the-scenes staffing changes over the summer.
Still, winning the title has eased much of that tension. There's a lighter, more assured atmosphere at the club now, with comparisons being drawn to Manchester United's transformation after ending their own long title drought in 1993. Sir Alex Ferguson once described that moment as shifting from fearing repeated disappointment to gaining a new authority once liberated from years of pressure.
Arsenal's players appear to be experiencing something similar. Notably, the club's staff have highlighted that last season's title was secured without their first-choice attacking trio of Martin Odegaard, Bukayo Saka, and Kai Havertz featuring together for most of the campaign—only reuniting in April. That trio had combined for 91 league goals in 2023-24, and expectations are high they can recapture that form. Odegaard, in particular, appears rejuvenated following Norway's run to the World Cup quarter-finals, and he's tipped to be one of the league's standout performers this season.
The club showed no major frustration after missing out on Vinicius Junior, whose move to Real Madrid was finalized only after months of talks with Arsenal. Arteta still wants reinforcement on the left flank but is prepared to be patient, having opted against pursuing Morgan Rogers or Bradley Barcola at their reported valuations exceeding £110m. Internally, Arsenal's data suggests Gabriel Martinelli already performs at a level comparable to players in that price range, while young talent Max Dowman is expected to develop further.
Defensively, William Saliba's injury has intensified the search for cover at right-back, with Jarrell Quansah and Ezri Konsa among the names being considered—Konsa currently seen as the more likely arrival. Jurrien Timber, meanwhile, is expected to be back in the fold by September.
Despite the pursuit of a marquee departure, there is strong internal belief that Myles Lewis-Skelly will remain, given his growing partnership with Bruno Guimaraes in midfield. Sporting director Andrea Berta faces a busy final stretch of the window, with Arteta closely involved in shaping the squad.
Having secured what insiders describe as near-total control over footballing matters, Arteta now stands among the Premier League's elite young coaches wielding the kind of influence once reserved for figures like Ferguson and Arsene Wenger. Sources close to the club say he was "buzzing" after Arsenal's Community Shield win, viewing it as evidence that the champions' mentality is already ingrained. The challenge now, as one insider put it, is simple: do it again—and again.
Based on reporting from The Independent.