Arsenal predictions 2024/25: Premier League finish, top goalscorer and season preview

Arsenal will continue their bid to dethrone perennial Premier League champions Manchester City in the 2024/25 season.

After some early seasons filled with uninspiring finishes in the top flight, Mikel Arteta has overseen a remarkable improvement in all areas, cultivating a squad capable of challenging the best both in England and Europe.

The 2020 FA Cup remains the only major piece of silverware the Gunners have picked up under the Spaniard, but can they finally finish top of the pile in the Premier League and go further in the Champions League this season?

Here's 90min's season preview of Arsenal's 2024/25 campaign.

Arsenal's performance in the last five seasons
Considering he had a squad of ageing and overpaid stars when he replaced Unai Emery in 2019, Arteta has done brilliantly to secure progression season upon season during his stint at the Emirates Stadium.

Two eighth-place finishes were followed by fifth in 2021/22, only just missing out on Champions League qualification, but over the last two years Arsenal have established themselves as the biggest threat to City.

Season

Premier League

FA Cup

EFL Cup

Europe

2023/24

2nd

R3

R4

Champions League QF

2022/23

2nd

R4

R3

Europa League R16

2021/22

5th

R3

SF

-

2020/21

8th

R4

QF

Europa League SF

2019/20

8th

Winners

R4

Europa League R32

Arsenal 2024/25 squad numbers
Declan Rice, Martin Odegaard
Rice and Odegaard have retained their numbers / Julian Finney/GettyImages
There hasn't been too much change during the off-season regarding Arsenal's shirt numbers for the 2024/25 campaign.

New signing Riccardo Calafiori has the 33 jersey, but the sale of Emile Smith Rowe has opened a vacancy for the number 10 shirt. If a new attacker is drafted into the squad, they could claim those iconic digits.

Oleksandr Zinchenko has traded the 35 shirt for 17, the number he wears for Ukraine. The versatile full-back has succeeded Cedric Soares following the veteran defender's exit earlier this summer.

Number

Player

1

Aaron Ramsdale

2

William Saliba

3

Kieran Tierney

4

Benjamin White

5

Thomas Partey

6

Gabriel Magalhaes

7

Bukayo Saka

8

Martin Odegaard

Gabriel Jesus

11

Gabriel Martinelli

12

Jurrien Timber

14

Eddie Nketiah

15

Jakub Kiwior

17

Oleksandr Zinchenko

18

Takehiro Tomiyasu

19

Leandro Trossard

20

Jorginho

21

Fabio Vieira

22

David Raya

24

Reiss Nelson

29

Kai Havertz

31

Karl Hein

33

Riccardo Calafiori

41

Declan Rice

*Numbers subject to change before end of transfer window

Arsenal summer transfers
In
Player

Joined From

Fee

Riccardo Calafiori

Bologna

£42m

David Raya

Brentford

£27m

Tommy Setford

Ajax

£842,000

Lucas Nygaard

FC Nordsjaelland

Undisclosed

Out
Player

Club Joined

Fee

Emile Smith Rowe

Fulham

£34m

Mika Biereth

Sturm Graz

£4m

Nuno Tavares

Lazio

Loan deal

Albert Sambi Lokonga

Sevilla

Loan deal

Mohamed Elneny

Al Jazira

Free transfer

Amario Cozier-Duberry

Brighton

Free transfer

Arthur Okonkwo

Wrexham

Free transfer

Cedric Soares

Released

Free transfer

Arsenal 2024/25 kits
Arsenal's home shirt features a noticeable change in terms of design, removing the full shield crest and replacing it with the club's trademark cannon. A red base is accompanied by white panels on the side and shoulders; the latter of which feature adidas' striking three stripes.

The away kit was a collaboration between Arsenal and British African group Labrum London, featuring a black base and vibrant red, green and white markings for the club's badge and other sponsors. African patterns also flow from the armpit down the sides and onto the shorts.

Home kit
 
Arsenal released their new home kit in May / Arsenal FC / adidas
Away kit
 
Arsenal's away kit dropped in July / Arsenal FC / adidas
Third kit
Arsenal predicted top goalscorer
Bukayo Saka
Bukayo Saka is continuously improving in the final third / Catherine Ivill - AMA/GettyImages
There's been no dominant force in the Arsenal scoring charts over the past couple of seasons, with the Gunners boasting an array of regular scorers.

Bukayo Saka can be relied upon for a double-digit haul, while Gabriel Martinelli was prolific two seasons ago. Both Leandro Trossard and Kai Havertz were productive to end 2023/24.

Gabriel Jesus has shown glimpses in pre-season that he may be returning to his spriteliest form, but the Brazilian is unlikely to top Arsenal's scoring charts given his inefficiency in front of goal. Saka, on the contrary, continues to develop in the final third and should he again avoid a lengthy absence, the winger is poised to once again enjoy a prosperous scoring campaign.

Jesus could get the nod up top and force Havertz into a midfield role, but the German will be expected to play frequently in the frontline and his emergence last season stands him in good stead for year two. Expect Havertz to challenge Saka for leading scorer honours, and we could see captain Martin Odegaard replicate his scoring figures from 2022/23 (15 Premier League goals) with the club's summer arrivals potentially alleviating his build-up responsibilities.
Arsenal predicted Premier League finish
The Gunners have the mere task of leapfrogging Pep Guardiola's Manchester City to claim their first league title since the Invincibles of 2003/04. Arteta's men have pushed the Cityzens in back-to-back campaigns, and they'll surely be there or thereabouts in 2024/25.

Arsenal will control the vast majority of their matches and remain capable of blowing teams away through secure possession play and supreme work without the ball. Their stout core remains intact, and we shouldn't expect any sort of drop-off with Arteta well aware of the potential for stagnation. The Spaniard will continue to subtly evolve his side tactically, but can they improve on last season's stellar performance?

The club has worked quietly in the summer window, with Arteta's strong starting XI required just a couple more pieces to finish the jigsaw. However, as it stands, Arsenal lack the devastating forward talent to usurp City and claim their crown. They'll once again be the closest competitors at the summit, but the league title will continue to elude them.


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