Another season, another round of "what ifs" and "if onlys." If you've followed Arsenal long enough, you know the drill by now: a promising start, a tactical tweak that works for three matches, a mysterious injury crisis, and a late-season collapse that leaves you questioning whether Mikel Arteta is a genius or just a very expensive motivator. The 2024-2025 campaign was no exception. Below is a checklist of what actually happened, what didn't, and what you should be skeptical about before the next transfer window opens.
1. The Premier League: Close, But No Cigar (Again)
Let's start with the competition that matters most. Arsenal finished second in the Premier League, trailing the champions by a margin that felt both inevitable and avoidable. The table tells a story of consistency—fewer losses than anyone—but also of missed chances.
| Metric | Arsenal | Champions (Man City) | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Points | 86 | 91 | -5 |
| Goals Scored | 82 | 89 | -7 |
| Goals Conceded | 29 | 26 | +3 |
| Home Losses | 1 | 0 | -1 |
| Away Draws | 6 | 4 | +2 |
What worked: The defense, when fit, was the best in the league for long stretches. William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhães formed a partnership that made even the most nervous fan feel safe—until the annual spring injury curse struck.
What didn't: The attack relied too heavily on Bukayo Saka and Martin Ødegaard. When Ødegaard missed six weeks with a muscle issue, the creativity dried up. Gabriel Jesus spent more time in the treatment room than on the pitch, and Kai Havertz's "false nine" experiment produced more false dawns than actual goals.
The skeptical take: Second place is not a trophy. The "progress narrative" is real, but it's also a convenient excuse for failing to win when it mattered. Arsenal lost to Aston Villa at home, drew with Fulham twice, and dropped points against every promoted side except one. That's not bad luck—that's a pattern.
2. Champions League: Quarterfinal Exit – A Step Forward or a Ceiling Hit?
Arsenal reached the Champions League quarterfinals for the first time since 2010. They lost to Real Madrid over two legs. The first leg at the Bernabéu was a 2-1 defeat that flattered Arsenal; the second leg at the Emirates was a 1-1 draw that felt like a missed opportunity.
What worked: The group stage was a masterclass in game management. Arsenal topped a group containing Bayern Munich, FC Porto, and Galatasaray, losing only one match (a dead rubber away to Porto). The defense in Europe was genuinely elite: only three goals conceded in the group stage.
What didn't: The knockout rounds exposed a lack of experience and ruthlessness. Against Real Madrid, Arsenal had 14 shots across two legs but only four on target. The midfield, usually so controlled, was overrun by Jude Bellingham and Eduardo Camavinga.
The skeptical take: Quarterfinal exits are progress only if you learn from them. Arsenal's xG in the second leg was 1.2 to Real's 0.8, but football isn't played on spreadsheets. The lesson: you need a killer instinct in the final third, not just pretty passing patterns.
3. FA Cup: The Early Exit That Nobody Talks About
Arsenal crashed out in the fourth round to Newcastle United. It was a 2-0 defeat at St. James' Park that felt like a microcosm of the season: dominant possession, zero end product, and a moment of defensive madness (a Gabriel header that bounced off the post and into Eddie Nketiah's path, who scored for Newcastle—yes, that Eddie Nketiah).
What worked: Nothing, really. The third-round win over League One Oxford United was a routine 3-0, but it's hard to call that a highlight.
What didn't: Arteta rotated the squad heavily, and it backfired. The second-string attack—Reiss Nelson, Leandro Trossard, and a half-fit Gabriel Jesus—looked disjointed. The midfield, with Jorginho and Thomas Partey, lacked pace.
The skeptical take: Arteta's decision to prioritize the Premier League and Champions League is defensible in theory, but in practice, it sends a message: the FA Cup doesn't matter. For a club that built its modern identity on FA Cup wins (2014, 2015, 2017, 2020), that's a dangerous precedent.
4. League Cup: The Semi-Final That Should Have Been a Final
Arsenal reached the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup, losing 3-2 on aggregate to Liverpool. The first leg at the Emirates was a 2-1 win that felt like a statement; the second leg at Anfield was a 2-0 defeat that felt like a lesson in game management.
What worked: The youth players stepped up. Ethan Nwaneri scored a stunning goal in the quarterfinal against Brighton, and Myles Lewis-Skelly looked comfortable in central midfield.
What didn't: The second leg at Anfield was a disaster of Arteta's own making. He started Jorginho and Partey together, leaving the midfield slow and predictable. Liverpool pressed high, won the ball, and scored twice within 15 minutes.
The skeptical take: This was the most winnable trophy. Liverpool had rotated heavily in earlier rounds, and Arsenal had a two-goal lead at half-time in the first leg. That they lost is not a sign of bad luck—it's a sign of tactical rigidity.
5. Preseason: The False Dawn
Preseason friendlies are meaningless—until they aren't. Arsenal played five matches: wins against Manchester United (2-0) and Chelsea (3-1), a draw with Barcelona (2-2), and losses to Bayern Munich (4-0) and Juventus (1-0).
What worked: The attack looked fluid in the first three matches. Saka, Ødegaard, and Havertz combined well, and the new signings—a left-back from Ajax and a midfielder from Benfica—looked promising.
What didn't: The Bayern Munich friendly was a wake-up call. Arsenal were 4-0 down at half-time. The defense, missing Saliba, looked like a pub team.
The skeptical take: Preseason form is a terrible predictor of regular-season success. Remember when Arsenal won all their preseason matches in 2023 and then lost the first two league games? Exactly.
6. Tactical Analysis: The Arteta Paradox
Arteta's tactical approach is a study in contradictions. He wants to dominate possession, press high, and control the game—but he also wants to be pragmatic and defend deep when necessary. The result is a team that looks brilliant for 60 minutes and then collapses for 30.
The system: Arsenal typically played a 4-3-3 with Ødegaard as the central playmaker. The full-backs (Ben White and Oleksandr Zinchenko) inverted into midfield, creating a 3-2-5 shape in possession. It worked beautifully against low-block teams but struggled against high-pressing sides.
The problem: The system requires perfect execution. If one player is out of position—say, Zinchenko gets caught upfield—the defense is exposed. Against teams like Liverpool and Manchester City, that's a death sentence.
The skeptical take: Arteta is a brilliant coach, but he's also stubborn. He refused to change the system even when it clearly wasn't working. The second leg against Liverpool in the League Cup is Exhibit A: he stuck with the inverted full-backs despite Liverpool's press, and they got punished.
7. Player of the Season: Bukayo Saka (Again)
This is the easy choice, but it's also the right one. Saka scored 18 goals and provided 14 assists in all competitions. He was the only player in the squad who could consistently create something from nothing.
Honorable mentions:
- William Saliba: The best center-back in the league for the first half of the season. His injury in March coincided with a drop in form.
- Declan Rice: A midfield engine who did everything—break up play, carry the ball, score clutch goals. His signing looks like a bargain at any price.
8. Transfer Window: The Summer That Will Define the Next Five Years
The summer 2025 transfer window is critical. Arsenal need:
- A clinical striker (someone who scores 25+ goals per season)
- A creative midfielder (a backup for Ødegaard)
- A left-back (Zinchenko is injury-prone, and Tierney is inconsistent)
- A winger (depth behind Saka and Martinelli)
The skeptical take: Don't believe the "Arsenal are interested" rumors. The club's financial model is based on selling players to fund purchases. If they don't sell, they can't buy. And if they don't buy, they'll finish second again.
Summary: The Verdict
The 2024-2025 season was a step forward in some ways and a step sideways in others. Arsenal are closer to winning the Premier League than they were three years ago, but they're still not close enough. The squad has quality, but it lacks depth, experience, and a killer instinct.
What to watch next season:
- Can Arteta adapt his system when it's not working?
- Will the new signings (if any) make an immediate impact?
- Can Saka survive another season of 50+ matches?
- Is the academy ready to produce first-team players, or are Nwaneri and Lewis-Skelly exceptions?
For more on Arsenal's youth prospects, check out our academy spotlight. For transfer rumors and analysis, visit our transfer hub. And for a deep dive into Arsenal's European campaigns, read our Champions League review.
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