Arsenal enter the new Premier League campaign as defending champions for the first time since the 2004-05 season, having ended their long wait for the title last term. The Gunners are widely tipped to go again, but history and the psychological weight of a title defence suggest the road back to the top will be far from smooth.
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola made successful title defences look routine, winning four in a row before leaving the club this summer. Yet prior to his arrival, the Premier League trophy changed hands in each of the eight seasons before his first triumph, with only Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United and Jose Mourinho at Chelsea managing back-to-back crowns in the competition’s history.
The mental toll of defending a title is often cited as a key factor. Leicester City, whose fairytale 2015-16 victory was followed by a flirtation with relegation, provided a stark example. One Leicester player likened the experience to climbing Mount Everest and then being asked to immediately scale it again. Former Premier League winger Andros Townsend echoed that view on BBC Radio 5 Live, noting that Liverpool finished third and fifth in the seasons after their two recent title wins because players may not return with the same aggression and mentality after the relief of getting over the line.
Continuity could be Arsenal’s biggest advantage. While Mikel Arteta remains in charge, several rivals start the season with new managers: Manchester City, Liverpool and Chelsea have all made changes, while Roberto de Zerbi and Michael Carrick are beginning their first full campaigns at Tottenham and Manchester United respectively. Arsenal have also kept their squad largely intact, with the most significant additions being Greece forward Christos Tzolis from Club Brugge for £34m and midfielder Bruno Guimaraes from Newcastle United for £75m. Arteta believes Guimaraes, whom he described as a warrior with quality, leadership and charisma, can ignite something different in the team and help push the club to the next level.
However, Arsenal have been dealt a blow with defender William Saliba set to miss an extended period after a back injury sustained at the World Cup. His partnership with Gabriel Magalhaes underpinned their defensive solidity last season, and the length of his absence could prove significant despite reported interest in Ezri Konsa.
Meanwhile, Arsenal’s rivals have strengthened. Chelsea, under highly rated coach Xabi Alonso, have added England forward Morgan Rogers for a club-record £117m, France defender Maxence Lacroix for £52m, full-back Marco Palestra for £47m, and experienced figures Jordan Henderson and Danny Welbeck. Manchester City, now led by Enzo Maresca, have signed midfielder Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest for £116m but may lose Spain midfielder Rodri, with Chelsea’s Enzo Fernandez tipped as a possible replacement. Manchester United, for their part, have reinforced their midfield with Youri Tielemans from Aston Villa for £35m and Andrey Santos from Chelsea for £48m.
With so many rivals remodelling their squads and dugouts, the pressure is on Arsenal to prove that their title-winning quality, combined with stability and key signings, is enough to fend off a rejuvenated chasing pack.