The 2025/26 season for Arsenal has started incredibly well as they chase their first trophy since the 2020 FA Cup. The Gunners sit top of the Premier League, four points clear of Manchester City in second and they are also perfect in the league phase of the UEFA Champions League, only behind Bayern Munich on goals scored. Both sides will meet in matchweek five of the competition.
In what was a big overhaul of the squad this summer, as Andrea Berta and Mikel Arteta targeted trying to not just raise the ceiling of this Arsenal side with extra quality but also raise its floor by adding much-needed depth, something that a lack of had caught the Gunners out in the last three seasons. So who have been the standout stars so far this campaign?
Martín Zubimendi
A player that Arsenal were after for a number of seasons now,Martín Zubimendi finally became a Gunner this summer in a £55.8 million move from boyhood club, Real Sociedad.
It took him a couple of games to really get going, although his first league games at both Old Trafford against Manchester United and Anfield against Liverpool still had some positive signs.
He has brought a sense of calmness to the Arsenal midfield, averaging a pass succession rate of 88.9% which is the sixth best in the squad.
Zubimendi also averages the second most accurate passes per 90 in the squad with 59.9; only William Saliba is averaging more a game with 82.7.
Even though he is a defensive midfielder, his eye for goal is superb too as shown by his two quality strikes in the 3-0 win over Nottingham Forest back in September, one of which secured him the Premier League goal of the month award.
Another of the Spaniard’s attributes to talk about, which may have gone unnoticed, is his ability to pull off a bounce pass or a cushioned one-touch pass.
It’s been seen a couple of times this season, once for setting up a header for Jurrien Timber, which was saved by Nick Pope and also for Viktor Gyökeres against Atletico Madrid.
Zubimendi at the six role has also allowed Declan Rice to play in that more advanced number eight role, which he is thriving i,n having six goal contributions already.
If Arsenal are to do big things this season, then Zubimendi is going to be key to those chances.
Declan Rice
Arsenal’s record signing has gone to another level so far in 25/26, becoming more of an attacking force in that number eight position.
A lot has been said about **Declan Rice**’s set piece deliveries but it’s probably the biggest reason as to why the Gunners have scored as many as they have done because of the point delivery that ends up on Gabriel’s head a good amount of times.
Talking about his improvement on the creative side of the team, Rice currently has the joint-most assists in the team with two.
More importantly, the England midfielder ranks joint highest on the expected assists for the Arsenal squad with 2.2 expected assists (xA), level with international teammate Bukayo Saka.
He’s also created the most chances in the squad with 18.
Rice’s performance in the 2-0 win away at Burnley last weekend has arguably been his most complete performance so far this season, not because of another brilliant corner which Gabriel knocked back to Gyokeres for the opening goal or his header to make it 2-0.
What made it so good was that he dominated the midfield, winning the vast majority of second balls as well as his driving runs to reduce the pressure from the Burnley attack in the second half.
Declan Rice celebrates a massive three points for Arsenal in the win at Turf Moor against Burnley (Photo by George Wood/Getty Images).
Like Zubimendi, Rice is going to be key to Arsenal’s chances of a major trophy this season.
Gabriel Magalhães and William Saliba
Gabriel and Saliba celebrate the Brazilian's last-minute winner in the 2-1 victory away to Newcastle United. (Photo by Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
It would be unfair to only mention half of what has become one of the defensive partnerships in the world.
Both Gabriel and William Saliba are key reasons as to why Arsenal have only conceded five goals in all competitions so far.
While the Frenchman is yet to get off the mark this season, Gabriel has been a force to be reckoned with in the air for Arsenal, getting five G/A so far (three goals and two assists).
Altogether, Arsenal have only conceded 6.1 expected goals (xG) in the Premier League this season, and the back four of Saliba, Gabriel, Timber and Riccardo Calafiori as well as David Raya, have been a big part why.
It was an important summer for Arsenal by managing to tie their two centre halves down to new long-term contracts, just a couple of many brilliant renewals that Berta managed to pull off of what was a very long list.
Having depth in their positions now with Cristhian Mosquera and Piero Hincapié, as well as having Calafiori who can fill in at left centre backs.
It gives Arteta an opportunity to rotate his defender,s especially when they spent the end of last season with injury issues.
Gabriel tore his hamstring in March and Saliba injured his hamstring after the 1-0 win at the last home game of the season against Newcastle in May.
Jurrien Timber
His brilliance in 1v1 defensive duels, combined with his improvement in terms of attacking numbers, Jurrien Timber is quickly becoming not just one of the best right-backs in the Premier League but also the world.
The big improvement has been in terms of xG numbers for both of Arsenal’s fullbacks in comparison to 24/25.
Arsenal fullbacks xG numbers 24/25 to 25/26
24/25
Jurrien Timber - 1.2 xG
Riccardo Calafiori - 0.9 xG
25/26
Riccardo Calafiori - 2.2xG
Jurrien Timber - 2.1 xG
The Dutch defender also has the highest XGOT (expected goal on target) in the Premier League for a fullback with 3.2.
Timber is beginning to really develop a brilliant partnership down the right-hand side of the pitch with Saka. Not only that, his ball retention while being under pressure from opposition defenders is becoming better week by week.
Jurrien Timber in a duel with Enzo Le Fee during Arsenal's 2-2 draw vs Sunderland(Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images).