Mikel Arteta's side won three of their five matches this summer as they prepare for another season hunting down England and Europe's best
Arsenal are heading into the 2025-26 season full of hope and optimism that they will finally end their trophy drought. Despite taking huge strides in the Mikel Arteta era, the men's team's last piece of silverware came back in the summer of 2020, when they won the FA Cup during the coronavirus lockdown - that remains the only major honour claimed since Arsene Wenger left in 2018.
Their preparations for the new campaign haven't been perfect, but there is evident progress nonetheless. After beating AC Milan and Newcastle in Singapore, the mood was dampened a tad by a defeat to Tottenham in Hong Kong during the first north London derby on foreign soil. Arteta's charges returned to England for two last friendlies at the Emirates Stadium, and when they were beaten by Villarreal, fan sentiment began to wobble. However, a convincing, and at times scintillating, demolition of Athletic Club on Saturday lifted spirits again, particularly with marquee signing Viktor Gyokeres scoring his first goal since arriving from Sporting CP.
The Gunners' time for warm-ups and kick-abouts is over, with a tricky start to the new term rapidly peering over the horizon. Are they ready? Can they start fast and right the wrongs of last year?
GOAL breaks down the winners & losers from Arsenal's pre-season...