The north Londoners have splashed the cash in an attempt to fine-tune their squad, and they must finally deliver on the team's unquestionable promise
From the outside looking in, this season feels like now or never for Mikel Arteta's Arsenal in their search for a first Premier League title since 2004, or their first Champions League crown ever.
Only once before has a team finished second for three seasons on the trot in the English top flight, and that happened to be Arsene Wenger's Gunners of 1999 to 2001. No side has ever managed that feat four years in a row, and this current crop of north London heroes will be hoping not to be the ones to break such an infamous record. 'Second again, ole ole' rang around Emirates Stadium enough towards the end of 2024-25 for this hungry group of players to use it as motivation, but the time for speaking is over and they have to do their talking on the pitch.
There's no doubting Arsenal's credentials as a team who can finish top of the league. They were unfortunate not to topple Manchester City between 2022 and 2024, but they have to show that what happened last term, allowing Liverpool the title at a canter, was a one-off. Finishing as runners-up in a division as competitive as the Premier League isn't to be sneered at, yet this is no longer about the Gunners merely competing. They have to go down as winners.
GOAL runs through Arsenal and Arteta's plans to become the kings of England again.