Arsenal supporters had to wait 22 years to celebrate another league title. Last season, the drought finally ended as the Gunners finished on 85 points, seven clear of Manchester City. Their run to the Champions League final, where they were only beaten by Paris Saint-Germain on penalties, provided further evidence of just how far Arteta’s side have come.
The new campaign has started in similarly encouraging fashion. Arsenal first beat Manchester City 3-0 in the Community Shield before opening their Premier League season with back-to-back victories. The champions, however, have already shown two very different sides to their game.
Arsenal show another side at Villa
Arsenal controlled their 3-0 victory over newly promoted Coventry City from the outset. Kai Havertz opened the scoring, Bukayo Saka added a second and Martin Ødegaard put the result beyond doubt shortly after half-time. New signing Christos Tzolis also impressed on the left and was involved in the first two goals.
The trip to Aston Villa ten days later was a much tougher assignment. The hosts defended compactly, kept Arsenal away from goal for long periods and came closest to scoring in the first half when Emi Buendía struck the crossbar.
Arteta responded at the interval by replacing Tzolis with Eberechi Eze. The change paid off. Eze released Riccardo Calafiori, whose cross was converted by Saka in the 59th minute for the only goal of the game.
It was hardly a spectacular victory, but grinding out narrow wins was already one of Arsenal’s strengths during their title-winning campaign. They won eight Premier League matches 1-0 last season.
Arsenal’s defence remains the foundation
That defensive strength was once again crucial at Villa Park. Aston Villa had seven attempts but failed to register a single shot on target, leaving David Raya with another clean sheet and Arsenal yet to concede after two league games.
This is far more than an early-season trend. Arsenal have kept eight Premier League clean sheets since the beginning of March, more than any other English club over that period. Across Europe’s top five leagues, only Juventus, with nine, have managed more.
Defensive consistency was already central to Arsenal’s 2025/26 title. They conceded just 27 league goals, while Raya claimed the Premier League Golden Glove for the third consecutive season.
It is also significant that Arteta is currently without the injured William Saliba. Cristhian Mosquera and Gabriel Magalhães started together at centre-back in both opening league fixtures. Ezri Konsa has since added another England international to Arsenal’s defensive options and made his debut against his former club Aston Villa in the 79th minute.
Arteta has more quality to call upon
Squad depth could prove decisive in the title race. Arteta named the same starting XI for Arsenal’s opening two league matches, something the club had managed only once before in the previous 22 seasons.
At the same time, the manager now has considerably more quality available from the bench. Against Villa, Eze was joined by Bruno Guimarães, Mikel Merino, Martín Zubimendi and Konsa as second-half substitutes.
The arrival of Guimarães, in particular, has further strengthened an already formidable midfield. Declan Rice, Ødegaard, Zubimendi, Merino, Myles Lewis-Skelly and the Brazilian give Arteta several different profiles and tactical options. Konsa, meanwhile, provides additional depth in defence and should help manage the workload over a demanding season.
That depth will be important. Arsenal are not only attempting to retain the Premier League title but will also be determined to mount another serious Champions League challenge after losing last season’s final.
One attacking piece may still be missing
Despite the perfect start, there is still room for improvement in Arsenal’s squad. Leandro Trossard moved to Beşiktaş in July, Gabriel Martinelli is close to joining Al-Hilal and Gabriel Jesus is also expected to leave, with FC Barcelona his likely destination.
That would remove a considerable amount of attacking quality in a single summer. Trossard, Martinelli and Jesus made a combined 130 appearances last season and were directly involved in 45 goals.
Tzolis has already arrived to strengthen the left flank and immediately showed against Coventry why Arsenal wanted him. Eze can also operate there, although his best qualities are not limited to those of a conventional winger.
If Martinelli leaves, Arsenal could still be short of another quick, direct forward capable of consistently attacking space behind opposing defences and posing a threat in transition. Lyon winger Malick Fofana was therefore an understandable target. Arsenal ultimately decided against completing the move, and the 21-year-old is now set to join Sunderland.
Arsenal could therefore remain active in search of another attacking option before the transfer window closes.
Arsenal remain the team to beat
After only two matches, any definitive judgment on the Premier League title race would be premature. Manchester City and Chelsea have also started with six points, with another 36 games still to come.
Arsenal’s position nevertheless looks extremely strong. Arteta has an established side, while several direct rivals entered the season with new managers or more substantial changes. Arsenal also retain a defence that has performed at an exceptional level for months, while their midfield and back line now offer even greater depth.
The main question concerns the attack. If Arsenal can add the right winger after the expected departures, their squad could ultimately be even stronger than the one that lifted the title in May.
Retaining the championship would also be historic. Arsenal last successfully defended an English league title in 1935. After a perfect start to the new campaign, there is little reason not to regard the Gunners as one of the leading contenders once again.
Aston Villa splash €55m on Mbaye
While Arsenal are making targeted adjustments to a championship-winning squad, Aston Villa are undergoing a far more substantial rebuild. Morgan Rogers, Youri Tielemans, Ezri Konsa, Ollie Watkins and Emiliano Martínez are among the players to have left the club.
Villa have now invested heavily in another attacking talent. Ibrahim Mbaye has joined from Paris Saint-Germain for around €55 million, with the 18-year-old signing a five-year contract that includes an option for a further season. The Senegal international made 31 appearances for PSG last season, scoring three goals and providing two assists.
Mbaye can operate in several attacking positions, possesses considerable pace and is particularly dangerous when making runs beyond the defence from the right side.
After opening the season with two defeats and no goals scored, Unai Emery will need time to mould his numerous new arrivals into a cohesive side. Their performance against Arsenal, however, was already a clear improvement on the 4-0 defeat to Brighton.
