Mikel Arteta’s time in charge at Arsenal has brought clarity, structure, and hope to the football club. When he came in late 2019, Arsenal were a club drifting between managerial changes, underwhelming performances and loss of status as one of English football’s elite. Arteta not only had to turn the results around but also revamp the culture, update the tactics and regain the confidence of the players and supporters. After a few years, Arsenal has grown into one of the most competitive teams in the Premier League. The central question now is whether this progress can translate into the club’s first league title since 2004.
Arsenal lead the EPL log with a comfortable 6-point lead after 10 matches, and currently are the best bet for the title according to the English Premier League odds by Sportytrader, one of the leading betting tips and strategies providers.
A defined tactical identity
The Arsenal manager has designed his team’s brand of play to be positional and brave. Furthermore, Arteta’s philosophy incorporates a significant amount of control. Also, pressing intensity and calculated risks that do not compromise the team’s possession. Drawing inspiration from Pep Guardiola’s football philosophies, Arsenal FC’s possession-oriented formation is highly offensive and mobile. The team can alter shape swiftly out of possession, as well, with their full-backs inverting into midfield for support, their attacking midfielders dropping into build-up zones, and their front line aggressively pressing to force mistakes.
This team isn’t about one player. It’s a system that involves everyone. Players like Martin Ødegaard, Declan Rice, William Saliba, Bukayo Saka, and Gabriel Magalhães are central to a new identity. To be in Arteta’s squad now demands technical security, athletic intensity, and tactical intelligence.
Progress, but also painful near-misses
Arsenal has developed significantly through strong league finishes and increased consistency. In consecutive years, they have gone from a team finishing outside the European qualifiers to a title contender. Yet, those campaigns have also brought heartbreak. Arsenal have made a case for the Premier League title in the last two seasons but faltered in the final run-in. On several occasions, the team has shown brilliance only to drop points at crucial junctures, particularly when injuries afflicted them or under-pressure decision-making wavered.
These near misses, however, tell a story of progress. Clubs do not arrive at title-winning level overnight. Being close to winning sometimes prepares you for the psychological challenge that needs to be conquered in order to attain success.
Transfer market backing
A clear indication of the belief in the project is the strong recruitment strategy. Arsenal has put in a lot of money over the last couple of seasons to help their manager’s vision. Players like Declan Rice, Victor Gyokeres, Martin Zubimendi, Noni Madueke, and Eberechi Eze have been signed to improve their technical quality, physicality and depth.
Arsenal’s common faults in earlier campaigns; a lack of depth in the squad, along with reliance on certain starters to put in particular performances, have all been addressed thus far. Arteta has a trustworthy squad of players who can rotate in the competitions without losing identity or intensity. The team’s evolution from ability to mentality: the players targeted by the club are those capable of withstanding pressure, coping with leadership responsibility and executing advanced tactics.
What still needs to improve?
Although there has been evolution in the development and style of the squad, there are still a few problems. Arsenal has to be more efficient in turning dominance into goals. Even with regular offensive plays, there come spells when there are no clear-cut chances that get finished, which matter in title races.
Highly pressured matches make management of the game final hurdle. Teams that win championships are able to manage tempo when in charge and aren’t unfairly impeding opponents. They avoid making anxious fouls late in games. Arsenal has gotten better at this but they have to keep on improving and the ability to switch up when the games get tense when the tactical momentum switches.
Another factor is injuries. A requirement of Arsenal’s system is the intensity of the players which has been missing in key run-in periods. To be title competitive in the months to come, staying fit all season is important.
Are Arsenal ready to win the league?
Arsenal have been transformed from hopeful contenders to genuine challengers. This team holds a unique identity, a well-balanced squad, a manager who is respected by all, and a core group of players who are entering their peak years. After being a counter-productive weakness, experience is now growing into a strength thanks to maturity in big matches.
You need a lot more than just talent and tactics to win a Premier League title, it takes resilience through 38 games, consistency in handling setbacks and rising in key matches against direct rivals. Manchester City and Liverpool remain the teams to beat; they know how to win from any position.
After almost two decades, Arsenal are now in a position not just to go toe-to-toe with the best, but to actually beat them.
