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ArsenalSummary
Generated byArsenal enter the first major test of their title defence with momentum but also mounting questions about the squad Mikel Arteta has assembled. A 1-0 win at Aston Villa on August 31 kept the champions level on six points with Manchester City at the top of the Premier League, and the defending champions now prepare to host Chelsea at the Emirates on September 6. The match arrives at a complicated moment for the club.
The summer transfer window has left a difficult aftertaste. Gabriel Martinelli completed a £60 million move to Al-Hilal after being frozen out of the squad, and his farewell message conspicuously omitted Arteta, pointing to a reported rift between the pair. Arsenal also lost Gabriel Jesus to Barcelona on a cut-price deal. Attempts to bring in attacking reinforcements largely fell flat. The club missed out on Vinicius Jr, Julian Alvarez, Bradley Barcola, and Morgan Rogers, while deadline-day pursuits of Lautaro Martinez, Malick Fofana, and Pablo Garcia all collapsed. Jamie Carragher has been vocal in his criticism, arguing Arsenal failed to sign the attacking difference-maker their squad needed.
The one piece of business drawing praise is the £34 million signing of Christos Tzolis, with Rio Ferdinand calling it one of the deals of the window. That positive note, though, is tempered by a double injury concern flagged ahead of the Chelsea game, with two key players absent from Thursday training. Gary Neville has backed Arsenal to come through the derby, but with attacking depth already thin and fitness doubts emerging, Arteta faces a demanding week.
Arsenal Overview
August 2026
Standings
Frequently asked questions
A group of workers from the Woolwich Arsenal Armanent Factory, who called themselves Dial Square, formed a football team in 1886. They would later rename themselves to Royal Arsenal in the same year. In 1893, the club was renamed to Woolwich Arsenal, before finally being named just Arsenal in 1919, six years after they moved to Highbury.
American billionaire Enos Stanley Kroenke is the owner of Arsenal, purchasing the club via Arsenal Holdings Limited, a subsidiary of Kroenke Sports & Entertainment (KSE).
The Emirates Stadium is the name of Arsenal's stadium. It has been the team's home ground since 2006, replacing Highbury, which served as Arsenal's home venue from 1913.
The Emirates Stadium has a capacity of 60,704 and is among the UK's biggest football venues.
Arsenal have won 48 trophies till date, including 13 league titles and a record 14 FA Cups.
Arsenal have 13 English top flight titles to their name, making them the third-most successful team behind Man Utd and Liverpool. They, however, won their last title over two decades ago.
London-born Irish defender David O'Leary sits at the top of the list for most Arsenal appearances in history. O'Leary spent 18 years at the club and made 722 appearances in all competitions, ahead of Tony Adams, George Armstrong, and Lee Dixon.
Thierry Henry is Arsenal's leading goalscorer of all-time with 228 goals in 377 games. No other Arsenal player has scored over 200 goals for the club, with Ian Wright sitting in second place (185 goals in 288 games).
Thierry Henry, Cesc Fabregas, Dennis Bergkamp, Mesut Ozil, Robert Pires, and Robin van Persie are among the popular footballing names to have played for Arsenal.
Arsene Wenger, Unai Emery, George Graham, and Herbert Chapman are among the biggest names to have been in charge of Arsenal throughout their notable history.
Arsenal have a pretty unique nickname, called The Gunners. This nickname is a reference to the club's origins in the late 19th century, when a group of workers from the Royal Arsenal armanent factory in Woolwich formed the club. That's also the reason why the Arsenal badge includes a cannon.