ArsenalSummary
Generated byArsenal's title defence is up and running, but Mikel Arteta's first weeks as defending champions have already exposed questions about his attacking options. A narrow 1-0 win at Villa Park on Monday kept the Gunners joint-top of the Premier League on six points from two games, yet the manner of the victory was far from convincing. New signing Christos Tzolis was hauled off at half-time after struggling against Matty Cash, with Bukayo Saka eventually settling the match. Arteta acknowledged the pressure of defending the title is real, even this early, and Gary Neville described the £34m winger as "struggling" before backing the manager's ruthless call.
The squad situation adds to the complexity. Viktor Gyokeres, who scored 22 goals last season, has again been left on the bench, and Arteta's pointed public message that every player will get their chance has done little to quiet speculation about the striker's future. Meanwhile, Gabriel Jesus has completed a bargain €10m move to Barcelona, cutting Arsenal's forward depth further. A late pursuit of Lyon winger Malick Fofana ended without a deal, with Arsenal opting against meeting the French club's valuation and Sunderland ultimately signing him. Julian Alvarez, linked with a move to north London all summer, chose to stay at Atletico Madrid. Ethan Nwaneri is reportedly closing in on a loan to Borussia Dortmund.
With Chelsea visiting the Emirates on September 6, managed by Xabi Alonso and bolstered by several summer signings, Arsenal face an immediate test of whether their defensive solidity can compensate for a forward line that looks thinner than it did twelve months ago.
August 2026
Standings
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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.