Last season, Arsenal came within a whisker of ending their wait for a first Premier League title since 2004 before they fell at the final hurdle, however, Mikel Arteta’s Gunners are expected to make a more prolonged push for English football’s crown this time around.
Strengthened by the robust presence of summer signing Declan Rice in midfield, Arsenal have the staying power to maintain their charge for domestic honours between now and May, while continental glory in the Champions League could also be within reach.
Indeed, all of the top sports betting sites have seen plenty of movement in Arsenal’s direction in the markets, with punters backing the Londoners at keen odds to finish ahead of challengers Manchester City and Liverpool in the race for first place in England’s top tier.
Other bettors meanwhile, have backed the Gunners to win the Champions League for the first time in the club’s history at even bigger prices. Of course, winning both the Premier and Champions League this season would be stuff of dreams for Arsenal and the club’s fanatical support.
Below, we’ve taken a closer look at Arsenal’s chances of landing that historic double.
Can Arsenal end 20-year Premier League drought?
Arsenal had one hand on the Premier League title in 2022/23 before a late-season collapse, though in hindsight, they perhaps lacked the knowhow to get over the line ahead of a Man City squad packed with serial winners.
However, Mikel Arteta’s young Gunners were battle-hardened from that experience and look better equipped to keep pace this time around, while the additions of record signing Declan Rice, versatile attacker Kai Havertz and new first-choice keeper David Raya have also been key.
Last season, Arsenal collected 84 points, which worked out at 2.21 points per fixture across their 38-game campaign. This term, the Londoners have been collecting points at an increased rate of 2.29 per 90 minutes, however, their form has spiked since the turn of the year and since January 1st, they’ve been picking up a staggering 2.81 points per outing.
If Arsenal can maintain their impeccable late-season surge, a final tally north of 90 points could be achieved, though any misstep could be fatal with both Manchester City and Liverpool breathing down their necks.
Arsenal, who have been one of the least affected clubs by injuries so far, will also need their luck to hold in that direction, though they are available at an eye-catching price of 7/4 to land the title from a position of second favourites behind City.
Quest for Champions League glory goes on
While securing a first Premier League title since 2004 is the absolute priority for Mikel Arteta and his Arsenal players this season, success in the Champions League could also be in the works for the formidable Gunners.
If you’re one of the strongest teams in England’s Premier League, you become one of Europe’s better outfits by default, and Arsenal have looked the part on the continent in 2023/24 so far, topping their UCL group before Christmas with 13 points and eliminating Portugues giants FC Porto in the competition’s Last 16 stage in March.
A thrilling 2-2 draw in quarter-final first-leg against Bayern Munich this week provide an interesting test of the Gunners’ Champions League winning aspirations, though having felt the German side out, Arsenal could counter-attack their way to victory in the return fixture against a Bavarian outfit that has been prone to collapse this season.
However, Arsenal have been drawn on the tougher side of the knockout rounds and any success over two-legs with Bayern Munich would set the Gunners up for another showpiece double-header against either Real Madrid or Manchester City.
Arsenal (11/2) have nestled themselves in as second-favourites to win the Champions League outright behind Man City (13/8) and a head-to-head with the Citizens for domestic and continental silverware would make for a captivating end to the club football campaign.
The Gunners haven’t made it past the quarter-final phase of the Champions League since 2009 however, and largely untested at that level, they could come up slightly short again, just as their inexperience counted against them in last season’s Premier League title race.
The most optimistic Arsenal fans out there might like to back Arsenal to win both the Premier League and Champions League this season at a whopping 14/1, however, domestic rather than continental glory seems likelier for the Gunners in 2023/24.