Arsenal enter the 2025–26 Premier League campaign with renewed confidence after last season’s runner-up finish and their deepest Champions League run in nearly two decades, losing to eventual winners Paris Saint-Germain in the semi-finals.
Bookmakers are optimistic about Mikel Arteta’s side mounting another serious title challenge ahead of their opening fixture against Manchester United on 17 August. Arsenal are second favourites at 9/4, behind defending champions Liverpool.
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It’s been over 20 years since The Gunners won an EPL title. During the 2003-04 season, Arsenal didn’t lose a single match, which led to their team being nicknamed “The Invincibles” due to their dominance.
Arsenal finished last season with the second-best goal difference in the division at +35.
Defensive resilience underpinned their campaign. The Gunners conceded just 34 goals across 38 matches, the fewest in the league.
Their attack also delivered, with 69 goals scored – the third-highest total, behind Liverpool (86) and Manchester City (72).
Betting on Arsenal still offers value, depending on the fixture. They are 11/10 to beat Manchester United in 90 minutes. United ended last season in 15th, with just 44 goals scored and a -10 goal difference.
The most recent glimpses of Arsenal in the Champions League highlighted their inconsistency in front of goal. Performances swung between dominant and blunt, but their defence remained reliable – no opponent scored more than two goals against them in the tournament’s six matches.
One strategic betting angle for Arsenal’s opener is to back against United scoring. The ‘Both Teams to Score – No’ market is currently available at 11/10. Exact team goal markets offer 17/10 on United scoring none, and 6/5 on them scoring exactly once.
The total goals line for the match is set at 2.5, with odds of 5/6 on the over. This implies bookmakers expect Arsenal to score at least twice, making the under a riskier selection.
For those looking at player props, backing Havertz, Arsenal’s top scorer in 2024–25, to find the net again is available at 11/5 in the ‘Anytime Goalscorer’ market. Given United’s defensive frailties last season, targeting a proven finisher like Havertz offers strong value.
It’s tempting to back Arsenal in the title futures market at 9/4. However, their 21-year title drought remains a significant mental hurdle. With Liverpool and Manchester City both boasting explosive attacking units and deep squads, Arteta’s side will need to sustain elite-level consistency across the full campaign to go one better this time.