In many ways, you could say that Arsenal took a step forward last season. As a team, they performed better and also became a top-flight outfit that found a way to grind out wins. After progress year after year, the aim is for that to continue in 2024/25, but they must improve all areas to boost their chances of making it a reality.
There is not one online sports betting site that does not understand the vital importance of covering the English Premier League, and all these sports betting sites have Arsenal installed as the second favourites to win the title. It’s the next step of the process for the Gunners, but breaking Manchester City’s dominance won’t be easy, and reinforcements to make that happen are needed—and quality ones at that.
Arsenal have an excellent squad, a squad that’s delivered in the last two seasons, more so the most recent. However, there’s a difference between being runners up and winners, and in the case of the Premier League, it’s a significant difference. There’s no point in the Gunners bringing in players who are as good as the ones they’ve got. They need to keep improving the quality if they’re to, as a result, improve their league standing.
Manager Mikel Arteta, who has led the overhaul at the Emirates, has made comments recently about the need to improve all areas, and the Spaniard isn’t wrong. As part of the process, there’s been a desire to work, take stock, improve, and go again. And, the recruitment each summer is crucial in facilitating the improvements that will be required to make the next season better than the last. So far, Arsenal have turned David Raya’s loan from Brentford into a permanent deal as expected, and they look to have clinched the signing of centre-back Riccardo Calafiori from Bologna.
While Raya was at the club last season, his arrival took the goalkeeper department to the next level, and the hope is that Calafiori will do the same at centre-back, although Arsenal were excellent defensively in 2023/24. They will also have Jurrien Timber available, who missed last season due to serious injury after arriving in the summer from Dutch giants Ajax. But there’s more work to do, and it’s work covering departments and positions further forward on the pitch, primarily right at the very top.
It goes without saying that Arsenal need a number nine. A proper goalscorer. A striker who can consistently get goals at the top level. While there’s no doubt that Kai Havertz did a sterling job when moved into the role after a spell as an attacking midfielder, a goal-getter could make the difference. It’s a vacancy that’s needed filling for some time, but this is where getting better than what they already have will really count.
That’s not to say that Arsenal only need an elite number nine. They don’t. They need more than that. But add a nine to the permanent signing of Raya and the arrival of Calafiori, and things look promising. The Gunners will look like they’re capable of improving once again across the thirty-eight-game Premier League campaign.
