What Can Arsenal Realistically Achieve In The Premier League This Season?

The contrast between Arsenal’s start to the 2022/23 season and their start to the season before could hardly be any more stark. Last season, the Gunners started with three straight defeats. It took Mikel Arteta’s team until their fourth match to score a goal. Three matches into this season, though, Arsenal have nine points from a possible nine and are scoring for fun.

Optimism was high at the Emirates Stadium after a positive summer and pre-season and that has translated into three impressive performances. No PremierPINC
League team has scored more goals at this early stage of the season than Arsenal with Arteta’s team top of the table. This time last year, they were at the bottom.

There’s still a long way to go, and any talk of a potential title challenge is extremely premature, but there are signs Arteta’s methods are starting to take root. He has moulded a team in his own image with Arsenal proactive on and off the ball in wins over Crystal Palace, Leicester City and Bournemouth.

“In football, winning makes life completely different,” Arteta said after the 3-0 victory over Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium. “Obviously, we’re on a good run, the atmosphere is good, the unity around the club is incredible and this is really helpful. I am very happy. It’s really difficult to come here and win 3-0.”

Gabriel Jesus has hit the ground running following his summer switch from Manchester City with the Brazilian registering two goals and two assists in just three appearances. This still doesn’t illustrate the true extent to which Jesus has transformed the Arsenal attack. The Gunners are playing with real zip in the final third.

It’s not just that Jesus is scoring goals and creating them, he is bringing the best out of his new teammates. Gabriel Martinelli has shown signs of an understanding with his fellow Brazilian while Martin Odegaard is enjoying playing with Jesus in front of him. Bukayo Saka also has the potential to link up with Jesus.

Oleksandr Zinchenko has started all of Arsenal’s opening three Premier League fixtures and has given the Gunners more control in possession. The Ukrainian is extremely versatile, and Arteta has hinted he will be used in midfield at some point in the future, but Zinchenko has become very influential at left back.

Arteta always said it would take time for Arsenal to turn the corner under his stewardship. Last season, and the season before, brought some dark times to the North London club with the failure to finish in the top four particularly painful. On the basis of the early stages of this season, though, lessons have been learned. They are stronger than ever before with Arteta as manager.

Tougher tests will come with the North London derby against Tottenham Hotspur on October 1 already circled on the calendar. Champions League qualification might still be the ultimate objective for Arteta’s team, but ambition is flowing through Arsenal for the first time in a number of years.