A strong season, but the Arsenal Champions League dream outshines title slip
And for a third consecutive season, Arsenal have finished as runners-up in the Premier League, when they had just missed out on lifting the crown. Mikel Arteta’s side came within touching distance of the title on the back of a strong title push, but ultimately missed out to Manchester City, who secured their fourth straight title. It left the Gunners with 89 points for the 2024/25 season – on the one hand, a good total which suggests steady progress, but on the other one again wasn’t enough to halt City domination, despite securing their Arsenal Champions League spot.
There were moments to cherish for Arsenal: The fluent, stylish victories over its top-six rivals and a defense that had actually conceded the fewest goals in the division. The William Saliba-Gabriel Magalhães partnership was rock-solid and Declan Rice and Martin Ødegaard ran the midfield with class and authority. Up front, the electric Bukayo Saka carried on in fine form, contributing 16 goals and 11 assists in the league.
However, it was the same old story of the bottles in the big games once again that saw Arsenal come unstuck. Defeat by the narrowest of margins to Aston Villa at the Emirates, as well as a goalless draw versus Manchester City at the Etihad, were extremely costly. With Manchester City’s machine continuing to crank out victories over the final weeks, Arsenal were no longer in control of their own destiny.
However, the North London side were mature, tactically disciplined and resilient this season. The Premier League title still seems far, but there finally seems to be progress under Arteta.
Champions League return secured with optimism building
A top two finish means Arsenal will once again be playing Champions League football in 2025/26. The club wants to kick on in Europe having been dumped out at the quarter-final stage this year by Bayern Munich. The current crop of players, so young and talented and but also tactically flexible, appear increasingly equipped to compete in Europe.
Arsenal Champions League aspirations will depend on what kind of additions they make this summer. Key positions to strengthen are clinical striker and more depth in central midfield. There’s rumours of a big-money move for Sporting CP’s Viktor Gyökeres and it gives the impression that the club have designs on moving to compete with the likes of Manchester City and Liverpool both here and in Europe.
This season the Emirates had hosted memorable nights of their Champions League run such as a comeback win over Napoli in the round of 16. The likes of Saka, Martinelli and Ben White should benefit from the young learning curve ahead of next term. But, for a club that has such a storied European past but not that Champions League title, belief is steadily returning to the Emirates faithful.
On a financial level, Champions League regularity ensures that Arsenal’s revenues keep flowing and the club retains a global profile. With Adidas kits selling out and sellouts at stadiums home and away, the club’s brand is in a good spot.
Author’s Opinion
A third straight second-place finish is a bitter pill for Arsenal fans who long desperately to touch silverware, but also a sign of just how far the club has come since the post-Wenger rebuilding project dawned. Arteta’s project is working with coherence, form and an eye on the future. Arsenal Champions League appearances are no longer a dream but an expectation, and that reflects the raised standards in North London.
Still, for all there has been an evolution in tactics and a squad evolution, football remains an essentially results-based game. The next stage will be turning near-success into real trophys. With that Champions League experience and domestic unity on their side, Arsenal are not far away now from glory — if they can keep the upward trajectory going.
Whether it’s in England or across Europe, the Gunners are ringing louder than ever. The question for 2025/26 is: Can they really kick the door down finally?
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