Position
It could be one of the most successful seasons in the club's history for Arsenal: Coach Mikel Arteta's team can continue to dream of the quadruple - winning the Premier league, both English major cup competitions and the Champions League - after last weekend's 2-1 hard-earned victory in the FA Cup Round of 16 at League One club Mansfield Town. However, the Gunners struggled for long stretches of the game against the underdogs from Mansfield. Shortly before the break, Noni Madueke fired in a powerful shot from 15 metres to give the visitors the lead, only for them to concede an equaliser a few minutes after the break. After Arsenal failed to convert numerous chances, Eberechi Eze finally struck and hammered the ball into the net for the winner on 66 minutes. "They made it really difficult for us," said Arteta, praising his opponents. "After the equaliser, we had to work really hard to earn this win."
In the middle of last week, Arsenal also claimed a hard-fought victory in the Premier League. The leaders won 1-0 at 14th-placed Brighton & Hove Albion thanks to an early goal from Bukayo Saka on nine minutes. After taking the lead, the Gunners quickly eased down a gear, slowed the pace and managed to hold on for the win. Arsenal extended their lead at the top of the table as their rivals Manchester City were held to a 2-2 draw by Nottingham Forest. The north London club now have 67 points after 30 league games, while the Citizens have 60 points after 29 games. The two teams face each other in the Carabao Cup final on 22 March. However, winning the Premier League is undoubtedly more important for Arsenal. It would be the first time in 22 years. Most recently, the Gunners finished runners-up three times in a row.
The big London club are also one of the top favourites to win the Champions League. Arsenal were the only club to win all eight games in the league phase, beating Bayern Munich (3-1) and Atlético Madrid (4-0) at home and Athletic Bilbao (2-0) and Inter Milan (3-1) away. The Gunners scored the most goals (23) of all 36 participants and conceded the fewest (4). There is no better way to reach the Round of 16. Last season, Arsenal went through to the quarter-finals with two victories against Real Madrid (3-0; 2-1), but were then defeated in the semi-finals by eventual winners Paris Saint-Germain (0-1; 1-2). This season, the English team with a long tradition want to go as far as possible. The game in Leverkusen will be match number 47 for Arsenal in the current campaign. Their impressive record so far: 36 wins, 7 draws, 3 defeats. No other team from Europe's top leagues have won more matches than the Gunners.
Personnel
Kai Havertz was back in the starting line-up for the first time in a month in the FA Cup Round of 16 win at Mansfield Town. The former Bayer 04 player, who came to Leverkusen as a ten-year-old and wore the Bayer 04 jersey for a total of ten years making 150 appearances (46 goals) for the Werkself, has recovered from a muscle injury. Havertz had already been out for over four months at the start of the season due to a knee injury. As a result, the 26-year-old has only made ten appearances so far this term. Now nothing stands in the way of a reunion with Bayer 04. However, it is doubtful whether Havertz will be in the starting line-up against his old club. Competition is fierce in Arsenal's star-studded squad. Arteta will only have to manage without centre-back William Saliba (ankle) and the two midfielders Mikel Merino (rehab after foot surgery) and captain Martin Ödegaard (knee).
The squad of the 13-time English champions is peppered with high-calibre international players. In defence, Arteta relies on a back four in front of regular keeper David Raya, which regularly includes Piero Hincapie. The Ecuador international joined the London club from Leverkusen in the summer. So far, the 24-year-old has made 27 appearances for Arsenal. In the traditionally well-stocked defence, centre-backs Gabriel and Cristhian Mosquera as well as Italy international Riccardo Calafiori and 19-year-old Myles Lewis-Skelly are also regulars. In midfield, new signing Martin Zubimendi (Real Sociedad) has immediately proved to be an excellent number six. The 27-year-old became a European champion with Spain in 2024 - together with Bayer 04 player Alejandro Grimaldo. Zubimendi has played in all 30 Premier League matches so far, scoring five goals along the way. He is often joined in midfield by Declan Rice, two-time European Championship runner-up with the Three Lions, and Dane Christian Nörgaard, who joined Arsenal from Brentford at the start of the season.
Another new signing, Eberechi Eze, who can be utilised in a variety of ways up front, has also made a big impact. The 27-year-old signed for Arsenal from Crystal Palace and is one of the most prolific goalscorers in the squad with eight to his name so far. Arsenal have significantly improved their attacking options this season, both in terms of personnel and quality. Centre-forward Viktor Gyökeres has quickly proven himself to be a prolific striker. The Swede has already scored 15 times for Arsenal since his move from Sporting CP. Coach Mikel Arteta also has numerous other top forwards at his disposal in Noni Madueke (new signing from Chelsea), Bukayo Saka, Leandro Trossard, Gabriel Jesus, Kai Havertz and Gabriel Martinelli. Left winger Martinelli is the Gunners' top scorer in the Champions League with six goals.
Problems
It could be an historic season for Arsenal. But nothing has been achieved yet. In recent years, the Gunners have often failed to land the final punch in the decisive phase in both the Premier League and the Champions League. There was never a lack of quality, but sometimes a lack of mentality. It remains to be seen how the team will react if they fall behind. That did not happen in the league phase of the Champions League this season.
Performers
The Gunners’ set-pieces are feared in England. There they have already earned the nickname ‘FC corner kick’. This season, Arsenal have already scored 22 times from corners. In the Premier League alone, 16 goals have been scored in this way. Arsenal have thus set a record in the history of the league. Coach Mikel Arteta and his set-piece coach Nicolas Jover practise these situations intensively in the training sessions. A lot of Gunners move into the six-yard box for their own corner kicks, meaning that the opposing defenders, including the goalkeeper who is under massive pressure, are faced with a physically demanding task every time they defend.
Arsenal also scored both goals from corners in their 2-1 home win over Chelsea in the Premier League earlier this month. In the London derby, Gabriel crossed for William Saliba at the far post, who then headed home to give Arsenal the lead. The Gunners also scored the winner from a Declan Rice corner, which Jurrien Timber headed home. However, Arsenal also conceded a goal from a corner when Piero Hincapie headed the ball into his own net. Mikel Arteta is therefore still not entirely satisfied with the yield from set-pieces: "I'm annoyed we're not scoring more goals from set-pieces and that we're also conceding goals. We want to be the best and most dominant team in every aspect," said Arsenal's coach recently. The Spaniard is not only relying on this weapon. Arteta has given the north Londoners a modern footballing identity since the start of his tenure in the summer of 2019. Intelligent positional play, high tactical variability and creative attacking moves with plenty of power characterise Arsenal's football.
