Arsenal return to Premier League action on Friday night carrying something they have not had to deal with for more than two decades: the pressure of defending the English top flight title.
After finally ending their 22 year wait for the Premier League trophy last season, Mikel Arteta’s side now enter a new campaign as the team everyone wants to beat. Rather than attempting to avoid that attention, however, the Arsenal camp appears ready to embrace it.
The Gunners will officially begin their title defence at the Emirates Stadium against newly promoted Coventry City, with the opening fixture providing the champions with their first opportunity to show that last season’s success was the beginning of a new era rather than an isolated achievement.
Arsenal’s championship triumph last season was particularly significant because of the disappointment that preceded it. Arteta’s team had finished runners up in the previous three Premier League campaigns, repeatedly coming close without getting their hands on the trophy.
This time, there was no disappointment.
Arsenal eventually finished at the top and secured their first league championship since 2004, bringing an end to one of the longest title droughts in the club’s modern history. The achievement also changed the perception surrounding Arteta and his players, who had frequently faced criticism for failing to complete their title challenges.
Now the challenge is different.
Winning the Premier League is difficult, but defending it requires an entirely different mentality. Every opponent approaches the champions with additional motivation, while expectations from supporters, the media and the footballing public increase considerably.
Arteta understands that reality and believes his players are prepared for it.
The Arsenal manager has overseen a squad that has continued to evolve during the summer transfer window. The arrival of Brazilian midfielder Bruno Guimaraes from Newcastle United has added further quality and physicality to the midfield, while Christos Tzolis has also arrived to provide additional attacking options. Ezri Konsa is also expected to join from Aston Villa.
Those additions have strengthened the belief that Arsenal can compete successfully on multiple fronts.
The club will not only be defending their Premier League crown. They will also be hoping to improve on their European campaign after falling short in the Champions League last season.
Arsenal’s impressive Community Shield victory over Manchester City has provided another reason for optimism. Arteta’s team produced a commanding 3 0 victory against Pep Guardiola’s side, sending a strong message to their domestic rivals before the league campaign even began.
The result was particularly significant because Manchester City have been one of Arsenal’s biggest obstacles during their recent title campaigns.
This season, however, the landscape looks different.
City are undergoing changes, while several other Premier League contenders have also strengthened their squads. Liverpool are attempting to recover from a disappointing previous campaign, Manchester United are looking to build on their resurgence under Michael Carrick and Chelsea are beginning another era under Xabi Alonso.
That creates an intriguing title race, but Arsenal enter it with the advantage of already knowing what it takes to finish first.
One of the most important factors for Arteta will be maintaining the hunger that helped his team finally cross the finish line.
The danger for defending champions is often complacency. After achieving a long awaited objective, players can sometimes struggle to reproduce the same intensity. Arsenal must therefore find ways to remain motivated even when facing opponents who sit deep, defend aggressively and treat every match against the champions as a major occasion.
The opening fixture against Coventry could provide an early test of that mentality.
Coventry arrive in the Premier League with the excitement that comes with promotion, and facing the reigning champions at the Emirates will give their players an opportunity to make an immediate statement.
For Arsenal, however, there can be no room for distraction.
Bukayo Saka remains one of the key figures in the attack, while Declan Rice continues to provide energy and balance in midfield. Captain Martin Odegaard will also be expected to play a major role as Arteta looks for greater creativity from his team.
With a stronger squad and another year of experience under Arteta, Arsenal will believe they are capable of setting an even higher standard.
The manager has already demonstrated that he is willing to adapt his squad and tactical approach as circumstances change. The arrival of Guimaraes, in particular, gives Arsenal another powerful option in midfield and could help them control difficult matches more effectively.
The biggest question is whether Arsenal can maintain their consistency throughout a demanding campaign.
The Premier League schedule will test the depth of their squad, while Champions League commitments will place additional physical and mental demands on the players. Injuries, fixture congestion and pressure from rivals could all influence the title race.
Yet Arsenal have entered this season in a position they have not occupied for a very long time.
They are no longer the team chasing the champions.
They are the champions.
That means every opponent will want to knock them down, every mistake will receive greater scrutiny and every dropped point will be analysed more intensely.
Arteta, however, appears comfortable with that reality.
Arsenal have spent years trying to reach the top of English football. Now that they have finally arrived, they are determined to stay there.
The Premier League title defence begins at the Emirates on Friday, and the message from north London is clear: Arsenal are ready to be hunted.
