Champions League trophy chance, Bukayo Saka injury return impact – Predicting the rest of Arsenal’s 2024/25 season

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Arsenal’s Premier League title hopes are slim heading into the run-in, but Champions League glory remains on the cards.

The Gunners sit 12 points behind league leaders Liverpool with nine matches to play, meaning attentions may be turned to Europe.

Real Madrid await Arsenal in the quarter-final of the continent’s elite competition, with the outcome of the tie likely to define how Mikel Arteta’s side’s season is viewed.

However, they still have the chance to tighten their grip on second in the English top flight and ensure they aren’t dragged into the top five race.

With that in mind, here are some predictions for the rest of Arsenal’s season.

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Arsenal’s Champions League hopes

The route to the Champions League final has already been mapped out, and it’s certainly a difficult potential run to Munich for the Gunners.

If Arteta’s team manage to overcome Real Madrid, they’ll either face a reunion with Unai Emery in the semi-final, or take on a Paris Saint-Germain side that knocked out Liverpool.

This makes the possibility of the Gunners reaching the last two very difficult to envisage, particularly without a recognised striker.

However, Bukayo Saka should be available for both games against Los Blancos, giving the North Londoners’ attack a new lease of life.

Arsenal also boast one of the best defences in the competition, conceding just one goal from open play in the League Phase, and the fewest expected goals against in this period.

This defensive record bodes well for the knockout stages, and they certainly have the ability to contain a star-studded Real Madrid side over two legs, particularly if Arteta chooses to sit off Carlo Ancelotti’s team.

With that in mind, Arsenal will get past the reigning European champions but will come up short against PSG in the semi-final, ultimately ending their pursuit of major silverware this season.

Arsenal’s Premier League hopes

The title is almost certainly out of Arsenal’s reach, although there’s still plenty to play for domestically.

The Gunners need to ensure they’re not in the top five mix, and the cushion they have on those below them should mean they achieve this.

Nottingham Forest are only four points behind Arteta’s men, so pulling away from the East Midlanders and securing second place should be the main aim.

The fixture list is kind to Arsenal – the only top half side they have to play away from home is Liverpool, while Fulham, Bournemouth and Newcastle are the only top ten sides that visit the Emirates.

With that in mind, it’d be a surprise to see Arsenal not secure the runners-up position in the Premier League for the third successive season.

Two key players for Arsenal for the rest of this season

Saka’s return could potentially be monumental in reigniting what has been a meek attack for Arsenal in recent months.

The Englishman had scored nine goals and registered 13 assists in just 24 appearances prior to his injury – a level of output no one else in Arteta’s squad can replicate.

The team’s right-hand side dynamics have been off without the winger, and his return should elicit Martin Odegaard’s best form.

Meanwhile, Mikel Merino could prove to be one of Arsenal’s most pivotal players for the rest of the campaign.

Arteta has settled on Merino as his striker in the absence of Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus, with the Spanish boss clearly favouring the former Real Sociedad man’s aerial presence and pressing abilities over using Leandro Trossard in the role.

He’s scored four goals as a number nine thus far, and another five seems plausible – this would be an exceptional return for a midfielder playing up front.