Arsenal face a tough task in mounting another Premier League title push after a double dose of heartbreak.
In the 2022/23 season, Arsenal emerged as unexpected title contenders. Mikel Arteta’s side led the league for the majority of the campaign, but faltered during the run-in, allowing Manchester City to storm past them to glory.
Last time around, the Gunners made clear progress, as they were able to take the title race right down to the wire. Ultimately, though, on the final of the Premier League campaign they were pipped to the post by Pep Guardiola’s men again.
In the wake of that most recent disappointment, Arteta assured Arsenal fans that silverware is on the way. However, shaking off the pain of having come so close, yet so far will be a difficult mental hurdle for his players to overcome.
Graeme Le Saux offers Arsenal blueprint to beating Man City
Graeme Le Saux was part of the Blackburn Rovers side that finished as runners up behind Manchester United in the 1993/34 season, having at one point looked like favourites to take the crown themselves.
The following season they were able to bounce back and get their hands on the trophy.
Speaking to The Athletic, the former full-back has now told the Gunners exactly what they need to do to replicate Blackburn Rovers’ success and not let last season’s outcome hold them back this time around.
The 55-year-old said: “If I’m in that Arsenal dressing room now, there is no way I am looking back. I’d be thinking, ‘We’ve learned again, I feel more comfortable with these guys and these tactics, let’s take all the good stuff and improve again’. Then you put City under ridiculous pressure to (try to) win five in a row.”
To an extent, Arteta does need to convince his players to entirely forget about last season. However, there are positives they can take from the campaign and keep in mind, such as the fact that they went unbeaten against Manchester City home and away in the Premier League.
Can Arsenal win the league?
Manchester City will once again be favourites heading into the new season, but the North London club have every reason to believe that they can achieve their aim. Certainly, they have their backers, too.
Three ESPN pundits have tipped Arsenal for the title, including Stewart Robson, who once played for the club.
On top of that, ex-Tottenham Hotspur manager Harry Redknapp has also predicted that Arsenal will triumph.
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