Intended position of The Guardian writers 5th (Note: This is not necessarily Nick Ames’ prediction, but rather the average of our writers’ advice)
Last season’s position 5th
Odds of winning the league (via Oddschecker) 66-1
prospects
Last season, Arsenal promised a lot before falling apart in a way that hurt. Fifth place was significant progress, but they should have held on to a top four spot – a lack of depth, and possibly genuine quality, in key positions was an obvious reason and Mikel Arteta has spent his summer trying to correct it. His efforts have been richly rewarded. Although it cannot be denied that gabriel jesus Y Oleksandr Zinchenko they were deemed expendable by Manchester City, spending around £75m for a pair of proven winners who are entering their prime years seems exceptional value in today’s market. Jesus has been flying in the preseason and should add a directness to the center forward position that he has been missing for a long time.
William Saliba’s return from a one-off loan at Marseille won fewer headlines but, assuming he stays past the transfer deadline, it may still prove crucial given the obvious gap between Ben White, Gabriel Magalhães and last season’s alternatives in the central. Portuguese intriguer Fábio Vieira, signed from Porto, is also seen as a longer-term prospect but adds to Arteta’s creative options. More arrivals likely: If a viable broad alternative to Bukayo Saka can be secured, perhaps alongside the departure of Nicolas Pépé, Arsenal finally you will look well covered in almost all positions.
That could be enough to push them over the edge, although with Chelsea and Spurs making their own high-profile additions, the competition will be no less intense. The Emirates are usually a place of extremes, but this time the optimism seems justifiable.