How can Arsenal win the Premier League title next season?

It was those pesky Detroit Pistons for Michael Jordan. Jordan’s upstart Chicago Bulls were twice denied access to the NBA Finals by the most brutish basketball outfit of their time. 

The Pistons, after beating the Bulls, went on to win two championships before the Bulls, led by Phil Jackson, who oversaw a more cohesive attacking approach that didn’t solely rely on the magic of one superstar, swept their arch-nemesis in the 1991 Eastern Conference Finals before brushing aside Magic Johnson’s LA Lakers in the Finals 4-1.

Detroit was the hump Jordan needed to overcome to ascend to true greatness. Once he and the Bulls broke down that barrier, the sky was the limit. Six championships ensued in the space of eight years.

Now, we cannot draw direct comparisons between Jordan’s Bulls at the turn of the 90s and Mikel Arteta’s young Arsenal side that just come pretty close to winning their first league title in 19 years. 2022/23 was the Gunners’ first shot at the big one under their exciting young coach, but they, like Jordan’s Bulls, have got a juggernaut of a rival to usurp.

Arsenal have not beaten Manchester City in a Premier League match since 2015. In fact, they’ve lost their last 12 league meetings against Pep Guardiola’s monopolisers. Two defeats to the Citizens in 2022/23 proved critical in Arsenal’s eventual second-place finish as they ended the season five points adrift of the champions. While far less brutal than Chuck Daly’s Pistons, Pep Guardiola’s physical but swashbuckling City outfit are the mammoth hurdle Arteta’s Gunners must overcome if they’re to win the Premier League title.

How can Arsenal win the Premier League next season?

2022/23 was a season laden with promise, but Arsenal must kick-on further if they’re to end 2023/24 campaign as champions. Here’s how they can win the Premier League title next season.

1. Nail the summer transfer window

Edu Gaspar has done an excellent job of building an Arsenal side capable of competing for the highest honours. Mikel Arteta’s favoured XI will fancy their chances against any side in Europe.

Savvy recruitment has allowed Arteta’s project to develop rapidly after a stuttering start, and further astuteness is required this summer. The Gunners have got to be aggressive in the transfer window if they’re to build on 2022/23 and potentially usurp City next season.

The signature of Declan Rice is imperative, but his addition would likely rule out a move for Moises Caicedo given Brighton’s valuation. Nevertheless, another midfielder will be targeted with Granit Xhaka poised to depart.

Crucially, though, Arsenal require greater depth across the board. Bukayo Saka needs stiffer competition for minutes with the Gunners returning to the Champions League, while William Saliba and Takehiro Tomiyasu’s injuries exposed the club’s lack of depth in defence down the stretch. A new left-back may also be in order should Kieran Tierney depart.

Overall, a busy summer is in order at the Emirates, and Arsenal must get it right on all counts if they’re to mount a challenge next term.

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