Arsenal's exciting title challenge last season may have ended in disappointment, but it has resulted in their most significant summer in the club's history, and they may not be done yet. After enduring six years without Champions League football, the Gunners are determined to secure their place in future editions by strengthening their squad and building on last season. They have acquired two midfielders from London rivals, West Ham United and Chelsea, with Declan Rice joining for a club-record fee of €116.6m, and Kai Havertz signing for €75m. 22-year-old Jurriën Timber has also been brought in from Ajax for €40m, bringing their total spend to €231.6m. This follows a trend of significant spending by the club after more than a decade of being less competitive in the transfer market. Last season, they invested €192m in transfers, and the previous season saw them spend €167m. According to [transfermarkt.com](https://www.transfermarkt.com/mikel-arteta/spielertransfers/trainer/47620), the purchase of Declan Rice has taken Mikel Arteta's spending at the club to an astonishing €685m.
Some believe that this recent spending spree shows the intention of club owner Stan Kroenke to continue his successful streak of winning titles with the teams he owns across various sports. In 2022, the American businessman celebrated major victories as the Los Angeles Rams won the Super Bowl (American Football), the Colorado Avalanche clinched the Stanley Cup (Hockey), and the Colorado Mammoth secured the National Lacrosse League Cup. 2023 was also memorable, as the Denver Nuggets claimed their first-ever NBA title after sweeping LeBron James and the LA Lakers 4-0 in the Conference Finals and defeating the Miami Heat 4-1 in the Finals. Given these achievements, it's understandable why Arsenal fans believe it's their turn to benefit from Kroenke's good fortune. With fellow Londoners, Chelsea and Tottenham undergoing major changes, one of our betting tips is the Gunners finish as the top London club.
To successfully wrestle the title off former boss Pep Guardiola's grasp, Mikel Arteta will need to accomplish a feat that has occurred only once in the history of European football. Manchester City's treble last season placed them among the elite group of eight teams who have achieved this distinction, marking the tenth occurrence overall. The first team to accomplish this remarkable feat was Celtic in the 1966/67 season and since then, Ajax (1971/72), PSV (1987/88), Manchester United (1998/99), Inter (2009/10), Barcelona (2008/09 & 2014/15), Bayern Munich (2012/13 & 2019/20), and most recently, Manchester City (2022/23) have followed suit. Out of the previous nine instances (excluding Manchester City, of course), only once did a treble-winning team fail to retain their domestic league title the following season, with Inter's side in 2009/10 was the sole exception. The Nerazzurri relinquished the Scudetto to their cross-town rivals, Milan, in the 2010/11 season. However, this outcome could be attributed to the departure of manager José Mourinho to Real Madrid during the summer just after their memorable triumph. At **3.40**, we provide the best odds for Manchester City to win the league **but** Arsenal to come second, just like last season. This presents an excellent opportunity for those interested in online sports betting, and we strongly recommend making the most of this offer.
The current wave of optimism sweeping through the Emirates Stadium will probably lead most Arsenal fans to disregard that piece of history, and they would be justified in doing so. Last season's pursuit of the title saw the emergence of several young talents within the Arsenal ranks. William Saliba, in particular, established himself as arguably the league's finest center-back, and their collapse in the run-in could be attributed to his unfortunate season-ending injury. Martin Ødegaard, captaining the team for the first time, enjoyed the most productive campaign of his young career, contributing 15 league goals and 7 assists. Gabriel Martinelli seemed to have finally overcome the injuries that had plagued him in the past, impressing with 15 league goals and 5 assists. However, the most promising standout was 21-year-old right-winger Bukayo Saka, who has successfully transitioned from a decent left-back to a devastating right winger reminiscent of another iconic North London figure, Gareth Bale. The English international delivered an impressive performance, recording 14 goals and 11 assists, with 5 goals and 2 assists against the traditional **Big Six**. Amidst an exceptional season for the Nigerian-born winger, there was also his highly successful individual World Cup campaign for England, where he scored 3 goals and provided 1 assist in 4 games, despite not playing a full 90 minutes in any of them. With a core group of players who have yet to reach their prime, coupled with the additions of three exceptional young talents in Declan Rice, Kai Havertz, and Jurriën Timber, it appears to be a matter of "when" rather than "if" Arsenal will bring an end to their league trophy drought. On the BetKing, we have a [Bukayo Saka specials](https://m.betking.com/sports/special-offer/leagues/special/bukayo-saka-specials) page with different betting offers across different bet types. With Arsenal’s return to the Champions League, we expect Saka to have a productive season in front of goal and our bet of the day is for him to score 5 or more goals which is set @7.50; high odds for an achievable figure.
Describing this coming season as a make or break one for Mikel Arteta would be a bit of a stretch, considering the unwavering faith shown in him by the club's upper management when the fans called for his sacking two seasons ago. However, it is undeniable that he will feel the pressure to deliver the title, given the significant investments made over the past three seasons. The current Arsenal team boasts an abundance of quality and versatile players across all positions, with sufficient backup options, which is a marked improvement from previous seasons. Moreover, the revised Financial Fair Play (FFP) rules, temporarily easing the financial burdens caused by the pandemic, mean that Arsenal's spending spree might continue without violating any Premier League or UEFA regulations. As some would put it, **"We have provided Mikel with eggs and all the necessary ingredients. It's time to cook up some delicious omelette."**
It is important to maintain a cautious optimism, though. While Manchester City may have lost a highly influential player in İlkay Gündoğan, and there are potential rumors of Riyad Mahrez departing for the Saudi Pro League, they still possess a squad filled with world-class talent, including Erling Haaland, Kevin De Bruyne, Rúben Dias, and Rodri, among others. They also have virtually unlimited resources that they can use between now and January to bolster their team if needed. Furthermore, they are managed by one of, if not **the** greatest manager in the sport's history; Pep Guardiola. A manager who has consistently showed a keen understanding of Mikel Arteta's vulnerabilities and has not hesitated to capitalize on them.