Arsenal were the surprise package of the 2022-23 season, there's no doubt about that. Mikel Arteta could only deliver a fifth-place finish the previous year, and no one expected them to go on and challenge for the Premier League title.
But after their best-ever start to a top-flight campaign, the Gunners got themselves into a great position to dethrone Manchester City, only to choke when it really mattered. After beating Leeds 4-1 at the Emirates Stadium on April 1, Arteta's side were sat eight points clear at the summit - albeit having played a game more than the champions. But they followed that result up with three successive draws, before being hammered by City away from home, and their dreams went up in smoke. Arsenal spent 248 days at the top of the table before their collapse - the most of any side in Premier League history to fail to lift the trophy.
“To this day, it still hurts me deeply, not having won the Premier League after spending 10 months fighting with City,” Arteta said in an interview with Spanish outlet Marca in June. “But that’s the sport. That said, what has been achieved with such a young team is worthwhile. That is clear to me too.”
The Spanish head coach is right to try and focus on the positives. Arsenal have come a long way in a short space of time and the future looks bright. But another trophyless season won't be acceptable next term, especially after the way the club have gone about their business in the summer transfer window so far.