Arsenal Much Stronger to Challenge Manchester City This Season

Arsenal Much Stronger to Challenge Manchester City This Season

It has been an excellent summer for Arsenal as they have strengthened their squad ahead of the start of the 2023/24 Premier League campaign, as they bid to challenge champions Manchester City. The signings of Declan Rice, Kai Havertz, and Jurriën Timber represent a significant investment from the North London club.

Last season, Arsenal began April as the leaders in the Premier League standings, but they just faded in the final couple of months of the competition to give up that spot to Pep Guardiola’s side. Despite the disappointment of missing out on the top prize, Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta will have been delighted with the improvement his side showed from the previous campaign.

❤️ KAIIIIII

💪 THE GERMAN DIVERTS ODEGAARD'S GOAL-BOUND HEADER IN

🔴 2-2 🔵 (43) pic.twitter.com/1tCnJVqgIl

— Arsenal (@Arsenal) July 27, 2023

Injuries to key players did not help Arsenal in the second half of last season but the addition of Rice, Havertz, and Timber, players who have already made an impact in preseason friendlies, now gives they have depth in their squad. It should also ensure there is healthy competition for places.

Gunners Second Best in Betting Behind City

With the Premier League being one of the most popular sports leagues in the world, including in Zambia, there will be strong interest in betting on who will lift the title next season. Arsenal has been installed as the second favorite in the sports betting Zambia. They are 5.5 to go one place better than the 2022/23 campaign and win their first title since 2004. Those looking to snap up those odds can also pick up a 100% first deposit bonus of up to 2,000 ZMW.

Manchester City are looking to win a fourth straight league championship in the upcoming season. No team in the Premier League era has achieved that feat, and with City boss Pep Guardiola unlikely to allow his players to become complacent, the bookmakers make them the odds-on favorites at 1.67, despite the reinforcements Arsenal have added.

Liverpool could only finish fifth last season, their worse finish to a league campaign since 2016. The Merseyside club is 9.0 to bounce back and replicate what they achieved in 2020 by lifting the title. 

Rice Had Interest from Across Europe

Although Arsenal fans will be delighted to see Havertz and Timber in their team next season, it is the signing of Rice that is most likely to excite them. The former West Ham midfielder was the subject of a bidding war during the summer, and it was the Gunners who won the race for his signature thanks to a British record fee of $134 million.

Rice Had Interest from Across Europe

Although Arsenal fans will be delighted to see Havertz and Timber in their team next season, it is the signing of Rice that is most likely to excite them. The former West Ham midfielder was the subject of a bidding war during the summer, and it was the Gunners who won the race for his signature thanks to a British record fee of $134 million.

Arteta is looking to become the first Arsenal manager since  the legendary Frenchman Arsene Wenger to win the title for the club. He was desperate to land the talented midfielder and he convinced the board at his club to continue their pursuit of the player.

First minutes for The Arsenal. Thank you DC. 🙌 pic.twitter.com/ruEGpYo3AB

— Declan Rice (@_DeclanRice) July 20, 2023

Rice has been one of the most consistent performers in the Premier League over the last few years. He has over 200 Premier League appearances and he has been capped 43 times by England. He will be hoping to now take the next step in his career in North London by helping his new club win the title.

Arsenal begins their new Premier League campaign at home to Nottingham Forest on August 12.