Days away from the 2026/27 kickoff and Arsenal already have a trophy. Sunday’s Community Shield victory over Manchester City triggered warning klaxons around the Premier League. As humbling the 3-0 defeat was to the Cityzens, it was even more revealing about Arsenal’s strength, hunger and intentions for the upcoming season. They don’t look content to sit on their laurels after last season’s triumph.
Twenty seconds. That’s all it took for a rampaging Myles Lewis-Skelly to thread a perfect through-ball into Riccardo Calafiori and Arsenal’s account was open for business. From the opening whistle Arsenal completed eight passes between seven different players; City’s sole touch was to block a pass right back to the Gunners.
So yes, all signs are pointing to Arsenal lifting at least second in late May. And they might even hoist some more silverware along the way.
Mikel Arteta
As the longest tenured manager in the Premier League (he’s on 6 years & 8 months), Arteta has an acute understanding of a) how lucky he was that Arsenal’s owners stood by him after three straight second-place finishes, and b) how anything else than a repeat might see him out of a job. If you thought smiles and levity were in short supply last season, get ready for even more next-level Arteta scowls.
Summer Moves
With two weeks remaining before the transfer window slams shut, Arsenal have made the joint fewest moves of all Premier League clubs. Four outcoming; five incoming. A total net spend of just under $152 million.
The Gunners will face Christian Nørgaard when they host Everton on October 24th. No doubt all the warm fuzzies from that reunion will be swept away once the whistle blows. There are few who would argue that Bruno Guimarães is not an upgrade over Leandro Trossard, if only for grit, tenacity and force-of-will. His strip-tackle of Phil Foden Sunday is all the proof you need on that front. Piero Hincapié is head-and-shoulders better than the outgoing Jakub Kiwior at center-back. Christos Tzolis will need some time to adjust to the Premier League’s pace and rigor, but few doubt he will thrive. Picking up Illan Meslier on a free was smart business.
While there were rumblings around young Myles Lewis-Skelly possibly leaving, his scintillating performance on Sunday should make Mikel Arteta think twice about parting ways. At least sell him abroad where he can’t hurt you!
The one remaining question mark surrounds Gabriel Jesus. Arsenal is known to be engaged in discussions with Palmeiras about a possible move, and we reported that Vitor Roque could also be a part of these negotiations.
Who to Watch
Max Dowman
The sixteen year-old wunderkind registered one Premier League start last season, against Crystal Palace in the final match. In total, he played 477 first team minutes over 13 games in all competitions, earning a goal and an assist. But this is the year where he could truly break through, and not just be a statistical anomaly or youthful freak. With Arsenal’s probable game count looking to once again exceed 60, and a number of players still recovering from World Cup rigors, Dowman should get plenty of opportunities.
Piero Hincapié
William Saliba’s injury could have an oversized impact on Arsenal’s early season. Last year, the Gunners dominated with a stifling league-best defense, and Saliba was critical to that. Enter the Ecuadorian Hincapié, who was last seen storming off the Azteca pitch in the Round of 32 loss to Mexico after receiving a red card for covering his mouth while speaking to an opponent. Fans will hope he learned his lesson and keep his cool, while also keeping the sheets clean.
Season Kickoff
Emirates will host the first fixture of the season, and Arsenal will welcome Coventry City for a Friday evening showdown. Frank Lampard’s high flying Sky Blues are only eight years removed from a season spent languishing down in League Two. Their rocketing rise through the association will face a harsh reality in the form of Arteta’s champions. It’s sure to be an interesting match, if only to see whether Coventry can offer any resistance, and for how long.
