Archive · 20 Aug 2026
Arsenal Face Rare Challenge In Premier League Title Defence
Arsenal are trying to win the Premier League again after lifting the trophy last season.
Doing that is very difficult, because only three managers have previously defended the title.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta prefers to call this “attacking the title.”
His team looks strong and has one of the league’s best midfields.
However, the players played 63 matches last season, which could lead to tiredness or injuries.
Several important players have had injury problems, and defender William Saliba is currently injured.
Arsenal also scored fewer goals than any other recent title-winning team mentioned in the article.
A new striker could help them, but the season is not guaranteed to be successful.
Only three managers—Alex Ferguson, Pep Guardiola and José Mourinho—have defended a Premier League title.
Arsenal enter the season as favourites after strengthening their squad and winning the Community Shield.
Mikel Arteta’s side played 63 matches last season, raising concerns about fatigue and injuries.
Arsenal’s 71 league goals last season were the fewest by a Premier League champion since Leicester City in 2015-16.
A stronger forward line could be crucial, while Arsenal’s deep midfield offers tactical flexibility.
- Who
- Arsenal, managed by Mikel Arteta, are seeking to retain the Premier League title.
- What
- Arsenal are attempting to become only the fourth manager-led team in the Premier League era to defend the championship.
- When
- The upcoming Premier League season, following Arsenal’s previous title-winning campaign and Community Shield victory.
- Where
- The English Premier League; the Community Shield fixture was played in Cardiff.
- Why
- Arsenal have strong squad foundations and a deep midfield, but must overcome the historical difficulty of defending a title, along with fatigue, injuries and concerns about scoring.
Reasons For Arsenal Optimism
Reasons For Arsenal Caution
Squad strength
Reasons For Arsenal Optimism
Arsenal have strengthened their squad, possess arguably the Premier League’s strongest midfield and may still make another major signing.
Reasons For Arsenal Caution
Their forward line is less well covered than their midfield and defence after missing out on preferred targets.
Momentum and experience
Reasons For Arsenal Optimism
Arteta and his players know the difficulty of winning the title, and Arsenal’s Community Shield performance suggested they can be authoritative and entertaining.
Reasons For Arsenal Caution
The article warns that a strong Community Shield display does not guarantee league success.
Maintaining performance
Reasons For Arsenal Optimism
A versatile midfield featuring Declan Rice, Bruno Guimarães, Eberechi Eze, Martín Zubimendi, Mikel Merino and Myles Lewis-Skelly could compensate for weaknesses elsewhere.
Reasons For Arsenal Caution
Arsenal face possible fatigue after 63 matches, injury risks among key players and a need for a more prolific scorer after recording only 71 league goals.
- Previous title defenders
- Alex Ferguson, Pep Guardiola and José Mourinho are the only managers identified as having defended a Premier League title.
- Arsenal manager
- Mikel Arteta
- Recent workload
- Arsenal played 63 matches last season.
- League goals
- Arsenal scored 71 league goals last season, including 42 from open play.
- Top scorer
- Viktor Gyökeres led Arsenal’s scoring with 15 goals.
- Injury concern
- William Saliba is nursing a long-term injury; Bukayo Saka, Martin Ødegaard, Ben White and Kai Havertz are described as injury-prone.
- Community Shield
- Arsenal beat Manchester City in the Community Shield, according to the article.