Can the Gunners bounce back after last season's capitulation?
Pain. Mikel Arteta kept using the word over and over again. And it was easy to understand why. Arsenal had just beaten Everton 5-1 but they had been pipped to fourth place in the Premier League by bitter rivals Tottenham by just two points.
So, yeah, 'pain' pretty much covered how he, his players and the club's fans were feeling on May 22. Of course, what really hurt was that Arsenal had put themselves in an excellent position to secure a return to the Champions League for the first time since 2016.
After losing three games at the start of April, they reeled off four wins in a row, sparked by a dramatic 4-2 victory at Chelsea that typified the very best of Arteta's exciting young side.
Their worst traits, though, were evident at Tottenham on May 12, as they lost the game, and their discipline, in a 3-0 defeat. Four days later, they were beaten again, leaving Granit Xhaka questioning their character.
Those doubts over Arsenal's bottle remain going into the new season but there is an undeniable sense of optimism around the Emirates right now. The summer has gone better than expected, on and off the field.
So, could Arteta's team finally deliver on their potential? GOAL runs the rule over their 2022-23 Premier League prospects below…
(C)Getty ImagesSquad Goals
In terms of new signings, it's been a case of so far, so good for Arsenal. The club have once again backed Arteta in the transfer market, with some £115 million ($138m) spent on five new signings.
USMNT goalkeeper Matt Turner will provide quality cover for Aaron Ramsdale following Bernd Leno's inevitable departure, for Fulham, while Marquinhos could prove a future star, with the Brazilian already being tipped to make a similar impact in north London to Gabriel Martinelli.
However, the new signings the fans are focused on are Fabio Vieira, Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko – all of whom should add the kind of quality, versatility and depth that arguably cost the squad last season.
Arteta, though, has made it clear that he still believes Arsenal are short in a couple of hours. "The window is not closed," he said last week. "The squad is not closed."
Indeed, Arsenal's interest in Raphinha underlined that they would dearly love to bring in another winger, particularly if they can find a buyer for Nicolas Pepe, while Leicester midfielder Youri Tielemans remains a top target.
AdvertisementGettyThe Hopes
Hope is a dangerous thing, as any Arsenal or film fan would tell you. The Gunners spent big last summer but still didn't manage to break back into the top four, which once again affected their summer transfer plans.
However, the supporters have been rightly buoyed by the arrival of two players from Manchester City that are just entering their peak years. Neither Jesus nor Zinchenko may have been guaranteed starters at the Etihad but both were highly rated by Pep Guardiola and played pivotal roles in the club's latest title triumph.
They have both previously worked with Arteta and will bring a winning mentality to the Emirates, as well as a burning desire to establish themselves as stars in their preferred positions.
Elsewhere, Bukayo Saka is still at the club, which is a huge cause for optimism in itself. The England international is now a man in demand but, for now, he is happy where he is and appears perfectly placed to become a legend in north London.
Meanwhile, William Saliba's return to the club after a hugely successful stint at Marseille should mean that Arsenal will have no worries about their options in central defence, while the presence of Zinchenko means he can step in at left-back if required. However, the hope will be that Kieran Tierney can finally get over his injury issues…
GettyThe Fears
Where to begin? Arsenal's squad was decimated by a Covid-19 outbreak just before their opening fixture last season, which contributed to their slow start – so they could certainly do without any kind of repeat.
The fans will also be praying that new leader Martin Odegaard breaks the 'Captain's curse', which claimed another victim last season when Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang had a spectacular falling-out with Arteta, resulting in the striker being stripped of the armband and then offloaded to Barcelona.
The primary fear, though, is that the new signings flop and Arteta fails to build on the foundations he's laid at the Emirates. Indeed, it's hard to see how the Spaniard would survive further top-four disappointment, which, let's be honest, might also lead to Saka leaving for a club that can guarantee him Champions League football on an annual basis.
Getty ImagesThe Hero
Saka is undoubtedly the darling of the Emirates but Jesus has it in him to become an instant hero at Arsenal. We know that there are longstanding doubts about his finishing, and whether he is really a natural centre-forward. Even the man himself admitted last season that he was comfortable playing on the wing.
But that was at City, and now he is at Arsenal, who have been crying out for a mobile No.9 who both scores goals and presses relentlessly. Predicting how a transfer will pan out is a perilous proposition. There are so many variables. But this just looks like one of those rare moves that suits both parties perfectly.
With a World Cup coming up, Jesus wanted a chance to shine on a big stage. Well, he's now got the perfect platform to do so at Arsenal. And judging by his pre-season performances, he could prove one of the stars of the Premier League season.