What if this year was the right one? This is what Arsenal supporters dream of, who can no longer be satisfied with the places of honor (3 times second in the Premier League). Arsenal wants to do better than last season, with a runner-up place in the league and elimination in the semi-final of the Champions League, and it has given itself the means to do so this summer, with a quantitative and qualitative transfer window, supposed to cover the ups and downs of a season.
That’s good, the hazards are there. Mikel Arteta learned the painful news during this international break, while watching Brazil-Senegal. His defender Gabriel, an essential and particularly decisive element this season, was injured, and could be unavailable until the start of 2026. A huge blow certainly, but which must highlight the efforts made to offer qualitative bench depth. Recruited on the last day of the transfer window, Ecuadorian defender Piero Hincapie is Gabriel’s natural replacement at left central position. That said, so far, he has played 4 times (out of 5 appearances) as left back and has never started a Premier League match (2 appearances).
Absences at the worst time
Arteta could also refocus Riccardo Calafiori, who occupies the left lane, but he does not like one absence leading to two position changes. The last option would be the establishment of Cristhian Mosquera, another summer recruit, usual understudy for William Saliba in the right axis. In addition to the costly absence of Gabriel, Mikel Arteta still has to do without his long-term injured players, such as Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus, but also Martin Odegaard, still not recovered, nor his supersub this season Gabriel Martinelli.
Many absences therefore, at a time when the calendar is intensifying, and not just a little. In the space of 7 days, Arsenal will host Tottenham, for the hottest London derby, then that of Bayern Munich in the Champions League with whom they are struggling at the top of the Champions League standings, and finally a trip to Chelsea, contender for the title in England. A sequence which will put a severe test on the bodies and mentality of this team, which many imagine will win the title at the end of the season. It is in these kinds of moments that great epics are built, or that cracks appear. So, is this Arsenal’s season? We will clearly know more on November 30 at the end of the match against Chelsea.
