Can Arsenal go all the way in the league? (Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images)
The Premier League
It would be harsh to suggest that anything other than winning the 2023/24 Premier League trophy would be deemed a failure. However, after finishing second last term, and spending north of £200 million during the summer window, it is a reality that the club perhaps find themselves within.
In recent years, the players, and to some degree we as a fanbase, have relished our underdog status and it has been a key driving force behind the togetherness Arteta has been able to instil at the Emirates. But, given the context outlined above, it is extremely difficult to frame us as underdogs any longer.
During the summer window, we have both the highest total expenditure, as well as the highest net spend, of any Premier League side (at the time of writing), as per Squawka, and therefore must be expected to improve on our efforts of last season.
Given the stronghold Pep Guardiola’s City have had over the Premier League for many years now, as well as teams such as Man Utd, Liverpool and even Chelsea all likely to be improved outfits this season, to say we must win the league is to ignore the quality of the sides that we will be competing against.
However, another serious title challenge, one that is not undone with a repeat of last term’s end-of-season collapse, is the absolute bare minimum.
Continued on the next slide…
Squawka, and therefore must be expected to improve on our efforts of last season.</p>
<p>Given the stronghold Pep Guardiola’s City have had over the Premier League for many years now, as well as teams such as Man Utd, Liverpool and even Chelsea all likely to be improved outfits this season, to say we must win the league is to ignore the quality of the sides that we will be competing against.</p>
<p>However, another serious title challenge, one that is not undone with a repeat of last term’s end-of-season collapse, is the absolute bare minimum.</p>
<p><em>Continued on the next slide…</em></p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #c01f2f" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/08/11/what-arsenal-expectations-heading-into-season/2/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Champions League expectations </a>
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<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-135808" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/08/11/what-arsenal-expectations-heading-into-season/2/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1706,w_2560/https%3A%2F%2Fpaininthearsenal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F628060558-scaled.jpeg" alt="" width="2560" height="1706" srcset="https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/628060558-scaled.jpeg 2560w, https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/628060558-768x512.jpeg 768w, https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/628060558-1536x1024.jpeg 1536w, https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/628060558-2048x1365.jpeg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px"><p class="wp-caption-text">Arsenal haven’t been in the Champions League since 2017. (Photo credit should read PATRICK HERTZOG/AFP via Getty Images)</p>
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<h2>Champions League</h2>
<p>Finally, we find ourselves back in the Champions League after several long years of absence. But, given our lengthy spell away from the competition, it is hard to judge exactly what success looks like in Europe.</p>
<p>Of course, winning the tournament is the ultimate aim for every club, but we also have to be realistic. In my opinion, we should be aiming to reach the latter stages of the competition, that is to say, the quarter-finals or further, and avoid any shock exits.</p>
<p>That is, of course, easier said than done, and were we to be drawn against a club like Real Madrid or Man City in the first knockout round, then an early exit could be understandable.</p>
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<blockquote class="wp-embedded-content" data-secret="nbbVaTwmPN"><p><a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/08/11/what-arsenal-expectations-heading-into-season/2/"https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/08/09/pitas-arsenal-predictions-2023-24-season/">PITA’s Arsenal predictions for the 2023/24 season</a></p></blockquote>
<p><iframe class="wp-embedded-content" sandbox="allow-scripts" security="restricted" style="position: absolute; clip: rect(1px, 1px, 1px, 1px);" title="“PITA’s Arsenal predictions for the 2023/24 season” — Pain in the Arsenal" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/08/11/what-arsenal-expectations-heading-into-season/2/"https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/08/09/pitas-arsenal-predictions-2023-24-season/embed/#?secret=I7aT6XzIUN#?secret=nbbVaTwmPN" data-secret="nbbVaTwmPN" width="500" height="282" frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></p></div>
<p>In any case, a showing in the Champions League that proves we belong once again among Europe’s elite will ultimately be considered a success by large portions of the fanbase.</p><!—pageview_candidate—>">
