In 2024 Arsenal came closer to lifting the Premier League title than they have done at any other time in the past 20 years.
Just two points shy of champions Manchester City, they revealed positive aspects of the team that previously weren’t there.
However, familiar themes have held them back.
As they mount another charge for the title, The Athletic looks back on 12 months of highs, lows and everything in between…
Best moment
Everyone will have their own moment, but David Raya’s two penalty shootout saves against Porto stand out for me.
In the context of the goalkeeper’s nervy start to life in north London, and Arsenal’s record in Champions League knockout games, it felt like a major step forward for player and club. Raya’s form had been improving before that point, but the confidence and assurance that came after those two saves in the round of 16, meaning Arsenal won 4-2 on penalties, has helped the team throughout 2024.
As for the night itself, that was arguably the best atmosphere at the Emirates this year. There was understandable tension in the quarter-final against Bayern Munich, but something was bubbling from minute one against Porto.
Raya celebrates after Arsenal beat Porto in a penalty shootout (Adrian Dennis/AFP/Getty Images)
Worst moment
Arsenal’s failure to win the Premier League last season does not come down to just one game, but the moment when momentum shifted was the 2-0 home defeat by Aston Villa.
Unai Emery’s side were the only team to beat Arsenal twice last season, and the manner of the defeat at home was draining. Arsenal were dominant in the first half, creating multiple scoring opportunities which were not converted.
Arsenal recovered from Villa’s late sucker-punch in the following games, winning their remaining six, but the damage had already been done.
Best game
Two games come to mind. Unsurprisingly, they were just after the January trip to Dubai.
The first is Arsenal’s 3-1 win over Liverpool. It was make or break. Arsenal were five points off then leaders Liverpool, which brought a foreboding feeling to the match.
To start fast, as Arsenal so often did in their first title race, and then overcome an unlucky equaliser was a turning point for their season. They went on to drop points just twice more, taking the battle for the Premier League trophy to the final day, while Liverpool finished seven points behind.
The other game was just a week later, away at West Ham, with Arsenal winning 6-0. It was the first — but not the last time — Arsenal emptied a stadium in 2024.
What made it sweeter was that after starting the game by booing Declan Rice, West Ham fans then gave their academy graduate an ovation off the pitch after he scored from outside the box.
Rice scores Arsenal’s sixth against his former club (Julian Finney/Getty Images)
Best player
There are obvious players who could get this — Bukayo Saka, Gabriel and Martin Odegaard would all be worthy — but as usual, I’ll use this section to highlight someone a bit different. After a nervy first few months, Raya came into his own in 2024 and is undoubtedly integral to this Arsenal side.
His upturn in form first came with quick distributions adding to Arsenal’s attacks just after their trip to Dubai and those penalty saves inspired more confidence, which carried through into the start of this season in which he has made numerous game-changing saves.
Raya is a big reason why Arsenal end the year third in the Champions League league phase and still amongst the Premier League title challengers. His arrival in 2023 appeared unnecessary, but 2024 has proven Arteta’s decision to upgrade on Aaron Ramsdale to be right.
GO DEEPER
What did Arteta mean when he said Raya ‘prevents things we don’t see’?
The stat that sums up 2024
Arsenal’s goals from corners could be an easy suggestion here, but as mentioned post-Fulham, they have been a consistent theme for four seasons now.
How dominant they can be away from home feels like a fresher development. In 2024, Arsenal scored five or more goals in six different away games in all competitions.
Arsenal 5+ goals away from home in 2024
| Date | Opponent | Result |
|---|---|---|
|
Feb 11, 24 |
6-0 |
|
|
Feb 17, 24 |
5-0 |
|
|
Mar 4, 24 |
6-0 |
|
|
Nov 26, 24 |
5-1 |
|
|
Nov 30, 24 |
5-2 |
|
|
Dec 21, 24 |
5-1 |
That beat the records of Sunderland in 1892 and Manchester City in 1937, both five, with no other English team doing so in six different away games.
They scored five goals in two successive away matches in November (against Sporting CP and West Ham), which was arguably the best football they have played this season. Arteta will hope that their five goals away to Crystal Palace will bring a return of the organised chaos that helped Arsenal’s attack flourish in the 2022-23 season.
Arsenal have scored six goals in a few games under Arteta, but are yet to score seven. Maybe that will change in 2025.
Favourite quote
Arteta has shown more personality in his press conferences this year, but that does not always mean he answers the question put to him. When he said Raya “prevents things we don’t see” I found it interesting, so asked Arteta what those things were. He replied, “Have a look at the game again, I’m not going to tell you.”
While some on social media thought it was Arteta putting someone in his place, I found it funny, took him at his word and wrote a piece, linked above, I felt was interesting off the back of it. Hopefully you guys did too, so thanks to Arteta and his more playful answers.
Arteta has kept journalists on their toes again this year (Gabriel Bouys/AFP/Getty Images)
Did that really happen?
This isn’t Arsenal-specific, but I still cannot believe the debates over putting Saka at left-back for England at the European Championship. Instead of changing the dynamics around one of the most potent forwards in the world, focus turned to a debate that should have been settled at the turn of the decade.
Regardless of all the noise, Saka turned up for England, equalising and scoring in the shootout against Switzerland and has continued to soar on Arsenal’s right wing this season.
Player to watch in 2025
In reality the two names are still Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly. The first half of the season has been encouraging for both, as they have featured in the Premier League and Champions League. Patience will still be necessary with both, but their first forays into senior football have been outstanding.
A wish for 2025
This time last year, the wish was to stop conceding needless goals. This year’s wish is somewhat similar, but with a wider scope.
Everybody knows Arsenal can be competitive in the title race, but they have held themselves back with moments of sloppiness and indecision in multiple games this season. Nobody can ask for absolute perfection, but the wish going into the New Year would be for the side to cut out moments that allow the opposition to gain momentum out of nothing.
Oh, fewer injuries would be nice too.
GO DEEPER
Jason Ayto, the Arsenal scout turned interim sporting director who has ‘something special’
(Top photo: Getty Images)
