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As we gear up for the 2024-25 season, Arsenal will be looking to improve on last season’s performance. The anticipation from the Emirates faithful is palpable. This is hardly surprising, especially coming off the back of two nearly-perfect seasons in the Premier League and a relatively successful return to the Champions League.
The Gunners will be hoping that their summer recruitments and returning players can give them the push needed to topple the seemingly insurmountable Manchester City domestically. On the continental front, they will hope to cross the quarter-final hurdle.
Among Mikel Arteta’s lads, we will be looking at five players who might play key roles at Arsenal in the upcoming season.
5 Arsenal players who could shine in the 2024-25 Premier League season
#5 Kai Havertz
Despite a difficult start last season, Kai Havertz's popularity grew among Arsenal fans. His upturn in form coincided with his switch from playing in midfield to being used as a false 9 of sorts. Soon enough, his movement and work rate helped create several chances for his teammates.
With 14 goals and seven assists in 51 games last season, all eyes will be on Havertz to deliver even more in the coming season. The pressure will increase, especially if Arsenal end up without a pure striker this summer window.
#4 Gabriel Martinelli
2023-24 was a disappointing season for Gabriel Martinelli, failing to come close to his career best of 21 direct goal contributions in the 2022-23 season. He only managed 13 direct goal contributions across all competitions in 2023-24.
Part of the problem, though, was injuries that blighted his campaign and saw Leandro Trossard often favored over the Brazilian. A few fans even called for the signing of wonderkid Nico Williams to replace him. Martinelli will be raring to go out there and remind Arsenal fans that he can score.
#3 Declan Rice
Declan Rice was one of Arsenal’s outright best players last season. He hit the ground running and hardly felt like a new signing for the club with his leadership, tireless running, and tough tackling. This didn't affect his attacking output, as he still contributed seven goals and 10 assists in 51 outings.
He was rotated around the positions in the midfield throughout the season, depending on Mikel Arteta's strategies. In the next season, though, he will be hoping to finally cement one position and build on his performance from last season.
#2 Jurrien Timber
Jurrien Timber had Arsenal fans raving after only a few pre-season matches and a performance against Manchester City in the Community Shield last season. He was initially signed to provide competition for Ben White and William Saliba. However, Timber displaced Oleksandr Zinchenko from left-back and made the position his.
Unfortunately, an ACL injury ruined his plans in his first EPL match of the season. He ended up missing the rest of the season, making his return at the very end. All eyes will be on Timber who will be eager to earn back his place, especially with the signing of Riccardo Calafiori bringing in more competition.
#1 Bukayo Saka
The Starboy himself; his amazing performances and personal best of 20 goals and 14 assists in 47 games last season cemented him as one of the best right-wingers in the Premier League. Despite this, Bukayo Saka didn’t make it into Arsenal’s official top three players of the season, voted by fans.
Coming off the back of a solid Euros campaign on a personal level (one goal and one assist in seven appearances), the England international will hopefully have performances in the bag to remind Arsenal fans who their shining light is. He will now also be shining on behalf of fellow Hale End starlet, Emile Smith Rowe, who has left the club to get more playing time.
