Arsenal kicked off their Premier League campaign in the same commanding manner that characterized much of their previous season, securing a solid victory over Wolves.
The Gunners appeared composed and in full control throughout the match, earning three valuable points as they begin what they hope will be a serious push for the Premier League title.
This summer’s transfer window has been relatively quiet for Arsenal, with only two new players added to their roster—David Raya and Riccardo Calafiori.
However, because Raya was already part of the squad last season while on loan, manager Mikel Arteta opted for a lineup familiar to fans, leaving Calafiori on the bench for the match against Wolves.
Arsenal had intended to strengthen their squad further, particularly in the midfield area, but their pursuit of top target Martin Zubimendi was unsuccessful.
Additionally, there has been a flurry of speculation linking the club to various strikers, as questions continue to swirl around the roles and effectiveness of Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz in the attacking positions.
In his approach to Arsenal’s first match of the season, Arteta showed confidence in Havertz by starting him as the central striker.
The German international rewarded Arteta’s trust by opening the scoring just 25 minutes into the game.
Later in the match, Gabriel Jesus and Leandro Trossard were substituted in to provide additional firepower upfront.
Based on Arteta’s post-match comments, it seems that he is satisfied with the striking options currently available within the squad.
Speaking after the game, Arteta said, “I have faith in [Havertz], we have faith in [Gabriel Jesus].
Leandro [Trossard] has played in that position as well.
So we have different qualities in those roles, and the best thing we can do is trust the players we have and work on improving them.
They are incredibly talented and eager to succeed, and that’s where our focus lies.”
The question remains whether Arsenal’s decision not to aggressively pursue a new striker in the transfer market is a wise one.
There is a growing sense of optimism that this could finally be Arsenal’s year to win the Premier League title.
After coming so close in recent seasons and with Manchester City potentially weakened by the departure of Julian Alvarez, many believe the Gunners are well-positioned for a strong title challenge.
Arsenal addressed their left-back concerns with the signing of Calafiori, and the team now boasts high-quality options in almost every position on the field.
However, the striker position could still be a vulnerable area for the team.
Neither Havertz nor Jesus has consistently proven themselves as 20-goals-a-season players, and their lack of consistency in front of goal could become a significant issue in what is expected to be a very tight race for the title.
Arteta’s remarks suggest that Arsenal may not be making any big-name signings in the striker department during this transfer window.
Whether this decision turns out to be a calculated risk or a significant oversight is yet to be determined.
Ultimately, only time will reveal whether Arsenal’s current strategy was a mistake or a masterstroke.
