Arsenal FC 2023/24 Season Review: Progress, Precision, and Painful Margins

The 2023/24 season will be remembered as a pivotal chapter in Arsenal's modern resurgence. Under the leadership of Mikel Arteta, the Gunners continued their trajectory toward becoming serious title contenders, delivering an exceptional campaign full of attacking flair, defensive solidity, and a genuine fight for silverware. Yet, as the season closed, they were left reflecting on what might have been.

Premier League: So Close, Yet So Far

Arsenal finished second in the Premier League for the second year running, collecting an impressive 89 points (28 wins, 5 draws, 5 losses). With a remarkable +62 goal difference — thanks to 91 goals scored and only 29 conceded — they demonstrated both attacking depth and defensive resilience.

Their 91 league goals set a new club record in the Premier League era, and they conceded the fewest goals of any team in the division. However, despite these stats, the title eluded them by just two points, as Manchester City claimed the crown yet again. It was a cruel ending to a campaign where Arsenal looked, at times, like champions in waiting.

📊 Final Standings

• Position: 2nd
• Points: 89
• Record: 28 Wins – 5 Draws – 5 Losses
• Goals Scored: 91 (Club Premier League record)
• Goals Conceded: 29 (Best in the league)
• Goal Difference: +62
• Clean Sheets: 18 (League-high)

📅 Season Timeline

🔥 Strong Start

• Wins over Nottingham Forest, Manchester United (3–1), and Manchester City (1–0).
• Early season momentum placed them among the top contenders by October.

❄️ December Dip

• Dropped points in losses to Aston Villa and West Ham.
• Draws against Fulham and Liverpool.
• Only 10 points from a possible 27 in December dented their title push.

🚀 New Year Resurgence

• Massive wins: Crystal Palace (5–0), Sheffield United (6–0), Burnley (5–0).
• Eight consecutive league wins from January to March re-ignited the title race.

🏁 Final Push

• Continued dominance with wins over Chelsea (5–0) and Tottenham (3–2).
• Finished with a 2–1 victory over Everton on the final day.
• Ended just two points behind Manchester City.

🌟 Key Players

Bukayo Saka

• 20 goals in all competitions.
• Most prolific English Arsenal player since Theo Walcott.

Kai Havertz

• 13 league goals, 7 assists.
• Silenced early critics with a strong finish to the season.

Martin Ødegaard

• 11 goals and 11 assists.
• Central to Arsenal’s midfield creativity.

Leandro Trossard

• 12 league goals, key contributor in big games.

Declan Rice

• Played nearly every league minute.
• Anchored midfield and contributed several long-range goals.

William Saliba & Gabriel Magalhães

• Best centre-back duo in the league.
• Integral to Arsenal conceding only 29 goals.

🧠 Tactical Insights

• Set-Piece Dominance: 20 goals from set pieces (non-penalties), including 16 from corners — league best.
• Press and Possession: High pressing forced errors and enabled quick transitions.
• Squad Rotation: Depth allowed rotation without sacrificing performance during congested fixtures.

🎯 Defining Results

• Arsenal 3–1 Man United (Sep): Late drama showed mental resilience.
• Arsenal 1–0 Man City (Oct): Tactical discipline and a statement win.
• West Ham 2–0 Arsenal (Dec): A setback that highlighted winter struggles.
• Tottenham 2–3 Arsenal (Apr): North London Derby win under pressure.
• Arsenal 5–0 Chelsea (Apr): Complete domination over a rival.

Arsenal’s 2023/24 Premier League journey was a testament to the club’s evolution under Mikel Arteta. Though the title slipped away by the slimmest of margins, the campaign solidified Arsenal’s status as genuine title contenders. With the youngest average starting XI in the league, the Gunners look primed to compete at the highest level again in 2024/25.

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Champions League Return: Quarter-Final Run

Back in Europe’s elite competition for the first time in six years, Arsenal didn’t just participate — they competed. They topped Group B with authority and advanced to the quarter-finals, where they faced Bayern Munich. Despite a brave effort, Arsenal exited with a narrow 3–2 aggregate loss, showing promise but falling short of a semifinal breakthrough.

📌 Group Stage – Group B

Group B Teams: Arsenal, PSV Eindhoven, RC Lens, Sevilla
Final Position: 1st (13 points)

Match Results:

• 🏠 Arsenal 4–0 PSV Eindhoven (20 Sep 2023)
• 🛫 RC Lens 2–1 Arsenal (3 Oct 2023)
• 🛫 Sevilla 1–2 Arsenal (24 Oct 2023)
• 🏠 Arsenal 2–0 Sevilla (8 Nov 2023)
• 🏠 Arsenal 6–0 RC Lens (29 Nov 2023)
• 🛫 PSV Eindhoven 1–1 Arsenal (12 Dec 2023)

Final Group B Standings:

Position	Team	P	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
1	Arsenal	6	4	1	1	16	4	+12	13
2	PSV Eindhoven	6	2	3	1	9	12	-3	9
3	RC Lens	6	2	2	2	6	11	-5	8
4	Sevilla	6	0	2	4	6	10	-4	2

🏁 Knockout Rounds

🧊 Round of 16: Arsenal vs. FC Porto

• 🛫 FC Porto 1–0 Arsenal (21 Feb 2024)
• 🏠 Arsenal 1–0 FC Porto (12 Mar 2024)
  Aggregate: 1–1
  Arsenal won 4–2 on penalties

Arsenal showed composure and maturity to come back from a first-leg loss and held their nerve in the penalty shootout.

⚔️ Quarter-finals: Arsenal vs. Bayern Munich

• 🏠 Arsenal 2–2 Bayern Munich (9 Apr 2024)
• 🛫 Bayern Munich 1–0 Arsenal (17 Apr 2024)
  Aggregate: 3–2 to Bayern Munich

Despite a strong showing in the first leg, Arsenal were narrowly eliminated after a tight second leg in Munich.

🌟 Key Players

• Bukayo Saka – Vital attacking threat, scored and assisted across multiple rounds.
• Martin Ødegaard – Key playmaker, dictated tempo in crucial midfield battles.
• William Saliba & Gabriel – Core of a defensively solid backline, especially effective in the group stage.
• David Raya – Penalty hero against Porto and strong shot-stopper throughout.

🧠 Tactical Analysis

• Dynamic Attack: Arsenal scored 16 group-stage goals, including a 6–0 thrashing of Lens.
• Defensive Solidity: Just 4 goals conceded in the group — one of the best records.
• Mental Resilience: Overcame a tough first leg vs Porto and held firm under penalty pressure.
• Progressive Build-Up: Arteta’s philosophy continued in Europe with emphasis on possession, pressing, and wide rotations.

Arsenal's 2023/24 Champions League run was a successful reintroduction to Europe’s elite stage. Though they fell short in the quarter-finals, their performances — particularly in the group stage and Porto tie — demonstrated they belong at the top. With experience gained and a young squad, Arsenal look poised for even deeper runs in the near future.

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Domestic Cups: A Missed Opportunity

Cup runs were less kind to Arsenal this season:

• FA Cup: Third-round home defeat to Liverpool ended their hopes prematurely.
• Carabao Cup: Brief progress with a win over Brentford, but elimination came in the fourth round.
• Community Shield: Arsenal defeated Manchester City on penalties after a 1–1 draw — a symbolic result that hinted at their growth.

Standout Performers

Bukayo Saka

Scored 20 goals across all competitions — the first Gunner to do so since Aubameyang in 2019/20. His consistency and threat from the right flank have cemented his place among Europe’s elite wingers.

Leandro Trossard

Delivered 17 goals in all competitions, with 12 in the league. His versatility and eye for goal proved invaluable in tight matches.

Kai Havertz

Ended the league campaign with 13 goals and 7 assists. With 20 goal involvements, his debut season ended on a high and silenced many doubters.

Martin Ødegaard

Registered 11 goals and 11 assists. His vision and control in midfield were central to Arsenal’s creative play.

Declan Rice

A marquee signing who lived up to the hype. Played nearly every minute in the league and was a critical shield in front of the back four.

A Solid Defensive Foundation

Perhaps most impressive was Arsenal’s defense. With just 29 goals conceded in the league, William Saliba and Gabriel formed arguably the best centre-back pairing in the country. David Raya claimed a share of the Golden Glove with 13 clean sheets.

The Verdict: A Season to Build On

Arsenal’s 2023/24 season will be viewed as both a success and a stepping stone. They pushed the defending champions to the wire, showcased tremendous depth and tactical evolution, and made their mark in Europe.

Still, the sting of missing out on the league title — especially after leading for stretches — will linger. The early domestic cup exits also suggest there’s work to do in navigating high-pressure knockouts.

With a few key additions, particularly in the striker department, Arsenal look ready to go again — this time with even sharper ambitions.