Arsenal 2023/24 season preview: Key players, summer transfers, squad numbers & predictions

Arsenal caught the rest of the Premier League off guard when they emerged as sudden title contenders in 2022/23 having failed to secure Champions League football the season prior.

The Mikel Arteta project is in full swing and the club's stellar campaign has undoubtedly vindicated those who backed the Spaniard from the outset. Arteta has the potential to lead Arsenal into a prosperous new dawn, but he'll have to manage heightened expectations in 2023/24.

The Gunners have spent big this summer, and some believe they may be able to topple Manchester City at the Premier League summit. There's still plenty of work to do, however.

Here's 90min's preview of Arsenal's 2023/24 season.

Arsenal's performance last five seasons

Summer transfers

Ins:

• Kai Havertz (FW) - Chelsea - £65m
• Declan Rice (MF) - West Ham - £105m
• Jurrien Timber (DF) - Ajax - £34m

Outs:

• Ainsley Maitland-Niles - released
• Pablo Mari - Monza - £6m
• Granit Xhaka - Bayer Leverkusen - £21.4m
• Auston Trusty - Sheffield United - £5m

Squad numbers

*Numbers subject to change before end of transfer window

Key players

Star player

Arsenal possess a seriously talented squad, but their star man remains their majestic wide man Bukayo Saka.

The Gunners seemingly cannot function without their starboy, who performs such an imperative function in Arteta's system. He appeared in every single Premier League game last season, starting 37 of Arsenal's 38 league games. As a result, Saka's numbers were once again impressive. He scored 14 times in the Premier League and added 11 assists.

The winger's firmly established himself as one of the Premier League's best and some might argue he's the best right winger in the world right now. The 21-year-old also excelled for his country during the mid-season World Cup, and he's bound to blossom under the bright lights next season with the Gunners returning to the Champions League.

One to watch

Declan Rice will be put under a microscope given how much Arsenal paid to sign the West Ham captain, but fellow new arrival Jurrien Timber could add another dimension to Arteta's Gunners.

Arsenal prised the defender away from Ajax for a bargain price given his profile, and he's got the potential to quickly develop into a protagonist in north London. While he won't find it easy breaking into the starting XI, his talent means he'll find it hard to relinquish his status as a starter once he gets an opportunity.

Timber appears to be the ultimate Arteta defender given his versatility, technical proficiency, and athleticism. He can line up across the back four, and the Arsenal boss is bound to have plenty of fun with him positionally.

2023/24 kits

Home kit

Away kit

Third kit

Premier League prediction

Manchester City are still very much the team to beat in the Premier League, and it'll be mightily tough for Arsenal to usurp the Cityzens despite the experienced they gained in 2022/23 and their summer business so far.

The Gunners are bound to be a more unpredictable unit tactically next season, but such variance is necessary if they're to improve. However, the likes of Manchester United and Liverpool will enter 2023/24 with a renewed sense of purpose, and they could perhaps complicate Arsenal's title tilt.

While there's reason to believe the Gunners will go again and this time topple the champions, the addition of Champions League football to their schedule could compromise their domestic form at crucial moments. Another strong season is expected, though.

Arsenal 2023/24 Premier League prediction - 2nd

READ MORE OF 90MIN'S SEASON PREVIEWS: A-F

READ MORE OF 90MIN'S SEASON PREVIEWS: L-W