What Happened to Arsenal Football Club?

Arsenal Football Club has undergone a transformative period under the management of Mikel Arteta, evolving from a team outside the Champions League places to a consistent title challenger and, ultimately, a Premier League champion. The 2023-2024 season saw Arsenal finish second in the Premier League for the second consecutive year, accumulating an impressive 89 points and setting a new club record of 91 league goals, while also conceding the fewest goals in the division. Despite a strong showing, the title eluded them by just two points to Manchester City.

The 2024-2025 season continued this trajectory of strong domestic performance, with Arsenal finishing as Premier League runners-up for the third season in a row, this time behind Liverpool. However, they made significant strides in European competition, reaching the semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League for the first time since 2008-2009, notably defeating holders Real Madrid before falling to Paris Saint-Germain. Key transfers during this period included the permanent signing of David Raya and the acquisition of players like Mikel Merino from Real Sociedad in 2024 for nearly £32 million, who proved to be a versatile asset.

The pinnacle of this resurgence arrived in the 2025-2026 season when Arsenal were crowned Premier League champions on May 19, 2026, with a game to spare, after Manchester City drew 1-1 with Bournemouth. This marked their first league title since the 'Invincibles' season of 2003-2004 and their 14th top-flight championship overall. In the same season, they also reached the UEFA Champions League final, ultimately finishing as runners-up to Paris Saint-Germain in Budapest. The club's financial health has also seen significant improvement, with revenues reaching a club record of £691 million in the 2024-2025 season, up from £616.6 million the previous year. Projected revenues for the 2025-2026 season were even higher, potentially surpassing €880 million and placing Arsenal among the top three richest football clubs globally.

As of October 5, 2026, Mikel Arteta's leadership has been further cemented with a new long-term contract extension, expected to keep him at the club until at least 2030, recognizing his success in transforming Arsenal into champions. The club has also made strategic moves in the transfer market for the 2026-2027 season, bringing in players like Bruno Guimarães, Piero Hincapié, and Eberechi Eze, while seeing departures such as Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Jesus. In terms of infrastructure, Arsenal has reportedly shelved plans for a major expansion of the Emirates Stadium, opting instead to focus on incremental improvements to the existing facilities and matchday experience. The club continues to be owned by Kroenke Sports & Entertainment (KSE), with Stan Kroenke's net worth reportedly increasing significantly.