Tactics Column: Injuries, transfers, lessons learned from 24-25

Arsenal were worse in the Premier League in 2024/25 than the previous season. That is obvious and it should go without saying.

Fewer wins, fewer points, fewer goals, fewer clean sheets than in 2023/24. And it wasn’t bad luck. Arsenal had less possession, took fewer shots, conceded more shots. There were fewer touches in the opposition box, and more opposition touches in the Arsenal box. I could go on. There is no need for debate: the league campaign was a step backwards.

But this team...