2023–24 Arsenal F.C. season

Arsenal F.C.

2023–24 season
Arsenal playing against Major League Soccer's All-Stars during pre-season
Owner	Kroenke Sports & Entertainment
Co-chairmen	Stan Kroenke Josh Kroenke
Manager	Mikel Arteta
Stadium	Emirates Stadium
Premier League	1st
FA Cup	Third round
EFL Cup	Fourth round
FA Community Shield	Winners
UEFA Champions League	Quarter-finals
Top goalscorer	League: Bukayo Saka (14) All: Bukayo Saka (18)
Highest home attendance	60,374 v Liverpool (4 February 2024, Premier League)
Lowest home attendance	58,538 v Liverpool (7 January 2024, FA Cup)
Average home league attendance	60,225
Biggest win	6–0 v Lens (Home, 29 November 2023, UEFA Champions League) 6–0 v West Ham United (Away, 11 February 2024, Premier League) 6–0 v Sheffield United (Away, 4 March 2024, Premier League)
Biggest defeat	1–3 v West Ham United (Away, 1 November 2023, EFL Cup) 0–2 v West Ham United (Home, 28 December 2023, Premier League) 0–2 v Liverpool (Home, 7 January 2024, FA Cup) 0–2 v Aston Villa (Home, 14 April 2024, Premier League)
Home colours Away colours Third colours
← 2022–23 2024–25 →
All statistics correct as of 23 April 2024.

The 2023–24 season is Arsenal Football Club's 32nd season in the Premier League, their 98th consecutive season in the top flight of English football, and 107th season in the top flight overall.^[1][2] In addition to the domestic league, Arsenal also participated in this season's editions of the FA Cup, EFL Cup, FA Community Shield and UEFA Champions League, returning to the premier European competition after a six-year absence. The season covers the period from 1 July 2023 to 30 June 2024.

Review

Background

The 2022–23 campaign was a breakthrough season for Arsenal.^[3] Their primary goal at the start of the campaign was to qualify for next season's UEFA Champions League.^[4] At the halfway stage of the league season, the Gunners recorded their best-ever start to a Premier League campaign with 16 wins, two draws, one loss and 50 points from the first 19 games.^[3] Arsenal led the league for a long time, but ultimately their challenge collapsed, as they collected just twelve points from their final nine matches (three wins, three draws and three losses).^[3] Mikel Arteta's side finished second in the Premier League, returning to Champions League football for the first time since the 2016–17 season.^[4]

Arsenal were the second-youngest team in the 2022–23 Premier League with an average starting age of 25 years and 52 days, eleven days older than relegated Southampton, and two years and 201 days younger than champions Manchester City.^[5] Four first-team players who were aged 24 or under on 1 July 2022 – Gabriel Magalhães, Gabriel Martinelli, Aaron Ramsdale and Bukayo Saka – signed new long-term contracts with the club during the campaign.^[6]

Pre-season

It was reported on 3 July 2023 that some first-team players who were not in action for their respective countries since the end of the last campaign were back to the London Colney training ground for pre-season training.^[7]

Arsenal confirmed on 6 July that English forward and academy graduate Reiss Nelson had signed a new long-term contract.^[8][9] On the next day the Gunners announced that French defender William Saliba had penned a new long-term contract,^[10] and would wear the number 2 shirt from the 2023–24 season.^[11]

Two days later, Arteta's side travelled to Germany for a mini training camp at Adidas headquarters in Herzogenaurach.^[12][13] Three academy players – Myles Lewis-Skelly, Ethan Nwaneri and Reuell Walters – were with the first-team squad.^[14] The Gunners faced 2. Bundesliga side 1. FC Nürnberg at Max-Morlock-Stadion in Nuremberg on 13 July. Saliba recovered from a back injury that had ruled him out of Arsenal's final eleven matches of the last campaign to return to the starting line-up. Saka scored a goal on 7 minutes; but the Gunners were unable to double the lead, and an own goal from Jorginho in the second half ensured that the hosts claimed a 1–1 draw. The game also saw new signing and Germany international Kai Havertz make his non-competitive debut for Arsenal as a substitute at the break.^[15][16] They returned to England on the next day.

On 16 July, manager Arteta named a 29-man squad for the trip to the United States where they would play three more friendlies. The 18-year-old forward Amario Cozier-Duberry was the only academy player to travel with the first team to the US.^[17]

Three days later, Arsenal faced Major League Soccer's All-Stars at Audi Field in Washington. Gabriel Jesus and Leandro Trossard gave the Gunners a 2–0 lead at half-time. Jorginho scored a penalty after the restart. New signings Declan Rice and Jurriën Timber made their non-competitive debuts for the club on 65 minutes. Martinelli and Havertz added goals in the closing stages, making the score 5–0.^[18][19]

The Gunners took on Premier League side Manchester United at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey on 22 July. Bruno Fernandes scored for United on 30 minutes with a long-range effort, although Arsenal goalkeeper Ramsdale could have done better. United's lead was doubled in the 37th minute through Jadon Sancho's finish. The friendly also featured a post-match penalty shootout. The Gunners lost that too after Fábio Vieira skied his effort over the crossbar.^[20][21]

On 26 July, Arsenal played their third and final game of the 10-day USA tour against La Liga side Barcelona at SoFi Stadium, the home of the National Football League's Los Angeles Rams which is also owned by Kroenke Sports and Entertainment. Barcelona took the lead on 7 minutes through Robert Lewandowski. Saka levelled for the Gunners in the 13th minute, but he then sent a penalty wide. Barcelona reclaimed the lead through a deflected Raphinha free-kick in the 34th minute. Arteta's side drew level again on 43 minutes through Havertz. Trossard put the Gunners ahead in the 55th minute, then added his second on 78 minutes. Ferran Torres pulled one back for Barcelona on 88 minutes. Just a minute later, Vieira scored from 25 yards, helping the Gunners win 5–3.^[22][23] Arteta's team flew back to London straight after the game.

On 28 July, Arsenal unveiled a bronze statue of former manager Arsène Wenger outside the North Bank Stand of Emirates Stadium. The statue, created by sculptor Jim Guy, is 3.5 metres (11 feet 6 inches) high, and depicts Wenger lifting the Premier League trophy. He joined five other Arsenal legends with statues outside the stadium: Tony Adams, Dennis Bergkamp, Herbert Chapman, Ken Friar and Thierry Henry.^[24][25]

The Gunners finished their pre-season campaign by beating Ligue 1 side Monaco 5–4 on penalties following a 1–1 draw at home to claim the 2023 Emirates Cup on 2 August. Youssouf Fofana scored for the visitors after the half-hour mark. Arsenal levelled in the 43rd minute through Eddie Nketiah. There were no further goals in the second half, and the game went to a penalty shootout. Gabriel Magalhães netted the winning spot-kick after Ramsdale saved Takumi Minamino's effort.^[26][27] In the post-match press conference, Arteta confirmed that Gabriel Jesus had "some discomfort" in his right knee for the past few weeks and had undergone surgery to the knee. He would be out for a few weeks.^[26]

First-team transfers (summer transfer window)

The English football summer transfer window ran from 14 June to 1 September 2023. The Gunners confirmed on 16 June that they were to release thirteen players,^[28] one of whom, Ainsley Maitland-Niles, had made 132 appearances for Arsenal's first-team in all competitions.^[29]

Havertz playing for Chelsea in 2020

Timber playing for Ajax in April 2023

Rice warming up for West Ham United in 2021

Raya playing for Brentford in 2021

Arsenal announced their first signing of the summer on 28 June with 24-year-old Germany international Kai Havertz joining the club on a long-term contract from Premier League side Chelsea,^[30] for a reported fee of £62 million plus £3 million in add-ons.^[31] He would wear the number 29 shirt.^[32]

On 30 June, the Gunners confirmed that Spanish defender Pablo Marí, who had spent the entire last season on loan with Serie A side Monza, joined the Italian team on a permanent transfer,^[33][34] for a previously agreed fee reported to be €7 million (£6 million).^[35]

It was announced on 6 July that Swiss midfielder and Arsenal's vice-captain Granit Xhaka,^[36] who had made 297 appearances in all competitions and won two FA Cups with the club, joined Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen on a permanent transfer for a reported fee of €25 million (£21.4 million).^[37][38]

On 14 July, the Gunners confirmed that they had signed 22-year-old Dutch defender Jurriën Timber from Eredivisie side Ajax.^[39] The transfer fee was reported to be worth an initial £34.3 million (€40 million), which could rise to £38.6 million (€45 million) with add-ons.^[40] He was assigned the number 12 shirt.^[41] Timber has been an Arsenal fan since he was a child.^[42]

Arsenal announced on 15 July that 24-year-old English midfielder Declan Rice, who was born and raised in London, had joined the club from Premier League side West Ham United on a long-term contract,^[43][44] and would wear the number 41 shirt.^[45] It was reported that the transfer fee was an initial £100 million plus £5 million in add-ons,^[43][44] breaking Arsenal's transfer record fee paid for a player by £33 million,^[46] and making him the most expensive English player^[44] – the initial fee equalling the previous record held by Jack Grealish.^[43]

The departures of three first-team players were announced afterwards. On 3 August, the Gunners confirmed that American defender Auston Trusty had joined Premier League side Sheffield United on a permanent deal for a reported fee of £5 million.^[47][48] Six days later, the club announced that American goalkeeper Matt Turner had joined Premier League side Nottingham Forest on a permanent transfer for a fee reported to be £10 million.^[49][50] It was confirmed on 12 August that Brazilian forward Marquinhos had joined Ligue 1 side Nantes on a one-year loan.^[51]

Arsenal confirmed on 15 August that the club had signed 27-year-old Spanish goalkeeper David Raya on a season-long loan from Premier League side Brentford with the option to make the move permanent in summer 2024.^[52] The initial loan fee was reported to be £3 million, and activating the option would be for a further £27 million.^[53] He would take the number 22 shirt.^[54]

The Gunners continued their summer exodus after signing four players. On 18 August, the club announced the loan departure of Icelandic goalkeeper Rúnar Alex Rúnarsson to Championship side Cardiff City.^[55] Nine days later, Arsenal confirmed that Scottish defender Kieran Tierney had joined La Liga side Real Sociedad on loan for the 2023–24 season;^[56] the loan fee was reported to be around £1.2 million (€1.4 million).^[57] The departure of American striker and Arsenal academy graduate Folarin Balogun to Ligue 1 side Monaco was announced on 30 August.^[58][59] It was reported that the transfer fee was an initial €30 million (£25.8 million) plus €10 million (£8.6 million) in add-ons, and the terms of the deal included a 17.5% sell-on clause for Arsenal.^[58]

On English transfer deadline day, 1 September, four first-team players departed the club. Portuguese defender Nuno Tavares joined Premier League side Nottingham Forest on a season-long loan with the option to make the move permanent in summer 2024;^[60][61] the initial loan fee was reported to be £1 million, and activating the option would be for a further £12 million.^[61] English goalkeeper and academy graduate Arthur Okonkwo joined League Two side Wrexham on loan for the 2023–24 season.^[62] English defender Rob Holding, who had made 162 first-team appearances in all competitions and won two FA Cups with the club, joined Premier League side Crystal Palace on a permanent transfer,^[63] for a reported fee of £1 million with £2.5 million in add-ons.^[64] Belgian midfielder Albert Sambi Lokonga joined Premier League side Luton Town on a one-year loan.^[65]

On 9 September, Arsenal confirmed that Ivory Coast forward Nicolas Pépé had departed the club following the termination of his contract.^[66]

After the summer transfer window closed, there were twenty-five players in the first-team squad: three goalkeepers, eight defenders, eight midfielders, and six forwards. Six other first-team players were out on loan.^[67]

August

Ramsdale

Saliba

Gabriel

White

Timber

Partey

Rice

Saka

Martinelli

Ødegaard (c)

Havertz

Starting XI for 2023 Community Shield against Manchester City on 6 August^[68]

Arsenal kicked off their season by taking part in the FA Community Shield for the 24th time in their history, against Treble-winners Manchester City at Wembley Stadium on 6 August. New signings Havertz, Rice and Timber made their competitive debuts for the Gunners. City's Cole Palmer broke the deadlock on 77 minutes, curling a shot into the top corner. Trossard equalised for Arsenal in stoppage time when his shot deflected into the back of the net. The game ended 1–1 in normal time and went straight to a penalty shootout. The Gunners prevailed 4–1 from the spot with Vieira scoring the winning penalty, after Kevin De Bruyne's drive hit the crossbar and Rodri's attempt was saved by Ramsdale.^[68][69] This was Arsenal's 17th Community Shield win, making them the second-most successful club in the competition.^[70] The result meant that Arteta's side ended an eight-match losing run in all competitions against Pep Guardiola's Manchester City, beating them for the first time since July 2020.^[71]

Six days later, the Gunners played their first home game of the season against Nottingham Forest. Nketiah opened the scoring in the 26th minute. Saka doubled Arsenal's lead with a long-range shot on 32 minutes. Taiwo Awoniyi pulled a late goal back for the visitors from a counter-attack.^[72] The game also saw Premier League debutant Timber limp off the pitch with a injury on 50 minutes.^[73] Arsenal confirmed on 16 August that Timber had sustained an injury to his anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee. He would undergo surgery in the coming days. The club did not give a timeframe for his absence.^[74][75]

Arsenal faced Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park on 21 August. Before the game, the team paid tribute to the injured Timber, as skipper Ødegaard held up a shirt for the team photo, which read "J. Timber 12" on the back.^[76] Ødegaard stroked home a spot-kick in the 53rd minute. Takehiro Tomiyasu was controversially sent off by referee David Coote on 67 minutes for two quick bookable offences – the first yellow was for delaying a throw-in, and the second was harshly awarded for a minor foul on Palace's Jordan Ayew in midfield. Despite playing the final half-hour with ten men, Arteta's side claimed a hard-fought 1–0 victory.^[77] The win clocked up the Gunners' 200th Premier League away clean sheet, making them the third side to do so.^[78]

On 26 August, Arteta's team played at home against Fulham. Gabriel Jesus recovered from his knee injury to be named in a matchday squad for the first time;^[79] and Saka made his 83rd consecutive Premier League appearance for the Gunners, breaking the club record in the competition set by Paul Merson between 1995 and 1997.^[80] Arteta's side fell behind after just 57 seconds, as Andreas Pereira raced onto Saka's loose pass and fired in a curling shot from 25 yards, with goalkeeper Ramsdale out of position.^[81] This meant that Arsenal had conceded inside the first minute in three of their last nine Premier League games at home (vs Bournemouth, Southampton and Fulham), becoming the first team in Premier League history to concede a first-minute goal three times in a single calendar year.^[82] Saka atoned for his earlier error by scoring a penalty on 70 minutes. Moments later, substitute Nketiah tucked home a cross to put the hosts ahead. After blocking off Nketiah on a counter, Calvin Bassey was sent off for a second bookable offence in the 83rd minute. Fulham's João Palhinha scored the equaliser from a corner on 87 minutes, making the score 2–2.^[81]

September

Ahead of the first international break of the season, Arsenal played at home against rivals Manchester United on 3 September. The visitors took the lead on 27 minutes as Marcus Rashford cut inside to beat Ramsdale at his far post with a curling strike.^[83] Rashford's goal meant that Arsenal had conceded from the first shot they had faced in seven Premier League matches in 2023 – the most of any team in this period.^[84] Arteta's side responded in the 28th minute with a goal by Ødegaard.^[85] In the 59th minute, the Gunners were awarded a penalty, but the decision was overturned after referee Anthony Taylor checked the pitchside monitor.^[83] The visitors thought they had retaken the lead on 88 minutes when Alejandro Garnacho finished off a swift counter-attack, but a VAR check showed Gabriel Magalhães' sudden halting of his run was enough to catch Garnacho offside.^[86] In the sixth minute of stoppage time, Rice controlled a Saka corner at the far post and slammed home his first Arsenal goal to send Emirates wild.^[86] This goal on 95 minutes and 43 seconds was the latest winning goal ever scored in a Premier League fixture between the two rivals.^[84] Five minutes later, Vieira sprung forward on the counter, fed Gabriel Jesus and the Brazilian ran through on goal, cut away from a sliding Diogo Dalot and slotted the ball past goalkeeper André Onana, sealing a 3–1 victory.^[85] This was the first time the Gunners had won three consecutive home league games against the Red Devils since May 1991.^[84] In the post-match presser, Arteta confirmed that Thomas Partey had picked up an injury in training before the game and would be out for weeks.^[87]

Following the season's first international break, the Gunners continued their Premier League campaign on 17 September, facing 18th-placed Everton away at Goodison Park. Debutant David Raya started in goal and kept his first clean sheet for Arsenal in a 1–0 win. In the 69th minute, Trossard fired a first-time finish in off the post following a short corner. The result saw the Gunners' five-game winless run at Goodison Park in the Premier League come to an end.^[88][89]

Raya

Saliba

Gabriel

White

Zinchenko

Rice

Ødegaard (c)

Havertz

Saka

Trossard

Jesus

Starting XI for Champions League home match against PSV Eindhoven on 20 September^[90]

After a six-year absence, Arsenal started their 20th Champions League campaign since the 1992–93 season as they played at home on 20 September in their opening Group B match against last season's Eredivisie runners-up PSV Eindhoven.^[90][91] Mohamed Elneny, who was the only player left from the Gunners' 2016–17 Champions League squad,^[92] was back on the bench for the first time since a serious knee injury in January 2023.^[93][94] Six of Arsenal's starting eleven – Raya, Rice, Saka, Saliba, Trossard and Ben White – made their debuts in the competition on a rain-soaked night.^[95] The hosts took the lead on 8 minutes through Saka tucking in the rebound from Ødegaard's shot. In the 20th minute, Saka crossed for Trossard to blast the ball into the bottom corner. Eighteen minutes later, Trossard crossed for Gabriel Jesus at the back post to fire a shot into the net. Ødegaard rounded off the scoring in the 70th minute with a 20-yard strike. The 4–0 victory marked Arteta's first Champions League game in charge.^[90][91]

On 22 September, the club announced that captain Ødegaard had signed a new long-term contract.^[96][97] Two days later, Arsenal faced local rivals Tottenham Hotspur at home in the first North London derby of the season. Already missing Timber to a long-term knee problem, the Gunners were also without Partey and had lost Martinelli and Trossard to injuries in a week before the game.^[98] In the 26th minute, Saka's shot was deflected into his own goal by Spurs defender Cristian Romero. The visitors levelled through Son Heung-min in the 42nd minute. It continued a run of early-season injuries for Arteta's side, as Rice was forced off with a back issue and was replaced by Jorginho at half-time. Arsenal retook the lead on 54 minutes through a Saka penalty. Tottenham drew level again in the 55th minute as Jorginho was caught in possession by James Maddison, who slipped a pass into Son to finish past Raya. The game ended 2–2.^[99][100]

On 27 September, Arsenal entered the EFL Cup in the third round, facing Premier League side Brentford away at Brentford Community Stadium. Jorginho started as the Gunners' captain for the first time; Emile Smith Rowe made his 100th senior appearance for Arsenal, and his first start for the club in 16 months; while Academy forward Charles Sagoe Jr. was handed a first-team debut.^[101] Nelson netted the only goal of the game to clinch victory for the Gunners. The 1–0 result advanced them to the next round.^[102][103]

Arsenal headed to the south coast of England on 30 September, facing 17th-placed Bournemouth at Vitality Stadium. Saka opened the scoring with a header on 17 minutes. Arteta's side doubled their lead in the 44th minute through Ødegaard's penalty. The Gunners got another spot-kick early into the second half. This time Havertz was handed the ball by regular taker Saka to strike his first Arsenal goal on 53 minutes. White headed home from Ødegaard's free-kick in stoppage time, making it 4–0. This was the fourth time the Gunners had won their opening three away games in a top-flight campaign, and was the first time they had done so without conceding a single goal in their history. The win moved Arsenal to within one point of leaders Manchester City.^[104][105]

October

Arsenal suffered their first defeat of the season with a 2–1 loss to Ligue 1 side Lens at Stade Bollaert-Delelis in the Champions League on Tuesday, 3 October, after being late arriving to northern France on Monday night with their flight delayed by around five hours due to bad weather.^[106] In the 14th minute, Saka seized upon Adrien Thomasson's loose pass and quickly set up Gabriel Jesus to rifle home and put the Gunners ahead. Eleven minutes later, Raya's pass to Tomiyasu was intercepted, and the ball eventually went to Thomasson, who unleashed a curling first-time strike past the Arsenal goalkeeper. It was the first away goal the Gunners had conceded in all competitions this campaign. Elye Wahi completed the turnaround for the hosts in the 69th minute as he fired a first-time finish into the net.^[107][108]

Raya

Saliba

Gabriel

White

Zinchenko

Jorginho

Ødegaard (c)

Rice

Jesus

Trossard

Nketiah

Starting XI for Premier League home match against Manchester City on 8 October^[109]

Ahead of the second international break of the season, Arteta's men faced 1st-placed Manchester City at home on 8 October, for the fifth time in 2023. Saka was not included in the matchday squad after picking up an injury in France five days prior; it ended his club-record run of 87 consecutive Premier League appearances that was also the longest active run in the competition.^[110] In the 4th minute, Rice made a goal-line block to deny Joško Gvardiol. In the 28th minute, Mateo Kovačić chopped Ødegaard down from behind, his studs colliding with the Norwegian's right ankle.^{[111][112][113]} Referee Michael Oliver deemed it worthy of only a yellow and the video assistant referee concurred with Oliver's original on-field decision.^{[109][114][115]} Within minutes Kovačić then made a similar late tackle from behind on Rice, catching the Englishman on the ankle with his studs.^{[111][112][113]} But Oliver did not further punish the Croatia midfielder, allowing him to stay on.^{[109][114][115]} Arteta introduced Martinelli for the second half and sent on Havertz, Partey and Tomiyasu in the 75th minute.^[116] All four replacements contributed to the Gunners' winning goal in the 86th minute, as Partey's lofted ball found Tomiyasu, who took on a striker's role by nodding it down to Havertz. The German then laid it off to Martinelli, whose first-time shot deflected off City's Nathan Aké, wrong-footing goalkeeper Ederson.^{[111][115][116]} The 1–0 victory meant that it was the first time Arsenal had beaten Manchester City in the Premier League since December 2015, after a run of fifteen league games without a win, losing each of the last twelve in a row.^[110][116] It also meant that Arteta had finally ended his personal run of seven straight league losses against City's Guardiola since he took charge of the Gunners in December 2019, and Arteta had beaten all 24 teams he had faced as a manager in the Premier League up until that point.^[110][112] The result moved Arsenal above City in the table and put them level on points with Tottenham at the top.^[109]

The Gunners returned to action after the international break with a game against 11th-placed Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on 21 October. Both teams' performances were influenced by the driving rain and sticky pitch. The hosts went ahead from the penalty spot through Cole Palmer in the 15th minute. Chelsea doubled their lead on 48 minutes as Mykhailo Mudryk's mishit cross lobbed goalkeeper Raya. In the 77th minute, Rice pounced on a loose pass from goalkeeper Robert Sánchez to curl a first-time effort into the unguarded net.^[117][118] Coming from 36.6 yards out, this goal was the longest range goal scored by an Arsenal player in the Premier League since 2006–07.^[119] Seven minutes later, substitute Trossard tucked in a cross at the back post, making the score 2–2. This was the first time since March 2021 that the Gunners avoided defeat in a Premier League away game in which they had trailed by two or more goals.^[118]

It was reported that Partey suffered a thigh injury in training on 23 October, two days after the match against Chelsea.^[120] He would be out for months after undergoing a procedure on the injury.^[121][122]

On 24 October, Arsenal made the trip to Spain for the third Champions League group match against La Liga side and Europa League holders Sevilla at Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán Stadium. The deadlock was broken in the final seconds of first-half stoppage time when Arsenal's three Brazilian Gabriels linked up to produce an impressive goal. Gabriel Magalhães made the clearance to Gabriel Jesus, who brought down a high looping ball, then pulled off a Cruyff turn to lose two Sevilla midfielders, and played a defence-splitting pass into the path of Martinelli. The latter raced 50 yards, then rounded the goalkeeper to slot into the empty net, marking his Champions League debut. Arteta's side doubled their advantage in the 53rd minute, as Rice intercepted the clearance and drove forward before passing to Gabriel Jesus, who cut inside and curled a shot into the top right corner from a narrow angle, becoming the second player to score in his first three Champions League games for Arsenal, after Marouane Chamakh in 2010. The hosts pulled one back in the 58 minute. The 2–1 victory moved the Gunners back to the top of Group B at the halfway stage.^[123] This was the second time Arsenal had scored at least twice in a Champions League away game against a Spanish side,^[124] and it was the first time they had won an away game against a Spanish side in the competition since February 2006 (1–0 v Real Madrid).^[125]

Four days later, Arteta's side played at home against newly-promoted Sheffield United. Saka started as Arsenal's captain for the first time. Nketiah scored three goals before the hour mark, becoming the first Englishman to hit a Premier League hat-trick for Arsenal since Theo Walcott against West Bromwich Albion in May 2015. Vieira scored a fourth from the penalty spot. Tomiyasu rounded off the scoring in stoppage time by poking home his first goal for the club. The 5–0 win meant that Arteta's side had kept consecutive home clean sheets in the Premier League for the first time since December 2021. The result extended their longest unbeaten start to a league campaign since 2007–08 to ten games.^[126][127]

November

Arsenal travelled to east London on 1 November to face West Ham United in the EFL Cup fourth round. The hosts took the lead on 16 minutes when White headed into his own net from a corner. West Ham doubled their advantage in the 50th minute through Mohammed Kudus's finish. Jarrod Bowen added a third for the Hammers on the hour mark with his volley beating goalkeeper Ramsdale. Ødegaard pulled a goal back for Arsenal in stoppage time. The 3–1 loss meant that Arteta's side were eliminated from the EFL Cup.^[128][129]

The Gunners hosted Sevilla in their fourth Champions League group game on 8 November. In the 29th minute, Jorginho played a defence-splitting pass through to Saka, who squared for Trossard to tuck home. Saka doubled the lead on 64 minutes with a curled effort into the bottom corner, becoming the first Arsenal player to score and assist in consecutive home matches in the Champions League since 2007–08.^[130] The 2–0 win saw Arteta's side are four points clear at the top of Group B with two games to play.^[131][132] This was the fourth time the Gunners had won both Champions League group stage matches against a fellow big-five European league side.^[130]

On 11 November, Arsenal faced newly-promoted Burnley at home in their final fixture before the third international break of the season. Trossard broke the deadlock with a header on the stroke of half-time. This was the 1,000th goal Arsenal's men's first team had scored at Emirates Stadium since its establishment in 2006. Burnley equalised on 54 minutes through a deflected Josh Brownhill effort. The hosts reclaimed the lead three minutes later when Saliba headed in a corner from close range. Oleksandr Zinchenko added a third in the 74th minute with an acrobatic finish. The Gunners finished the game with ten men after substitute Vieira was given a straight red card for a studs-up challenge on Brownhill.^[133][134]

After returning from the final international break of 2023, the Gunners faced 11th-placed Brentford away on 25 November. With on-loan goalkeeper Raya ineligible to face his parent club, Ramsdale was handed his first Premier League start since September.^[135] The English goalkeeper put his defence in trouble on 13 minutes as he dallied in the six-yard box and was dispossessed by Yoane Wissa, who passed to Bryan Mbeumo, whose shot was blocked on the line by Rice with Wissa putting the rebound wide. Ramsdale then made another major error on 37 minutes when he tried to throw the ball into midfield, but held on too long and bounced it to the ground just outside his area, and the ball went straight to Brentford.^[136][137] In the 77th minute, Zinchenko made a goal-line block to deny the Bees striker Neal Maupay.^[138] It looked like neither team was able to break the deadlock until substitute Havertz headed in Saka's cross at the back post on 89 minutes. The 1–0 victory vaulted Arsenal to the top of the Premier League for the first time this season, a point above Manchester City and two clear of Liverpool.^[135] The result ensured the Gunners extended their run to 17 games unbeaten in London derbies in the Premier League (W12 D5).^[136] Arteta became the 10th manager in Arsenal history to reach 200 games in charge. He had won 116 games, the most wins of any manager in their first 200 games in charge of the Gunners (previously Arsène Wenger with 111).^[136]

Raya

Saliba

Gabriel

Tomiyasu

Zinchenko

Rice

Ødegaard (c)

Havertz

Saka

Martinelli

Jesus

Starting XI for Champions League home match against Lens on 29 November^[139]

On 28 November, Arteta confirmed in the pre-match press conference that Vieira had undergone surgery to his groin and would be out for weeks.^[140] A day later, Arsenal played at home in their fifth Champions League group game against Lens, who had beaten them 2–1 in the reverse fixture in October. The match saw several records set. Havertz tucked home from close range on 13 minutes,^[139] becoming the 100th different Arsenal player to score a goal for the Gunners at Emirates Stadium since the club moved from Highbury in 2006.^[141] In the 21st minute, Gabriel Jesus collected a Saka pass and slotted the ball past visiting goalkeeper,^[139] becoming the first player to score in each of his first four Champions League appearances for an English side. This also made Saka the first Premier League player to reach ten assists in all competitions this season.^[142] Saka added a third on 23 minutes,^[143] becoming the first player to both score and assist in three consecutive home games in the Champions League since 2015–16.^[142] Four minutes later, Tomiyasu's ball from the right-back position found Martinelli, who raced away down the left flank, then cut inside and curled a shot into the far corner. This was the fastest an English club had scored four goals in a Champions League match since 1998.^[142] In first-half stoppage time, Tomiyasu crossed for Ødegaard to thump a volley into the back of the net.^[143] This was the first time in the season that two attacking midfielders – Havertz and Ødegaard, and three forwards – Gabriel Jesus, Martinelli and Saka all started together,^[144] and they all scored in the first half. Arsenal became the first team in Champions League history to have five different scorers (excluding own goals) in the first half of a game.^[142] In the 86th minute, substitute Jorginho converted his first Arsenal goal from the penalty spot.^[144] The emphatic 6–0 victory was the biggest ever win by an English side against a French opponent in European competition.^[142] The result ensured Arteta's side qualified for the Champions League knockout stage as Group B winners with a game to spare.^[139]

Newcastle match, Arteta comments, FA charge and hearing

Arsenal headed to the north east of England on 4 November facing 6th-placed Newcastle United at St James' Park. White made his 100th appearance for the Gunners, while Ødegaard was unfit and missed out on a matchday squad for the first time since September 2022.^[145]

In the 30th minute, Saka was hacked down from behind by the Magpies' defender Dan Burn. Just a minute later, Saka was chopped down from behind by the same player again.^{[146][147][148]} Several Arsenal players complained to the referee Stuart Attwell, but Burn escaped without a yellow card.^{[146][147][148]}

In the 37th minute, Havertz challenged Sean Longstaff earning him a yellow card. The VAR check was quick and the referee's original decision stood.^[147][149] Upon replay, the Germany international missed Longstaff completely with his leading leg and only caught him with his trailing leg that was fully bent in the follow-through.^{[147][149][150]} The challenge sparked a players' melee that took referee Attwell some time to control, with three Newcastle players including Longstaff shown yellow cards.^{[147][150][151]}

Having missed a slide tackle on White in the 45th minute, Newcastle midfielder Bruno Guimarães challenged Jorginho from behind and elbowed the latter in the back of the head after the ball had gone, leaving the Italian crocked on the ground.^{[152][153][154]} The VAR did have a look, but did not deem it worthy of a yellow or red card.^{[152][153][154]} Guimarães escaped punishment again near the hour mark as he barged into the back of Jorginho off the ball, and then raised his hand to urge the Italian to get up.^{[155][147][156]}

In the 63rd minute, Newcastle midfielder Joe Willock chased down a mishit shot by Jacob Murphy that appeared to be going out for an Arsenal goal-kick. But he managed to retrieve the ball by the corner flag, subsequently lofting a cross into the back post to Joelinton, who two-handed pushed defender Gabriel Magalhães in the back and headed the ball to an unmarked Anthony Gordon for a close-range finish.^[151][157] The VAR took four minutes and six seconds to check three different possible infringements:^[151][158] whether the ball was out of play before Willock crossed it into the box, whether Joelinton committed a foul on Gabriel Magalhães when he received the cross, and whether Gordon was offside when the ball was bundled into his path.^[157][159] However, all three were controversially cleared and the goal was eventually allowed.^{[153][155][157]}

In the 88th minute, Guimarães shoved substitute Vieira off the ball with a push to the face of the Arsenal player, and was finally shown the yellow card.^[147][160] Two minutes later, Newcastle defender Valentino Livramento made a late tackle from behind on Martinelli, taking the Arsenal winger down on the touchline and receiving a yellow card.^[147][160] The match ended 1–0 for the hosts. It was the first time the Gunners lost in the Premier League this season.^[158]

In his post-match interview, Arsenal manager Arteta said: "We didn't deserve to lose the match. We lost the match because of the clear and obvious decisions. It's embarrassing. A disgrace."^[151][161] He continued: "It's embarrassing what happened – how this goal stands, in the Premier League – this league we say is the best in the world. I've been 20 years in this country and now I feel ashamed. It's a disgrace and there's too much at stake here."^[161][162] The following morning, Arsenal's official website released a club statement claiming that the club "wholeheartedly supports" Arteta's comments following the match, furthering "The Premier League is the best league in the world with the best players, coaches and supporters, all of whom deserve better. PGMOL urgently needs to address the standard of officiating and focus on action which moves us all on from retrospective analysis, attempted explanations and apologies".^[163]

On 16 November, the Football Association, England's national governing body, charged Arteta with a breach of Rule E3.1 – that his words after the game against Newcastle were "insulting towards match officials and/or detrimental to the game and/or bring the game into disrepute".^[159]

On 7 December, a hearing was held at Wembley Stadium in front of the FA's independent Regulatory Commission. Arteta's legal team was led by Ian Mill KC, a member of Blackstone Chambers.^[164][159]

A week later, the FA said in a statement that the independent Regulatory Commission found the charge against Arteta to be not proven.^[165][166] The written reasons published by the regulatory commission stated that Willock, Arsenal academy graduate and the player involved in keeping the ball in play before Gordon gave Newcastle the lead, told Arsenal players "the ball had gone out of play before he crossed into the penalty area".^[164] A footnote in the written reasons said that Arteta "made it clear" during the hearing that he had used the word 'disgrace' with full knowledge of its English connotations.^[164][159]

December

Arteta's side faced 12th-placed Wolverhampton Wanderers at home on 2 December. Saka's opener in the 6th minute was the Gunners' 100th goal of 2023, making Arsenal the fifth big five European league team to reach this total across all competitions in 2023, after Manchester City, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and Bayer Leverkusen. It also meant that the Gunners had scored at least once in each of their last 32 matches against Wolves in all competitions, the joint longest scoring run against an opponent in the club's history.^[167] The hosts doubled the lead on 13 minutes through Ødegaard sweeping home from Zinchenko's cutback. But Arsenal were unable to find a way past Wolves' substitute goalkeeper Dan Bentley, who replaced injured José Sá in the 23rd minute. The visitors pulled a goal back in the 86th minute. The 2–1 win kept the Gunners on top of the Premier League table.^[168][169]

Arsenal headed to Luton Town on 5 December for their first meeting in the English top flight in 32 years at Kenilworth Road.^[170] Saka made his 200th senior appearance for the Gunners, becoming the fourth-youngest player to play 200 matches in all competitions for Arsenal.^[171] Arteta's side opened the scoring on 20 minutes when Martinelli tapped in Saka's pass. The hosts levelled through Gabriel Osho in the 25th minute. The Gunners regained the lead on 45 minutes as Gabriel Jesus headed home White's cross from close range.^[172] After the start of the second half, strikes from Elijah Adebayo and Ross Barkley put the Hatters in front. Arsenal equalised on the hour mark when Havertz prodded in from Gabriel Jesus' pass.^[170] In stoppage time Rice headed in Ødegaard's cross, sparking wild celebrations in the away end. The thrilling 4–3 victory was the first time since October 2011 that Arsenal won a Premier League away game in which they had conceded at least three goals. Rice's last-gasp winner at 96 minutes and 23 seconds was the Gunners' latest winning goal on record (since 2006–07) in a Premier League away match, making him the third different Arsenal player to score two 90th minute winning goals in a single Premier League season. The result ended Arsenal's 10-game winless run away against Luton Town in all competitions, earning their first Kenilworth Road win since 1984.^[171]

The Gunners suffered their second Premier League defeat of the season with a 1–0 loss to 3rd-placed Aston Villa at Villa Park on 9 December. Manager Arteta watched the game from the stands as he served a one-match touchline ban.^[173] John McGinn scored for the hosts on 7 minutes with a shot from the centre of the box, although Arsenal defender White could have done better. The Gunners had a penalty shout in the 47th minute when Villa's Douglas Luiz caught Gabriel Jesus' ankle inside the box, but VAR quickly decided not to overturn a no-penalty decision.^[174][175] An off-the-ball incident occurred in the 87th minute as Nketiah attempted to run in behind Villa defender Diego Carlos, the Arsenal striker was elbowed in the face by the Brazilian, and fell to the ground. Referee Jarred Gillett showed Carlos a yellow card, but the VAR did not advise Gillett to review the incident on the pitchside monitor for a possible case of violent conduct.^[176] In the 90th minute, Havertz brought down a cross and bundled the ball over the line. The goal was immediately ruled out on the field – a decision that was confirmed by a lengthy VAR check.^[174][175] The result meant that Arsenal dropped to second in the league, a point behind leaders Liverpool.^[174]

With top spot already assured, Arsenal made the trip to the Netherlands on 12 December for the final Champions League group match against Eredivisie side PSV Eindhoven. In the 42nd minute Nketiah drilled a shot into the bottom corner. The hosts drew level on 50 minutes as Yorbe Vertessen bent an effort past Ramsdale and in off the post. The game ended 1–1.^[177] The Gunners finished the Champions League group stage with the highest goal difference of any team (+12).^[178] They would go into the round of 16 in February 2024.^[179]

Five days later, Arteta's side played at home against 8th-placed Brighton & Hove Albion. The Gunners found the breakthrough on 53 minutes when Saka's corner was inadvertently flicked on by Brighton defender Jan Paul van Hecke for an unmarked Gabriel Jesus to head in at the far post. Havertz sealed the victory for Arsenal in the 87th minute, netting his fourth goal in seven games since returning from international duty. The 2–0 win saw Arsenal extend their unbeaten home run to 13 games in all competitions – their longest run under manager Arteta, and sent them back to the top of the league table, a point above Liverpool.^[180][181]

Raya

Saliba

Gabriel

White

Zinchenko

Rice

Ødegaard (c)

Havertz

Saka

Martinelli

Jesus

Starting XI for Premier League away match against Liverpool on 23 December^[182]

The Premier League's top two went head-to-head on 23 December as Arsenal travelled to Anfield to play against Liverpool. Gabriel Magalhães opened the scoring on four minutes, heading in from Ødegaard's set-piece. Liverpool levelled through Mohamed Salah on 29 minutes. Both teams had chances to win the game after that, but neither side could find the breakthrough.^[182][183] The Anfield pitch seemed to have played a factor in the match, as both sets of players slipped over throughout the game.^[184][185] In the 19th minute, Ødegaard slipped in his own box whilst changing direction, and his hand falling on the ball. The hosts wanted a spot-kick, though a VAR check stayed with the on-field decision not to award a penalty.^[186] In the 33rd minute, Saka slipped near the touchline and nudged defender Kostas Tsimikas into manager Jürgen Klopp, resulting in both Liverpool men falling to the ground. Tsimikas was forced off with an injury, and was revealed to have broken his collarbone in the collision with Klopp.^[187][184] In the 41st minute, Martinelli slipped in the box before firing wide with goalkeeper Alisson off his line.^[186][184] In the 72nd minute, Zinchenko slipped and went in Ødegaard's way from an Arsenal corner, allowing Liverpool to counter. Salah led a five on two attack, but Alexander-Arnold smashed the crossbar from close range.^[186] In the 88th minute, Saka competed for the ball with Liverpool's Ryan Gravenberch. The Englishman won the ball but slipped and the two collided at midfield.^[185] The 1–1 draw meant that the Gunners would start Christmas Day top of the English top-flight table in two consecutive years for just a second time, after last doing so in 1932 and 1933.^[187]

Arsenal suffered their first home defeat of the season with a 2–0 loss to 6th-placed West Ham United on 28 December. In the 13th minute, Jarrod Bowen pulled the ball back from the byline to Tomáš Souček, who tapped home from close range. While the ball had potentially gone out of play before Bowen's pass, there was no clear angle available for the VAR to determine whether it was in or out, and the goal was awarded. Konstantinos Mavropanos doubled the lead on 55 minutes, becoming the first former Arsenal player to score his first goal in the Premier League against the Gunners. Rice gave away a penalty in stoppage time, but Saïd Benrahma's effort was saved by Raya. Arteta's side reached the halfway point of the league campaign with twelve wins, four draws, three losses and 40 points from 19 games, two points behind leaders Liverpool.^[188][189]

The Gunners concluded 2023 with a trip across the capital to face 13th-placed Fulham at Craven Cottage on New Year's Eve. Saka opened the scoring from close range in the 5th minute. The Cottagers drew level with a counter-attacking goal scored by Raúl Jiménez on 29 minutes. Bobby Decordova-Reid completed the turnaround for Fulham in the 59th minute. The 2–1 loss ended Arsenal's run of 48 league games unbeaten when going 1–0 ahead. The result left the Gunners sitting fourth in the Premier League table.^[190][191]

January

On 7 January, Arteta's side entered the FA Cup in the third round, facing Premier League side Liverpool at home. The Gunners created many goal-scoring opportunities, but failed to convert any. In the 80th minute, Jakub Kiwior's own goal handed Liverpool the lead. In the last minute of stoppage time, Ramsdale's long pass was intercepted, the ball eventually went to Luis Díaz, whose goal knocked Arsenal out of the competition.^[192][193]

On 9 January, the Gunners travelled to Dubai, United Arab Emirates for a week-long training camp.^[194] They flew back to England on 16 January.

Arteta's men returned to action after the winter break with a game against 14th-placed Crystal Palace at home on 20 January. Gabriel Magalhães nodded in Rice's corner in the 11th minute, and then his header from a Saka corner deflected in off visiting goalkeeper Dean Henderson on 37 minutes. Arsenal's third goal came in the 59th minute, as Raya claimed a cross following a Palace corner and his 40-yard throw sent Gabriel Jesus on his way; the Brazilian then swept the ball across to Trossard, who beaten the last defender before rifling beyond Henderson. Substitute Martinelli netted twice from counter-attacks in stoppage time, sealing a 5–0 victory for the hosts. The result ended Arsenal's three-match losing run in all competitions, moving them up to third place in the Premier League table.^{[195][196][197]}

Arsenal headed to the City Ground to take on 16th-placed Nottingham Forest on 30 January. Gabriel Jesus opened the scoring on 65 minutes as he poked the ball home from a tight angle after jinking through the defence from a throw-in. Saka doubled the lead on 72 minutes with a right-footed effort into the far corner, becoming the first player to record 10+ goals and 10+ assists in all competitions in two consecutive seasons for the Gunners since 2017–18. Forest substitute Taiwo Awoniyi pulled a goal back in the 89th minute.^[198][199]

First-team transfers (winter transfer window)

The English football winter transfer window rans from 1 January to 1 February 2024. The club announced on 12 January that Brazilian forward Marquinhos had been recalled from his loan at Ligue 1 side Nantes.^[200]

On English transfer deadline day, 1 February, Arsenal confirmed that Icelandic goalkeeper Rúnar Alex Rúnarsson had been recalled from his loan at Championship side Cardiff City and would depart the club following the termination of his contract.^[201]

On 15 February, the Gunners announced that Marquinhos had joined Série A side Fluminense on loan until January 2025.^[202]

After the winter transfer window closed, there were twenty-five players in the first-team squad: three goalkeepers, eight defenders, eight midfielders, and six forwards. Five other first-team players were out on loan.^[203]

February

Raya

Saliba

Gabriel

White

Zinchenko

Rice

Ødegaard (c)

Jorginho

Saka

Martinelli

Havertz

Starting XI for Premier League home match against Liverpool on 4 February^[204]

On 4 February, Arteta's side played at home against 1st-placed Liverpool, who had lost only one Premier League game on arrival at Emirates Stadium.^[205] This was Arsenal's third meeting with the Reds in the last seven matches, and the 200th league meeting between both sides.^[206] Saka opened the scoring in the 14th minute as he tucked home the rebound after goalkeeper Alisson saved Havertz's shot.^[204] The hosts dominated the first 45 minutes, but Liverpool were level just before half-time without having had a shot on target, as Saliba's indecisiveness allowed Luis Díaz to pass across goal, with the ball inadvertently hitting Gabriel Magalhães before rolling into the net.^[205] Arsenal retook the lead on 67 minutes when a mix-up between the Reds' Alisson and Van Dijk allowed Martinelli to stroke the ball into an empty net.^[204] Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konaté was sent off on 88 minutes for a second yellow-card offence after he hauled down the breaking Havertz.^[206] In second-half stoppage time Kiwior's headed pass found Trossard, who raced away down the left and then scored with a left-footed shot from a narrow angle.^[205] The 3–1 victory meant that the Gunners were unbeaten in their last four Premier League games against Jürgen Klopp's side, their longest unbeaten run against the Reds in the competition since 2016–17.^[206] The result put Arsenal two points behind leader Liverpool.^[204]

Arsenal faced 7th-placed West Ham United at London Stadium on 11 February. Saliba broke the deadlock with a header from Rice's corner on 32 minutes. Saka scored his 50th Gunners goal from the penalty spot in the 41st minute. Gabriel Magalhães nodded in a Rice free-kick three minutes later. In first-half stoppage time, Trossard curled home a finish from Ødegaard's pass for the 8,000th league goal in Arsenal's history. In the 63rd minute, Saka collected Ødegaard's pass and rifled into the near post. Two minutes later, Rice fired in a curling shot from 25 yards. The 6–0 victory was the Gunners' biggest Premier League away win and their joint-biggest margin of victory in an away league game since 1935. It was also Arsenal's joint-biggest win in a London derby in league competition.^{[207][208][209]}

The Gunners headed to Turf Moor to take on 19th-placed Burnley on 17 February. Arsenal took the lead on 4 minutes through Ødegaard's strike. Saka slotted home a spot-kick in the 41st minute, then fired a right-footed shot into the roof of the net after the restart. In the 66th minute, Trossard pounced on a loose ball and swept home from close range. Havertz wrapped up the scoring with a solo goal on 78 minutes as he latched onto Kiwior's long throw, drove forward, nutmegged a defender, then drilled past the goalkeeper. The 5–0 win meant that the Gunners had begun a calendar year with five successive league victories for the first time in the club's history. It was also the first time Arsenal had scored at least five goals in back-to-back away league games.^[210][211]

On 21 February, Arteta's men travelled to Portugal to face Porto in the Champions League last-16 first leg. The Gunners endured a tricky start and Rice was walking a tightrope for almost the entirety of the contest after he received a yellow card in the second minute. The game lacked cohesion with the stop-start flow suiting the hosts more than it did Arsenal. Neither team was able to break the deadlock until the fourth and final minute of second-half stoppage time, when Martinelli tried to smash a long diagonal to Saka but the ball went straight to Porto defender Otávio, who passed to Galeno, whose long-range curling shot found the back of the net. The result meant that the Portuguese side took a 1–0 lead to north London for the second leg, which would be on 12 March.^{[212][213][214]}

Arsenal faced 8th-placed Newcastle United at home on 24 February. The hosts took the lead on 18 minutes as Newcastle defender Sven Botman knocked the ball into his own goal after Gabriel Magalhães' header had been saved by visiting goalkeeper. Six minutes later, Jorginho played a chipped pass to Martinelli, who cut the ball back for Havertz to sweep home. In the 65th minute, Saka cut inside and curled a shot into the far corner, becoming the first Englishman to score in five consecutive Premier League games for Arsenal since Ian Wright in 1994. Four minutes later, Rice's corner was flicked in by Kiwior at the near post. The visitors managed a late consolation courtesy of former Gunner Joe Willock's header. The 4–1 victory saw Arteta's side sit two points behind leaders Liverpool and a point behind Manchester City.^[215][216]

March

The Gunners faced 20th-placed Sheffield United away at Bramall Lane on 4 March. The match saw several records set.^[217][218] Ødegaard opened the scoring on 5 minutes when he slotted the ball into the bottom corner.^[122] After Blades defender Jayden Bogle netted an own goal in the 13th minute,^[219] Arsenal became the first team in Premier League history to score at least twice in eight successive halves.^[217] In the 15th minute Kiwior cut the ball back to Martinelli who fired in via a deflection.^[219] Ten minutes later, Havertz advanced into the box and rifled a low shot into the corner.^[219] This goal was the 150,000th scored in English top-flight league history.^[217] Saka registered his 50th assist for Arsenal's first team in all competitions on 39 minutes,^[218] as he pulled the ball back for Rice to slide home.^[122] It meant that the Gunners led 5–0 by the 39th minute, which was the earliest an away side had had a five-goal margin in Premier League history.^[218] This was the first time Arsenal had been five goals ahead at half-time in a Premier League match.^[217] In the 58th minute White picked up Havertz's pass in the box and lashed a first-time left-footed effort past home goalkeeper.^[122] This strike was the 10,000th goal Arsenal had scored in all competitions in their history.^[220][217] The 6–0 win meant that Arteta's side became the second team in English top-flight history to score five or more goals in three successive away games after Burnley in 1961, and the Gunners were the first side in English league football to win three successive away matches by 5+ goals.^[218] The game also saw Arsenal surpass the 300 league goals mark under Arteta's stewardship.^[217]

Arsenal played at home against 15th-placed Brentford on 9 March. Ramsdale made his first Premier League start since the reverse fixture on 25 November as on-loan goalkeeper Raya was ineligible to face his parent club.^[221] The hosts took the lead on 19 minutes when Rice popped up in space to head in White's cross.^[222] From that point on the Gunners looked in control until the fourth minute of first-half stoppage time when Ramsdale made a major error. The English goalkeeper dawdled on a routine backpass in his six-yard box under little pressure and took too long on a clearance, which allowed Brentford forward Yoane Wissa to close down and block it into the net.^[221][223] Arteta's side pushed for a second-half winner without much luck until the 86th minute when Havertz nodded in White's cross from close range.^[222] The goal made him the first German to score in four consecutive games in Premier League history.^[224] The 2–1 victory meant that the Gunners had won eight consecutive Premier League matches for the first time since April 2015 under Arsène Wenger,^[222] and they became the fourth side to win each of their first eight Premier League games of a calendar year.^[223] The result sent them back to the top of the league table, before Liverpool and Manchester City drew against each other on the following day.^[225]

Raya

Saliba

Gabriel

White

Kiwior

Jorginho

Ødegaard (c)

Rice

Saka

Trossard

Havertz

Starting XI for Champions League home match against Porto on 12 March^[226]

Ahead of the last international break of the season, Arteta's side hosted Porto in the second leg of the Champions League round of 16 on 12 March. The Gunners cancelled out Porto's first-leg advantage on 41 minutes when Ødegaard slipped the ball through three defenders to Trossard, who fired a low shot into the far corner.^[226] The Belgian became the third player to score in each of his first three Champions League home games for Arsenal, after Alexis Sánchez and Saka.^[227] There were no further goals in the second half and extra-time. In the penalty shootout, Ødegaard, Havertz, Saka and Rice were all on target for the Gunners.^[226] Raya made two saves out of the four penalties he faced, becoming the first Arsenal goalkeeper to make two stops in a shootout since Bernd Leno against Liverpool in 2020.^[228] The Gunners progressed to the quarter-final of the Champions League for the first time since 2009–10, ending a run of seven consecutive last 16 eliminations in the competition.^[227]

On 14 March, the club announced that English defender Ben White had signed a new long-term contract.^[229][230] Six day later, Arsenal confirmed that Japanese defender Takehiro Tomiyasu had penned a new long-term contract.^[231][232]

Following the international break, the Gunners faced 3rd-placed Manchester City at Etihad Stadium on 31 March. Neither side was able to break the deadlock and the game finished 0–0. The result ended Arsenal's eight-match losing streak in all competitions at the Etihad,^[233][234] making Arteta the first manager to go unbeaten against both Jürgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola in a Premier League season.^[235] The draw meant that the Gunners dropped to second in the league, two points behind Liverpool and a point above Manchester City.^[233]

April

Arsenal hosted 18th-placed Luton Town on 3 April for the first of eight fixtures in the month. In the 24th minute Havertz played a pass to Ødegaard, who slammed a first-time finish beyond visiting goalkeeper. An own goal from Hatters defender Daiki Hashioka on 44 minutes ensured that the Gunners claimed a 2–0 win.^[236][237]

On 6 April, Arteta's side travelled Southwards to the Amex Stadium to face 9th-place Brighton & Hove Albion. Saka opened the scoring from the spot after Tariq Lamptey tripped Gabriel Jesus. Havertz finished from Jorginho's cutback in the second half, before Trossard added a late third with a chipped goal.^[238] The 3–0 win meant that the Gunners had kept five consecutive clean sheets away from home in the Premier League for the first time since 1997,^[239] and Raya became the first Spanish goalkeeper to keep five clean sheets in as many away starts in the competition.^[240] The result put Arsenal back on top of the table, before Manchester United managed to hold Liverpool to a draw on the following day.^[241]

The Gunners hosted German side Bayern Munich in the Champions League quarter-final first leg on 9 April. Saka gave Arsenal an early lead; but the visitors drew level thanks to former Gunner Serge Gnabry, and then went ahead through a Harry Kane penalty. Substitute Trossard netted an equaliser in the second half, becoming the fourth player in Champions League history to score in each of his first four home appearances in the competition.^[242] The match ended 2–2.^[243]

Arsenal played at home against 5th-placed Aston Villa on 14 April. Arteta's men dominated the first 45 minutes and had plenty of chances to score, but failed to convert any. They struggled to create many opportunities in the second half. Late goals from Villa forwards Leon Bailey and Ollie Watkins saw Arsenal's 11-league game unbeaten run come to an end.^[244] The 0–2 defeat left the Gunners in second – two points behind Manchester City.^[245]

On 17 April, Arteta's side travelled to Bayern Munich for the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final. Joshua Kimmich scored the only goal of the tight game with a header in the 63rd minute, helping the hosts win 3–2 on aggregate. The result meant that Arsenal's first Champions League campaign in seven years ended in the last eight.^[246][247]

Arsenal headed to Molineux Stadium to take on 11th-placed Wolverhampton Wanderers on 20 April. Goals from Trossard and Ødegaard late in each half sealed a 2–0 victory for the visitors. This was the first time Arsenal had kept a clean sheet in six consecutive Premier League away games.^[248] Raya became the second goalkeeper in Premier League history to keep six straight away clean sheets.^[249] The win sent the Gunners back to the top of the league table, a point above Manchester City who had a game in hand.^[249]

First team

First-team coaching staff

Position	Name	Nat.	Date of birth (age)	Appointed in	Last club/team	Ref.
Manager	Mikel Arteta	ESP	(1982-03-26) 26 March 1982 (age 42)[250]	December 2019	Manchester City (as assistant coach)	[251][252]
Assistant Coaches	Albert Stuivenberg	NED	(1970-10-30) 30 October 1970 (age 53)[253]	December 2019	Wales (as assistant manager)	[254][255]
	Miguel Molina	ESP	(1993-01-03) 3 January 1993 (age 31)[256]	August 2020	Atlético Madrid	[257][258]
	Carlos Cuesta	ESP	(1995-07-29) 29 July 1995 (age 28)[259]	August 2020	Juventus	[257][258]
	Nicolas Jover	FRA	(1981-10-28) 28 October 1981 (age 42)[260]	July 2021	Manchester City (as set-piece coach)	[261][262]
Goalkeeping Coach	Iñaki Caña	ESP	(1975-09-19) 19 September 1975 (age 48)[263]	December 2019	Brentford	[254][255]

Note: Steve Round left his position of Assistant Coach by mutual agreement in July 2023.^[264][265]

First-team squad

As of 23 April 2024, there were twenty-five players in the first-team squad: three goalkeepers, eight defenders, eight midfielders, and six forwards. Five other first-team players were out on loan.

Notes:

• Squad numbers last updated on 15 February 2024.^[203][67]
• Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
• Player^* – Player who joined Arsenal permanently or on loan during the season.
• Player^† – Player who departed Arsenal permanently or on loan during the season.
• Player (HG) – Player who fulfils the Premier League's "Home Grown Player" criteria.^{[266][267][268]}
• Player (CT) – Player who fulfils UEFA's "club-trained player" criteria.^[269][270]
• Player (AT) – Player who fulfils UEFA's "association-trained player" criteria.^[269][270]
• Player (U21) – Player who was registered by Arsenal as an Under-21 Player on the 2023–24 Premier League Squad List.^{[266][267][268]}
• Player (ListB) – Player who was registered by Arsenal on the 2023–24 UEFA Champions League Squad List B.^{[271][272][273]}

No.	Player	Nat.	Position(s) (Footedness)	Date of birth (age)	Height	Signed		Transfer fee	Ref.
						In	From
Goalkeepers
1	Aaron Ramsdale (HG, AT)[a]	ENG	GK (R)	(1998-05-14) 14 May 1998 (age 25)	1.88 m[275] (6 ft 2 in)	2021	Sheffield United	£24.0m[276] (initial fee)	[277] [278]
22	David Raya* (HG, AT)[b]	ESP	GK (R)	(1995-09-15) 15 September 1995 (age 28)	1.83 m[279] (6 ft 0 in)	2023	Brentford (on loan)	£3.0m[53][c] (initial loan fee)	[280] [281]
31	Karl Hein (HG, CT, U21, ListB)	EST	GK (R)	(2002-04-13) 13 April 2002 (age 22)	1.93 m[282] (6 ft 4 in)	2019[283]	Arsenal Academy	N/A	[284] [285]
Defenders
2	William Saliba (HG, CT)	FRA	CB (R)	(2001-03-24) 24 March 2001 (age 23)	1.92 m[286] (6 ft 4 in)	2019	Saint-Étienne	£27.0m[287]	[288] [289]
4	Ben White (HG, AT)[d]	ENG	RB[e] / CB (R)	(1997-10-08) 8 October 1997 (age 26)	1.86 m[291] (6 ft 1 in)	2021	Brighton & Hove Albion	£50.0m[292]	[293] [294]
6	Gabriel Magalhães	BRA	CB (L)	(1997-12-19) 19 December 1997 (age 26)	1.90 m[295] (6 ft 3 in)	2020	Lille	£23.1m[296]	[297] [298]
12	Jurriën Timber*	NED	RB[e] / LB[f] / CB (R)	(2001-06-17) 17 June 2001 (age 22)	1.79 m[299] (5 ft 10 in)	2023	Ajax	£34.3m[40] (initial fee)	[300] [301]
15	Jakub Kiwior	POL	LB[f] / CB (L)	(2000-02-15) 15 February 2000 (age 24)	1.89 m[302] (6 ft 2 in)	2023	Spezia	£17.6m[303]	[304] [305]
17	Cédric Soares	POR	RB / RWB (R)	(1991-08-31) 31 August 1991 (age 32)	1.72 m[306] (5 ft 8 in)	2020	Southampton	Free[307]	[308] [309]
18	Takehiro Tomiyasu	JPN	RB / LB[f] / CB (R)	(1998-11-05) 5 November 1998 (age 25)	1.87 m[310] (6 ft 2 in)	2021	Bologna	£16.0m[311]	[312] [313]
35	Oleksandr Zinchenko	UKR	LB[f] / CM (L)	(1996-12-15) 15 December 1996 (age 27)	1.75 m[314] (5 ft 9 in)	2022	Manchester City	£30.0m[315] (initial fee)	[316] [317]
Midfielders
5	Thomas Partey	GHA	DM / CM / RB[e] (R)	(1993-06-13) 13 June 1993 (age 30)	1.85 m[318] (6 ft 1 in)	2020	Atlético Madrid	£45.3m[319] (release clause)	[320] [321]
8	Martin Ødegaard (captain)[322]	NOR	AM / CM (L)	(1998-12-17) 17 December 1998 (age 25)	1.78 m[323] (5 ft 10 in)	2021	Real Madrid	£30.0m[276]	[324] [325]
10	Emile Smith Rowe (HG, CT)	ENG	AM / LW (R)	(2000-07-28) 28 July 2000 (age 23)	1.82 m[326] (6 ft 0 in)	2017[327]	Arsenal Academy	N/A	[328] [329]
20	Jorginho	ITA	DM / CM (R)	(1991-12-20) 20 December 1991 (age 32)	1.80 m[330] (5 ft 11 in)	2023	Chelsea	£12.0m[331]	[332] [333]
21	Fábio Vieira	POR	AM / RW (L)	(2000-05-30) 30 May 2000 (age 23)	1.70 m[334] (5 ft 7 in)	2022	Porto	£29.9m[335] (initial fee)	[336] [337]
25	Mohamed Elneny	EGY	DM (R)	(1992-07-11) 11 July 1992 (age 31)	1.79 m[338] (5 ft 10 in)	2016	Basel	£5.0m[339]	[340] [341]
29	Kai Havertz*	GER	AM / ST (L)	(1999-06-11) 11 June 1999 (age 24)	1.93 m[342] (6 ft 4 in)	2023	Chelsea	£62.0m[31] (initial fee)	[343] [344]
41	Declan Rice* (HG, AT)[g]	ENG	DM / CM / CB (R)	(1999-01-14) 14 January 1999 (age 25)	1.85 m[345] (6 ft 1 in)	2023	West Ham United	£100.0m[43] (initial fee)	[346] [347]
Forwards
7	Bukayo Saka (HG, CT)	ENG	RW / LB (L)	(2001-09-05) 5 September 2001 (age 22)	1.78 m[348] (5 ft 10 in)	2018[349]	Arsenal Academy	N/A	[350] [351]
9	Gabriel Jesus (vice-captain)[36]	BRA	ST / LW / RW (R)	(1997-04-03) 3 April 1997 (age 27)	1.75 m[352] (5 ft 9 in)	2022	Manchester City	£45.0m[353]	[354] [355]
11	Gabriel Martinelli (HG, CT)	BRA	LW / ST / RW (R)	(2001-06-18) 18 June 2001 (age 22)	1.78 m[356] (5 ft 10 in)	2019	Ituano	£6.0m[357]	[358] [359]
14	Eddie Nketiah (HG, CT)	ENG	ST (R)	(1999-05-30) 30 May 1999 (age 24)	1.80 m[360] (5 ft 11 in)	2016[361]	Arsenal Academy	N/A	[360] [362]
19	Leandro Trossard	BEL	LW / ST / AM (R)	(1994-12-04) 4 December 1994 (age 29)	1.72 m[363] (5 ft 8 in)	2023	Brighton & Hove Albion	£21.0m[364] (initial fee)	[365] [366]
24	Reiss Nelson (HG, CT)	ENG	RW / LW (R)	(1999-12-10) 10 December 1999 (age 24)	1.75 m[367] (5 ft 9 in)	2016[368]	Arsenal Academy	N/A	[369] [370]
Out on loan
3	Kieran Tierney†	SCO	LB / LWB (L)	(1997-06-05) 5 June 1997 (age 26)	1.78 m[371] (5 ft 10 in)	2019	Celtic	£25.0m[372]	[373] [374]
23	Albert Sambi Lokonga†	BEL	CM (R)	(1999-10-22) 22 October 1999 (age 24)	1.83 m[375] (6 ft 0 in)	2021	Anderlecht	£17.2m[376]	[377] [378]
27	Marquinhos (U21)	BRA	RW (L)	(2003-04-07) 7 April 2003 (age 21)	1.75 m[379] (5 ft 9 in)	2022	São Paulo	Undisclosed[380]	[381] [382]
33	Arthur Okonkwo† (HG, CT)	ENG	GK (R)	(2001-09-09) 9 September 2001 (age 22)	1.98 m[383] (6 ft 6 in)	2018[349]	Arsenal Academy	N/A	[384] [385]
—	Nuno Tavares†	POR	LB / LWB (L)	(2000-01-26) 26 January 2000 (age 24)	1.83 m[386] (6 ft 0 in)	2021	Benfica	£8.0m[387]	[388] [389]

Squad number changes

Notes:

• Squad numbers last updated on 15 August 2023.^[203][67]
• The list is sorted by new squad number.
• Player^* – Player who joined Arsenal permanently or on loan during the season.
• Player^† – Player who departed Arsenal permanently or on loan during the season.

Player	Pos.	Prev. No.	New No.	Previous player to wear number	Notes	Ref.
William Saliba	DF	12	2	Héctor Bellerín (2021–22)	Bellerín departed the club (September 2022)	[390][11]
Jurriën Timber*	DF	—	12	William Saliba (2022–23)	Saliba took the number 2 shirt (July 2023)	[11][41]
David Raya*	GK	—	22	Pablo Marí (2022–23)	Marí departed the club (June 2023)	[34][54]
Kai Havertz*	MF	—	29	Matteo Guendouzi (2021–22)	Guendouzi departed the club (July 2022)	[391][32]
Auston Trusty†	DF	—	32	Aaron Ramsdale (2021–22)	Ramsdale took the number 1 shirt (August 2022)	[392]
Declan Rice*	MF	—	41	Mika Biereth (2023–24)	Biereth was re-allocated number 64 (July 2023)	[45]

Academy

Academy coaching staff

Position	Name	Nationality	Year joined	Last club/team	References
Academy Manager	Per Mertesacker	Germany	2018	Arsenal (as player)	[393][394]
Head of Academy Coaching	Luke Hobbs	England	2013	Southend United	[395][396]
Under-21s Head Coach	Mehmet Ali	Turkey	2022	Reading	[397][398]
Under-18s Head Coach	Jack Wilshere	England	2022	AGF (as player)	[397][398]

Academy players

As of 23 April 2024, ten Arsenal Academy players featured in a first-team matchday squad during the season.

Notes:

• Squad numbers last updated on 21 February 2024.^{[399][400][271][272]}
• Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
• Player^* – Player who joined Arsenal permanently or on loan during the season.
• Player^† – Player who departed Arsenal permanently or on loan during the season.
• Player (HG) – Player who fulfils the Premier League's "Home Grown Player" criteria.^{[266][267][268]}
• Player (CT) – Player who fulfils UEFA's "club-trained player" criteria.^[269][270]
• Player (AT) – Player who fulfils UEFA's "association-trained player" criteria.^[269][270]
• Player (U21) – Player who was registered by Arsenal as an Under-21 Player on the 2023–24 Premier League Squad List.^{[266][267][268]}
• Player (ListB) – Player who was registered by Arsenal on the 2023–24 UEFA Champions League Squad List B.^{[271][272][273]}

No.	Player	Nat.	Pos.	Date of birth (Age)	Games	Ref.
U21s
40	Mauro Bandeira (HG, CT, U21)	POR	MF	(2003-11-18) 18 November 2003 (age 20)[401]	2	[207][210]
45	Amario Cozier-Duberry (HG, CT, U21, ListB)	ENG	FW	(2005-05-29) 29 May 2005 (age 18)[402]	2	[102][131]
55	Bradley Ibrahim† (HG, CT, U21, ListB)	ENG	MF	(2004-10-21) 21 October 2004 (age 19)[403]	1	[133]
71	Charles Sagoe Jr.† (HG, CT, U21, ListB)	ENG	FW	(2004-07-24) 24 July 2004 (age 19)[404]	3	[102][131][133]
72	Lino Sousa† (HG, AT, U21)	ENG	DF	(2005-01-19) 19 January 2005 (age 19)[405]	2	[177][192]
73	James Sweet (HG, CT, U21, ListB)	WAL	DF	(2003-11-03) 3 November 2003 (age 20)[406]	3	[102][210][212]
76	Reuell Walters (HG, CT, U21, ListB)	ENG	DF	(2004-12-16) 16 December 2004 (age 19)[407]	11	[102][133][170][174][177][180] [192][195][198][204][207]
U18s
59	Myles Lewis-Skelly (HG, CT, U21, ListB)	ENG	MF	(2006-09-26) 26 September 2006 (age 17)[408]	2	[139][180]
63	Ethan Nwaneri (HG, CT, U21, ListB)	ENG	MF	(2007-03-21) 21 March 2007 (age 17)[409]	6	[139][177][188][192][207][212]
79	Ayden Heaven (HG, CT, U21, ListB)	ENG	DF	(2006-09-22) 22 September 2006 (age 17)[410]	1	[212]

Board and management team

Arsenal board^[411]

Position	Name	Ref.
Co-Chairman	Stan Kroenke	[412][413]
Co-Chairman	Josh Kroenke	[412][413]
Executive Vice-Chair	Tim Lewis	[413][414]
Director	Lord Harris of Peckham	[412][413]

Management team^[411]

Position	Name	Ref.
Chief Executive Officer	Vinai Venkatesham[a]	[417][415]
Sporting Director	Edu Gaspar	[418][419]
Director of Football Operations	Richard Garlick[b]	[422][420]
Head of Sports Medicine	Zafar Iqbal[c]	[425][424]

Contracts and transfers

New contracts

The following Arsenal players signed their first or new professional contracts with the club.

Date	No.	Pos.	Player	Contract type	Ref.
First team
6 July 2023	24	FW	Reiss Nelson	Contract extension till 2027[9]	[8]
7 July 2023	2	DF	William Saliba	Contract extension till 2027[10]	[11]
22 September 2023	8	MF	Martin Ødegaard	Contract extension till 2028[97]	[96]
14 March 2024	4	DF	Ben White	Contract extension till 2028[230]	[229]
20 March 2024	18	DF	Takehiro Tomiyasu	Contract extension till 2026[232]	[231]
Academy
6 July 2023	68	DF	Elián Quesada-Thorn	First professional contract	[426]
	70	DF	Josh Robinson		[427]
7 July 2023	51	MF	Jimi Gower		[428]
	66	MF	Ismail Oulad M'Hand		[429]
5 October 2023	59	MF	Myles Lewis-Skelly		[430]
28 March 2024	63	MF	Ethan Nwaneri		[431]

Released

The following players from Arsenal's first team, under-21s and under-18s squads were released by the club.

Date	No.	Pos.	Player	Subsequent club	Join date	Notes	Ref.
First team
30 June 2023	—	DF	Ainsley Maitland-Niles	Lyon (Ligue 1)	7 August 2023	End of contract	[28][432]
9 September 2023	—	FW	Nicolas Pépé	Trabzonspor (Süper Lig)	10 September 2023	Contract termination	[66][433]
1 February 2024	13	GK	Rúnar Alex Rúnarsson	Copenhagen (Superliga)	1 February 2024		[201][434]
Academy
30 June 2023	38	DF	Zach Awe	Southampton (Championship)	8 August 2023	End of contract	[28][435]
	57	FW	Joel Ideho	ADO Den Haag (Eerste Divisie)	9 August 2023		[28][436]
	61	FW	George Lewis	Unattached in the 2023–24 season			[28]
	72	MF	Matt Smith	Wigan Athletic (League One)	1 July 2023		[28][437]
	73	GK	Tom Smith	Colchester United (League Two)	31 July 2023		[28][438]
	88	FW	Kaleel Green		1 July 2023		[28][439]
	90	GK	Alexandar Kovacevic	Unattached in the 2023–24 season			[28]
	92	DF	Tino Quamina
	94	MF	Mathaeus Roberts	Ipswich Town U21 (PDL 2 South Division)	11 September 2023		[28][440]

Transfers in

Date	No.	Pos.	Player	Transferred from	Transfer fee	Ref.
First team
28 June 2023	29	MF	Kai Havertz	Chelsea (Premier League)	£62.0m + £3.0m[31]	[32]
14 July 2023	12	DF	Jurriën Timber	Ajax (Eredivisie)	£34.3m + £4.3m[40]	[41]
15 July 2023	41	MF	Declan Rice	West Ham United (Premier League)	£100.0m + £5.0m[43]	[45]
Academy
16 March 2024	—	DF	Brayden Clarke	Wolverhampton Wanderers (Premier League)	Undisclosed	[441]

Total expenditure: £196.3 million (excluding potential add-ons and bonuses)

Transfers out

Date	No.	Pos.	Player	Transferred to	Transfer fee	Ref.
First team
30 June 2023	22	DF	Pablo Marí	Monza (Serie A)	£6.0m[35]	[34]
6 July 2023	34	MF	Granit Xhaka	Bayer Leverkusen (Bundesliga)	£21.4m[37]	[38]
3 August 2023	32	DF	Auston Trusty	Sheffield United (Premier League)	£5.0m[47]	[48]
9 August 2023	30	GK	Matt Turner	Nottingham Forest (Premier League)	£10.0m[49]	[50]
30 August 2023	26	FW	Folarin Balogun	Monaco (Ligue 1)	£25.8m + £8.6m[58][a]	[59]
1 September 2023	16	DF	Rob Holding	Crystal Palace (Premier League)	£1.0m + £2.5m[64]	[63]
Academy
20 June 2023	62	FW	Nikolaj Möller	St. Gallen (Super League)	Undisclosed	[442]
28 June 2023	65	DF	Mazeed Ogungbo	Barrow (League Two)		[443]
1 August 2023	44	MF	Ben Cottrell	Mura (PrvaLiga)		[444]
6 September 2023	37	DF	Ryan Alebiosu	Kortrijk (Pro League)		[445]
10 September 2023	49	MF	Marcelo Flores	Tigres (Liga MX)		[446]
11 September 2023	36	MF	Tim Akinola	Al Bidda (Second Division)		[447]
1 February 2024	39	MF	Miguel Azeez	Atlético Baleares (Primera Federación)		[448]
	55	MF	Bradley Ibrahim	Hertha BSC (2. Bundesliga)		[449]
	72	DF	Lino Sousa	Aston Villa (Premier League)		[450]

Total income: £69.2 million (excluding potential add-ons, bonuses and undisclosed figures)

Loans in

Date	No.	Pos.	Player	Loaned from	On loan until	Loan fee	Ref.
First team
15 August 2023	22	GK	David Raya	Brentford (Premier League)	End of season	£3.0m[53][a]	[54]

Total expenditure: £3.0 million (excluding further fees)

Loans out

Date	No.	Pos.	Player	Loaned to	On loan until	Loan fee	Ref.
First team
12 August 2023	27	FW	Marquinhos	Nantes (Ligue 1)	12 January 2024‡	Undisclosed	[51][200]
18 August 2023	13	GK	Rúnar Alex Rúnarsson	Cardiff City (Championship)	1 February 2024‡		[55][201]
27 August 2023	3	DF	Kieran Tierney	Real Sociedad (La Liga)	End of season	£1.2m[57]	[56]
1 September 2023	23	MF	Albert Sambi Lokonga	Luton Town (Premier League)		Undisclosed	[65]
	33	GK	Arthur Okonkwo	Wrexham (League Two)			[62]
	—	DF	Nuno Tavares	Nottingham Forest (Premier League)		£1.0m[61][a]	[60]
15 February 2024	27	FW	Marquinhos	Fluminense (Série A)	January 2025	Undisclosed	[202]
Academy
26 June 2023	43	MF	Cătălin Cîrjan	Rapid București (Liga I)	End of season	Undisclosed	[451]
18 July 2023	40	MF	Mauro Bandeira	Colchester United (League Two)	3 January 2024‡		[452][453]
20 July 2023	75	FW	Billy Vigar	Eastbourne Borough (National League South)	End of season		[454]
21 July 2023	52	GK	Hubert Graczyk	Slough Town (National League South)	25 August 2023‡		[455][456]
3 August 2023	64	FW	Mika Biereth	Motherwell (Premiership)	18 January 2024‡		[457][458]
11 August 2023	67	MF	Charlie Patino	Swansea City (Championship)	End of season		[459]
24 August 2023	62	DF	Brooke Norton-Cuffy	Millwall (Championship)			[460]
25 August 2023	57	FW	Tyreece John-Jules	Derby County (League One)			[461][462]
31 August 2023	65	MF	Salah-Eddine Oulad M'Hand	Den Bosch (Eerste Divisie)			[463]
1 September 2023	42	FW	Nathan Butler-Oyedeji	Cheltenham Town (League One)	1 February 2024‡		[464][465]
	56	DF	Henry Jeffcott	Derby County (League One)	2 February 2024‡		[466][467]
	69	DF	Omar Rekik	Wigan Athletic (League One)	22 January 2024		[468][469]
	90	GK	Brian Okonkwo	Leatherhead (Isthmian League South Central)	January 2024	Work experience	[470]
4 September 2023	58	DF	Alex Kirk	Bromley (National League)	End of season	Undisclosed	[471]
	74	FW	Kido Taylor-Hart
19 January 2024	64	FW	Mika Biereth	Sturm Graz (Bundesliga)			[472]
1 February 2024	47	FW	Khayon Edwards	Leyton Orient (League One)			[473]
	61	DF	Zane Monlouis	Reading (League One)			[474]
	71	FW	Charles Sagoe Jr.	Swansea City (Championship)			[475]
2 February 2024	69	DF	Omar Rekik	Servette (Super League)			[476]
18 March 2024	90	GK	Brian Okonkwo	Cheshunt (Isthmian League)		Work experience	[477]

Total income: £2.2 million (excluding undisclosed figures)

Overall transfer activity

Note: All loan fees included. All potential add-ons, bonuses and undisclosed figures excluded.

Transfer window	Spending	Income	Net expenditure
Summer 2023	£199.3 million	£73.1 million[a]	£126.2 million
Winter 2024	£0.0 million	£0.0 million	£0.0 million
Total	£199.3 million	£73.1 million	£126.2 million

Kits

Supplier: Adidas / Sponsor: Fly Emirates / Sleeve sponsor: Visit Rwanda

Home 0

Home alt. 0

Away 0

Away alt. 0

Third 0

Third alt. 0

"No More Red" 0

Goalkeeper1 0

Goalkeeper2 0

Goalkeeper3 0

Goalkeeper3 alt. 0

Kit information

This is Adidas's fifth year supplying Arsenal kit, having taken over from Puma at the beginning of the 2019–20 season.^[479][480] On 2 August 2023, Arsenal and Emirates announced that they had extended their partnership to 2028 – the longest-running front-of-shirt sponsorship in Premier League history.^[481][482]

• Home: The club confirmed on 26 May 2023 that their new home kit for the 2023–24 season would debut in the final home game of the 2022–23 season. The home kit uses Arsenal's traditional colours of red and white. The shirt has a red body and white sleeves, and is complemented by white shorts and white socks. Red socks were used in some away games when there was a colour clash with the home team's kit. The new kit pays tribute to the 20th anniversary of the 2003–04 Invincibles season, as the Gunners' crest, Adidas' logo and three stripes feature in gold, while a lightning bolt pattern appears on the socks.^[483][484]
• Away: The new men's team away kit was revealed on 18 July, during the club's US tour. The shirt features black lines inspired by the map of Islington, Arsenal's home borough. A yellow base colour is complemented by light blue accents on the collars and sleeves. The shirt is partnered with black shorts and yellow socks.^[485][486] Yellow shorts may be used in some away games when there will be a colour clash with the home team's kit. The kit was launched with an accompanying video that shows a fictional radio station set deep within Emirates Stadium broadcasting "Islington's finest to the world".^[486][487] The kit debuted in the 2023 Major League Soccer All-Star Game on July 19.^[19]
• Third: On 18 August, the Gunners unveiled their new third kit, which pays homage to their green and navy-blue away kit from the 1982–83 season. The shirt has a green base with navy shoulders and a simple off-white cannon badge at chest, and is combined with navy shorts and green socks.^[488][489] White socks were used in some away games when there was a colour clash with the home team's kit. The kit was launched alongside a film that "brings continental style to the streets of Islington".^[488][490] The kit debuted in Arsenal's UEFA Champions League group stage match against French side Lens on 3 October.^[107]
• No More Red: On 4 January 2024, Arsenal announced that they would extend their "No More Red" campaign – an initiative that aims to help keep young people safe from knife crime and youth violence – for a third season. The all-white kit would be worn for the first time in a home fixture on 7 January when they would face Liverpool in the FA Cup third round.^[491]
• Goalkeeper: The new goalkeeper kits are based on Adidas's goalkeeper template for the season.

Kit usage

As of 23 April 2024

Pre-season and friendlies

On 21 March 2023, Arsenal announced that they would travel to the United States in July to compete against the MLS All-Stars.^[493] On 28 April, a further US tour friendly was confirmed against Manchester United in New Jersey in July.^[494] On 12 May, Arsenal announced their third and final pre-season fixture in the US this summer, against Barcelona at SoFi Stadium, the home to the National Football League's Los Angeles Rams which is also owned by Kroenke Sports and Entertainment.^[495] The Gunners confirmed on 8 June that they would travel to Germany to face 1. FC Nürnberg as part of a pre-season training camp at the Adidas headquarters in July, before heading to the US.^[496] A day later, the club announced the return of the Emirates Cup with Monaco confirmed as opponents.^[497]

  Win   Draw   Loss   Fixtures

1. FC Nürnberg v Arsenal

13 July 2023 Friendly	1. FC Nürnberg	1–1	Arsenal	Nuremberg, Germany
19:00 CEST (18:00 BST)	Okunuki  45+3' Márquez  48' Jorginho 62' (o.g.)	Report	Saka 7' Trusty  70'	Stadium: Max-Morlock-Stadion Attendance: 19,000 Referee: Michael Bacher (Germany)

MLS All-Stars v Arsenal

19 July 2023 2023 MLS All-Star Game	MLS All-Stars	0–5	Arsenal	Washington, United States
20:30 EDT (01:30 BST +1)	Martínez  13' Barreal  18' Almada  45+3' Glesnes  45+6'	Report	Gabriel Jesus 5' Gabriel  21' Trossard 23' Jorginho 47' (pen.) Havertz  60', 89' Martinelli 84'	Stadium: Audi Field Attendance: 20,621 Referee: Ted Unkel (United States)

Arsenal v Manchester United

22 July 2023 Friendly	Arsenal	0–2 (3–5 p)	Manchester United	East Rutherford, United States
17:00 EDT (22:00 BST)	Gabriel Jesus  85'	Report	Fernandes 30' Sancho 37' Martínez  43' Maguire  73'	Stadium: MetLife Stadium Attendance: 82,262 Referee: Rubiel Vazquez (United States)
	Penalties
	Ødegaard Trossard Vieira Jorginho		Casemiro Dalot Lindelöf Rashford Eriksen

Arsenal v Barcelona

26 July 2023 Friendly	Arsenal	5–3	Barcelona	Los Angeles, United States
20:06 PDT (04:06 BST +1)	Saka 13', 22' Trossard  27', 55', 78' Havertz  36', 43' White  41' Vieira 89'	Report	Lewandowski 7' Raphinha 34' Araújo  37' Torres 88'	Stadium: SoFi Stadium Attendance: 70,223 Referee: Alex Chilowicz (United States)
Note: The game was delayed by 36 minutes due to an issue with the pitch.[498]

Arsenal v Monaco

2 August 2023 2023 Emirates Cup	Arsenal	1–1 (5–4 p)	Monaco	Holloway
18:00 BST	Saliba  25' Nketiah 43' Gabriel  67'	Report	Fofana 31' Ben Yedder  68'	Stadium: Emirates Stadium Attendance: 60,000 Referee: Anthony Taylor (England)
	Penalties
	Ødegaard Jorginho Havertz Vieira Gabriel		Caio Henrique Fofana Diatta Minamino Volland
Note: This result ensured that Arsenal won the 2023 Emirates Cup.

Competitions

Overall record

FA Community Shield

Arsenal, as Premier League runners-up in the previous season, played against Manchester City in the 2023 FA Community Shield, who themselves won the league and FA Cup double.^[499]

Premier League

League table

Results summary

Results by round

Matches

The league fixtures were announced on 15 June 2023.^[502][503] A selection of fixtures were rescheduled for live TV coverage in the UK, or were moved due to clashing with domestic or European cup competitions.

  Win   Draw   Loss   Fixtures