Gunners poised for 'big things' with handbrake released

A week can be a long time in football. This time last week, Manchester City were staring down the decline and fall of their empire, only to destroy Manchester United in the derby before making relatively short work of Napoli in the Champions League.

- John Brewin

Despite City's resurgence, Arsenal could reconfirm the primacy over Pep Guardiola's men they held in the 2024-25 season's Premier League table and lay down an early marker at the Emirates on Sept 21.

They are certainly capable enough. Their £250 million (S$432.7 million) spending spree over the summer is bringing impressive yields.

Perhaps the deepest measure of the quality and added depth is that injuries to Bukayo Saka, William Saliba and Martin Odegaard have not brought the same panic as 12 months ago. The team that finished second three seasons in succession are poised to go one better.

Noni Madueke, a signing met with fans' disquiet when arriving from Chelsea, has proven an able deputy for Saka, while Martin Zubimendi, who scored twice last week against Nottingham Forest, is a high-class, creative midfielder.