The 2023-24 season is huge for Arsenal Football Club. After contesting their first proper Premier League title race for what seemed like a very long time in 2022-23, the next season would determine whether that was a flash in the pan, or whether Arsenal were properly back.
Spoiler Alert: Arsenal Football Club is back.
We chronicled this vital season for the Gunners, reviewing each month from before a ball was even kicked, right through to the final kick in May. Let’s see just how the season unfolded in North London, and at the bottom there are details on how you can secure Arsenal Hospitality tickets for the 2024-25 season.
Pre Season
It can be difficult to plan for a season after you have just exceeded expectations. For Mikel Arteta, he had developed such a close bond between the players and the supporters during their ‘comeback’ season in 2022-23, that he could have been forgiven for playing it safe and not rocking the boat too much.
But then there was one area of the team that needed improvement. Thomas Partey was in and out the team for one reason or another, and they struggled to replace his presence in midfield. So instead of investing in a stand-in, Arteta decided to finally splash the cash on Declan Rice (a transfer saga that seemed to literally last years). Arsenal had one of the best midfielders in the country.
With the extra additions of German international Kai Havertz, goalkeeper David Raya, to offer competition to Aaron Ramsdale, and Jurriën Timber to help secure up the defence, Arsenal were good to go. The large spend probably added a bit of pressure to the squad, but added plenty of quality in important areas.
A pre-season tour of America saw Arsenal test the squad against quality opposition – Manchester United and Barcelona, as well as a ‘Major League All-Stars’ side, who were swept aside 5-0. Back home, they beat Monaco on penalties after a 1-1 draw, in a match which saw Gabriel Jesus pick up a knee injury and keep him on the sidelines for a few weeks. Not the ideal preparation for the start of the Premier League.
August 2023
Before the season started in earnest, Arsenal played treble winners Manchester City at Wembley in the FA Community Shield. Cole Palmer put Man City 1-0, shortly before his transfer to Chelsea, and it looked like it was to be the winner, before Leandro Trossard equalised in the 11th (eleventh) minute of injury time. The game went straight to penalties at full time, which Arsenal won 4-1.
The Community Shield may be looked down on by many as being effectively a pre-season friendly, but it felt like an important moment for Arsenal Football Club having lost the previous eight matches against all-conquering Man City – could this be the year they go toe-to-toe with them?
The first game of the Premier League campaign saw Arsenal face Nottingham Forest at The Emirates Stadium, and they won 2-1 – a solid start. The game wasn’t without setbacks though – new signing Jurriën Timber limped off after 50 minutes, with an injury that the club later confirmed to be an ACL injury. He would miss most of the season.
Next up they travelled to Crystal Palace, where the players held up a t-shirt in support of Timber before the match. Arsenal won 1-0, thanks to a Martin Odegaard penalty, but again faced adversity when Takehiro Tomiyasu was controversially sent off. They managed to hang on to take home the three points.
In the final match of the month, they drew 2-2 at home to Fulham in a match that had a bit of everything – a goal in the first minute of the match, a penalty, a sending off and a late equaliser. Arsenal were frustrated that they didn’t get the win, but it had been a solid, if unspectacular, start to the season.
September 2023
Arsenal faced their sternest test of the season to date when Manchester United visited the Emirates Stadium. They went a goal down, but responded well, with an equaliser from Ødegaard who was having an excellent start to the campaign. The game looked like it might be heading for a draw, when all of sudden it exploded into life. First, Alejandro Garnacho thought he’d scored the winner for United on 88 minutes, only for it to be ruled out for offside by VAR. Relief for Arsenal fans turned to utter jubilation when Bukayo Saka slammed home in the 6th minute of injury time. Five minutes later (for this was the first season that the Premier League decided to keep matches going until fans missed the last train home), a Diogo Dalot own goal sealed an impressive 3-1 win.
After an international break, Arsenal faced Everton, who were really struggling at the start of the season, but put up a fight at Goodison Park. It took a 68th minute Trossard goal to beat them 1-0 – again, not vintage Arsenal, but they got the result.
The Champions League took over then, with a comfortable 4-0 win over PSV Eindhoven marking Arsenal’s return to the competition after six long years away.
Then came the first North London derby of the season. It was a right old ding-dong affair. Arsenal took the lead, Tottenham Hotspur equalised. Arsenal took the lead again, Spurs equalised. It finished 2-2, which at that early stage of the season, was an okay result for both sides.
The League Cup presented Mikel Arteta with a chance to rotate the squad a bit, as they beat Brentford 1-0 with a young side. Reiss Nelson scored the winner.
Back to the Premier League and a trip to Bournemouth next – and the first signs that things were beginning to click. A 4-0 thumping put Arsenal just one point off the top of the league.
October 2023
A return to Champions League action saw Arsenal lose their first match of the season, a 2-1 defeat to Lens. Things weren’t helped when the club’s flight over to France was delayed, which meant they landed late the night before the game. Not ideal preparation, but there was still enough games left in the group to make amends.
Then came a huge match – Manchester City at the Emirates Stadium. The fifth match of 2023 that saw Arsenal play City. Arsenal were without Saka (for the first time in an incredible 87 matches), but they fought hard in a close game. Rice proved his worth with a goal-line clearance early on, and the new-found depth of the squad was highlighted when Arsenal bought on four players who all contributed to the winning goal in the 87th minute, scored by Gabriel Martinelli. A 1-0 win lifted the Gunners to joint top of the league.
After (another) international break, they faced London rivals Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. It wasn’t going well, and Arsenal were 2-0 down heading towards the final 10 minutes when Rice and Trossard scored to rescue a point in a 2-2 draw.
An away game at Sevilla saw Arsenal get their Champions League campaign back on track, with a 2-1 win, before they rounded off the month in style with an emphatic 5-0 win against Sheffield United at the Emirates Stadium.
November 2023
Fighting on so many fronts took its toll in early November, as a 3-1 defeat away to West Ham United saw Arsenal eliminated from the League Cup. A setback, for sure, but there were bigger fish to fry…
On the fourth of November, Arsenal travelled north to play Newcastle, in what would prove to be one of the most controversial matches of the season. There were plenty of contentious decisions throughout the game, but none more than for the goal which proved to be the winner for the hosts. In the 63rd minute, the ball appeared to have gone out, when a Newcastle player brought it back into play. The ball came back into the box, there was another potential foul on an Arsenal player, but the ball was eventually put into the net by Anthony Gordon, who may have been offside. The video assistant referee took over four minutes to analyse the footage, but in the end no clear and obvious error could be found.
The match finished with Arsenal losing 1-0, and Mikel Arteta lost his cool in his post match interview. He called the officiating “an embarrassment” and “a disgrace”. He certainly had a point, and he was backed up by an official statement by the club, but his reaction made many neutrals question whether he had the right mindset for a serious title charge. What he did do, though, was take the attention away from his players who, in truth, had not done enough to win the game.
All of this unpleasantness was shaken off with another victory over Sevilla, this time 2-0, put Arsenal four points clear at the top of their Champions League group. Job pretty much done.
Burnley were the next team to visit the Emirates Stadium, and they were dispatched 3-1 without much fuss, although Fábio Vieira was sent off late on. There followed (another) international break…
Upon returning, a 1-0 win over Brentford, put Arsenal top of the Premier League. This was Mikel Arteta’s 200th game in charge, and he had notched up more wins than any other manager in Arsenal’s history in that number of matches. An incredible achievement.
The month was rounded off in emphatic fashion with a 6-0 win over Lens, to secure qualification to the knockout stage of the Champions League.
December 2023
The busy month of December began with a 2-1 home win over Wolverhampton Wanderers, a match which saw Arsenal score their 100th goal of the calendar year, which underlined just h9ow far they have come under Arteta.
Just three days later, they travelled to Luton Town – a team that had been seen as relegation certainties, but had surprised a few sides that had expected to sweep them aside. It proved to be an epic battle between two clubs at the opposite ends of the table. Arsenal went ahead, Luton equalised. Arsenal went ahead just before half time, but two goals from Luton early in the second half put them ahead. Arsenal then equalised, and pushed for a winner, which eventually came when Declan Rice headed in an Martin Odegaard cross in injury time, to spark jubilation in the away end. 4-3, and a real sign that Arsenal FC were willing to dig deep to win every match this year.
Next up though, they travelled to high-flying Aston Villa, who had beaten Man City just three days before. John McGinn put the hosts a goal up early on, finishing off a wonderful team goal. Arsenal then dominated the game, but struggled to create many clear cut chances against a tiring, but stubborn, Villa defence. Another 1-0 defeat saw the Gunners slip to second in the league.
A 1-1 draw away at PSV, completed a successful group stage of the Champions League, before a potentially tricky home game against Brighton & Hove Albion. Goals from Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz saw Arsenal get back on track with a 2-0 win.
Then came a huge match at Anfield. Just before Christmas, and the top two teams in the Premier League battling it out – it was the game the whole country wanted to see. Gabriel Magalhães put Arsenal a goal up, before Mohamed Salah equalised for Liverpool just before the half hour mark. The rest of the match was mainly remembered for players slipping over – Ødegaard was perhaps fortunate to not concede a penalty when he slipped and handled the ball in his box, while Saka slipped, nudging Kostas Tsimikas off the pitch in an incident that broke the latter’s collarbone. In the end, the match finished 1-1, and Arsenal were top at Christmas for the second year running.
One December 28th, Arsenal suffered their first home defeat of the season in a 2-0 loss to West Ham. Arsenal slipped to second in the league. The post-Christmas hangover was compounded on New Year’s Eve with a 2-1 defeat to Fulham, in a match that Arsenal took the lead – the first time they had lost having gone 1-0 up for 48 matches.
It was a disappointing end to an incredible year for the club. But results like this are to be expected in months where you play so many matches, it’s difficult for any team to have any type of consistency. It was time to regroup.
January 2024
A new year always signifies a new FA Cup campaign. Arsenal were given an incredibly tough 3rd round draw – Liverpool at the Emirates Stadium. It was a cracking cup tie for the neutral, with both teams desperate for the win (and to avoid a replay!), but it was Liverpool who got their noses ahead after an unfortunate own goal from Jakub Kiwior, and an injury time goal from Luiz Diaz sealed a 2-0 defeat for the Gunners. The mini-slump continued.
The Winter Break came at the perfect time for Arsenal Football Club. The squad travelled to Dubai for a training camp, before returning to Premier League action on January 20th, against Crystal Palace at home. This was more like it, as Arsenal romped to a comfortable 5-0 win against the Eagles, and they were back up to third in the league.
The month was rounded off with a 2-1 win away at Nottingham Forest, with goals from Saka and Jesus. After a little wobble around Christmas, Arsenal were now officially back.
February 2024
February started with a match against Liverpool – the third time Arsenal faced the Reds in the last seven matches. In the previous two meetings there had been a Liverpool win and a draw, so to complete the set Arsenal fought hard to win the game 3-1. Saka, Martinelli and Trossad with the goals. The win took Arsenal just two points behind Liverpool at the top of the league, with everything to play for. The title race was seriously heating up, with Man City looming just behind the top two.
Then it was time for a spot of redemption. The defeat to West Ham over Christmas had hurt the Gunners, so the match on the 11th of February gave them a chance to put things right – and boy did they. Declan Rice scored a stunner against his old club to round off a 6-0 battering. West Ham can be grateful that Arsenal took it easy for the last half hour or so.
They kept up their great form in the Premier League with another one-sided win, this time 5-0 away to Burnley. After a wobble over Christmas, Arsenal had begun 2024 with five consecutive victories in the Premier League to put themselves firmly in the title picture.
A minor setback was to come in the Champions League, though. A 1-0 defeat away to Porto in the first leg of their knockout tie meant that there was plenty of work to do in the reverse leg at the Emirates Stadium.
Then just time for an extra bit of redemption – this time against Newcastle United after the controversial defeat at St James’ Park. Newcastle are a tricky side to play, but had been struggling with injuries, and Arsenal put them to the sword. 2-0 up at half time, they were in full control of the match, and ran out 4-1 winners on an evening in which Saka became the first Englishman to score in five consecutive Premier League matches since Ian Wright.
March 2024
Arsenal were hitting form at just the right time. They kicked off March with an away match against Sheffield United, who seemed like certainties for relegation. It was a complete mauling – they were 5-0 up after 39 minutes, and cruised to a 6-0 victory, and in doing so became the first side in more than 60 years to score five or more goals in three consecutive away matches.
Next up was a home match against Brentford. There was a change in goal as David Raya was ineligible against his parent club, so Aaron Ramsdale was between the sticks. A Rice header put Arsenal ahead, and they were controlling the game when Ramsdale made a massive mistake to allow Yoane Wissa to equalise in first half stoppage time. The second half saw Arsenal push for a winner, but Brentford managed to keep them out – until the 86th minute when Kai Havertz nodded in a Ben White cross. 2-1 and top of the league. Utter jubilation – eight wins on the bounce in the league.
Next up was the Champions League and the second leg against Porto. After 41 minutes they overturned the 1-0 deficit from the first leg with a Trossard goal (following a brilliant assist from Ødegaard). Then there was a very tense second half, followed by extra time, where neither team could find a winner, and so it went to penalties. Ødegaard, Havertz, Saka and Rice all scored their efforts, while Raya kept two out – Arsenal were through to the quarter final for the first time in over a decade.
After the final international break of the season, the Gunners travelled to the Etihad Stadium for a title crunch match against Manchester City. Mikel Arteta deployed much more defensive tactics, seemingly happy to come away with a point, which is exactly what he got in a 0-0 draw. There was a three-way race for the title, with these two teams and Liverpool, who were two points clear at the top following this result. Who would hold their nerve in the run-in?
April 2024
A straightforward 2-0 win against relegation-threatened Luton Town was the perfect way to kick off the month, which was quickly followed by a trip to Brighton a few days later. A potentially difficult match ended up being a pretty straightforward 3-0 win, which meant they had won 10 matches out of 11, dropping just two points since the turn of the year. Sensational form – good enough to win the league? They were now top of the league.
Before they could concentrate on that, they had the small matter of Bayern Munich in the Champions League quarter final. The first leg at the Emirates Stadium was a thrilling match – Saka put Arsenal one up, before former player Serge Gnabry equalised. Harry Kane then put Bayern ahead, before Trossard kept up his incredible run of Champions League goals, netting in each of his first four home matches in the competition. It finished 2-2, with all to play for in the second leg.
Back to the Premier League and a home match against Aston Villa, who had won the reverse fixture at Villa Park. Villa’s form had started to dwindle by this stage in the season, but a great save from Emi Martinez kept the score 0-0 at half time, and in the second half, the nerves around the Emirates seemed to impact the players, as Villa took control. Goals from Leon Bailey and Ollie Watkins sealed a 2-0 defeat – Arsenal’s first league loss of 2024, and a hammer blow for their title hopes.
A 1-0 defeat away to Bayern in the second leg sealed a rare week to forget for Arsenal. It was a Champions League campaign to be proud of, but could be seen as a missed opportunity. Arsenal were one of the best sides in the competition, and will have felt that they could have maybe got further than the quarter finals.
Time to pick themselves up with a trip to Molineux to face Wolves, where Trossard and Ødegaard goals saw another routine 2-0 win. Then a resounding win over Chelsea – 5-0 – their biggest ever win over Chelsea, and everything felt back on track. The goals were flowing and the defence was as good as it’s ever been.
Then it was time for a trip to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. The first half went as well as it possibly could – an own goal, Saka and Havertz put Arsenal 3-0 up, and they were cruising. But nerves were tested when a Raya error let Spurs back into the game, and a late penalty made everything much more stressful than it should have been, but they hung on for a 3-2 win, and retained the North London derby bragging rights. Into the final month of the season – Liverpool had started to slip up, but Manchester City were at their mechanical best, churning out victory after victory to take the initiative.
May 2024
Down to the final stretch, and Bournemouth at home to start the month. It was another straightforward victory, with a Saka penalty in the first half, with Trossard and Rice completing a 3-0 win in the second half. Arsenal were still top of the league, but Man City, just a point behind, had that crucial game in hand.
For the final away game of the season they travelled to Old Trafford to face Man United. No one could predict what kind of United side would show up – they had underperformed all season, but still managed to pick up points that their performances didn’t really deserve. Trossard again was the difference, picking up the only goal of the game in a 1-0 win. But with Man City winning, they needed a favour from Tottenham Hotspur, of all teams, in order to win the title.
So all eyes were on the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Sections of the Spurs fans were actively supporting City, just so Arsenal had no chance of winning the title, but in truth, that didn’t impact the result. The Spurs players just weren’t good enough to beat Man City, as two goals from Haaland secured the title for Man City. Arsenal were destined for another Runners Up spot.
The season finished with a 2-1 win over Everton. A bit of an anti-climax, but it did see Jurrien Timber make his return from injury – he could make a big difference to the squad next season.
Arsenal 2023-24 Season Review In Brief
Arsenal were fantastic this season. They proved that, as a team, they have matured, and grown into genuine title challengers, and they look here to stay. In 2024, in particular, they were comfortably better than almost every other team in the league, and but for one slip up against Aston Villa, they would have been champions. They just met a Man City side that didn’t make any slip ups in the run-in – as we have seen so many times.
Of course, there are 115 reasons why Arsenal can feel aggrieved about finishing runners up. But in the bigger picture, they are the side that looks the most stable over the next five years or so. Who knows what will happen with Man City, Liverpool will have to rebuild after Klopp, and with Chelsea, Spurs and Man United all underperforming for a few years now, Arsenal may be the side to beat.
The squad is young, and they are learning every year. A true, natural goalscorer and you have to think they will be close to unstoppable next season. They are one of the most exciting clubs in the world right now, and will get better and better in time.
Arsenal FC Hospitality Tickets
If you are interested in getting yourself down to the Emirates Stadium to see in person how this story unravels, then Arsenal hospitality tickets are a great way to do that. We are proud to be able to offer some incredible Arsenal hospitality packages that will not only guarantee that you get a ticket to your desired fixtures, but also that you get to enjoy a wonderful matchday experience.
Here are a couple of our favourite VIP packages at Arsenal Football Club:
Cannon Club
The Cannon Club hospitality package at Arsenal is perfect for casual fans who want to enjoy the pre-match buzz and the game itself without the formality of other packages.
You’ll be able to access the Club Level section of the ground up to two and a half hours before kick off, where you will be able to redeem your food and drink vouchers at the numerous outlets. You’ll get to mingle amongst other fans as the anticipation for the game builds.
For the match, you’ll have an executive padded seat at Club Level, right behind the goal. A great view of the action. Then at half time you can pop back down for a complimentary drink.
You’ll have access to Club Level for another hour after the match, where you can chat about the game while you wait for the crowds to clear.
Dial Square
Dial Square is a fantastic hospitality package. Again, you will have access to the exclusive area from up to two and a half hours before kick off, and there you will be able to enjoy complimentary drinks (beer, wine and soft drinks), and settle down on a shared table for an incredible three-course a la carte meal.
Your match seats will be at Club Level, either behind the goal or on the corner flag – again, some of the best views in the stadium. More refreshments will be available at half time. You’ll also be given admission to the Arsenal Museum on matchday.
If you are interested in Arsenal VIP tickets, we can help you out. Simply have a look at the upcoming fixtures, and when you know which dates suit you and your guests, get in touch with us and we can take it from there. This could be a truly memorable season for Arsenal Football Club – you don’t want to miss it.
