2022–23 Arsenal F.C. season

The 2022–23 season was Arsenal Football Club's 31st season in the Premier League, their 97th consecutive season in the top flight of English football and 106th season in the top flight overall. In addition to the domestic league, Arsenal also participated in this season's editions of the FA Cup, EFL Cup and UEFA Europa League, the latter of which was their 37th European campaign.
Managed by Mikel Arteta in his third full season, Arsenal were the second-youngest team in the Premier League with an average starting age of 25 years and 52 days. Following eliminations from the FA Cup, EFL Cup and UEFA Europa League, they finished second in the Premier League and qualified for next season's UEFA Champions League after a six-year absence.
The season covers the period from 1 July 2022 to 30 June 2023. Notably, the fixture dates of domestic and European competitions were altered to accommodate the FIFA World Cup played in November and December 2022 in Qatar.
On 20 December 2019, Arsenal appointed former club captain Mikel Arteta – who was 37 years old then and had never managed before – as the new head coach on a three-and-a-half-year deal. The 2019–20 season had been defined by a three-month lull between March and June, caused by the COVID-19 pandemic; and when it returned, it was behind closed doors. The Gunners finished the league season in eighth place – far from a European qualification spot; but they earned a record-extending 14th FA Cup win on 1 August 2020, helping them qualify for next season's Europa League, and making Arteta the first person to win the FA Cup as both captain and coach of the club.
The 2020–21 season was heavily affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, as lots of domestic and European games were played behind closed doors. After Arsenal triumphed in the 2020 FA Community Shield, Arteta's title was changed to manager. On 26 December 2020, the Gunners recorded an important victory at home against Chelsea to end their seven-game run without a win in the Premier League and relieve the pressure on Arteta. On 18 April 2021, Arsenal were announced as a founding club of the breakaway European competition The Super League; they withdrew from the competition two days later amid near-universal condemnation. The Gunners finished the season in eighth place once again, this time not qualifying for a European competition for the first time in 25 years.
The 2021–22 season, which was documented in the Amazon Prime Video series All or Nothing: Arsenal, was a rollercoaster season for the Gunners. With their three consecutive defeats without scoring a goal to open the Premier League campaign, the club dropped to 20th, sitting at the bottom of the table, which was their worst start to a season for 67 years. Since then, a new look Arsenal started to emerge, with several academy graduates and new signings making a major impact. In fact, the Gunners were the youngest team in the 2021–22 Premier League with an average starting age of 24 years and 308 days – more than a whole year younger than the next team. Arteta's Arsenal rebuild on and off the pitch began to take shape in this season, with the Gunners moving into the top four for several times between December 2021 and May 2022. On 6 May 2022, the club announced that the Spaniard had signed a new contract to the end of the 2024–25 campaign. Arsenal finished the league season in fifth place, narrowly missing out on Champions League football.
It was reported on 29 June 2022 that the first-team players who were not in action for their respective countries since the end of the previous campaign were back to the London Colney training ground for pre-season training.
On 4 July, the Gunners travelled to Germany for a small training camp at Adidas headquarters in Herzogenaurach. Five academy players – Salah-Eddine Oulad M'Hand, Charlie Patino, Matt Smith, Lino Sousa and Reuell Walters – were with the first-team squad.
Four days later, Arsenal faced 2. Bundesliga side 1. FC Nürnberg at Max-Morlock-Stadion in Nuremberg. New signings Gabriel Jesus, Marquinhos and Matt Turner made their non-competitive debuts for the club in a 5–3 win. They returned to England on the next day.
On 11 July, Arsenal confirmed that the internationals who were in action for their respective countries in June were all back to London Colney. Two days later, manager Arteta named a 33-man squad for the trip to the United States where they would play three more friendlies. The 17-year-old defender Reuell Walters was the only academy player to travel with the first team to the US.
The Gunners faced fellow Premier League side Everton at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, Maryland on 16 July. Gabriel Jesus and Bukayo Saka both scored one goal in the first half, helping the team win 2–0. Four days later, Arsenal took on Major League Soccer side Orlando City at Exploria Stadium in Orlando, Florida. The Gunners won 3–1 with Gabriel Martinelli scoring the opener, Eddie Nketiah scoring the second, and Reiss Nelson scoring the third.
On 23 July, the club played their third and final game of the USA tour – also the final game of the 2022 Florida Cup series – against Premier League side Chelsea at Camping World Stadium in Orlando. New signing Oleksandr Zinchenko made his non-competitive debut for Arsenal. In the 15th minute, Gabriel Jesus put the Gunners ahead with his fourth goal of pre-season. On 36 minutes, Martin Ødegaard added a further goal by sliding his shot low into the net. Saka scored the third shortly after the hour mark. Albert Sambi Lokonga headed in a cross from Cédric Soares at the far post in the closing stages, making the score 4–0. Arsenal ended the 10-day trip to America with winning the Florida Cup.
The Gunners finished their pre-season campaign by thrashing La Liga side Sevilla 6–0 to claim the 2022 Emirates Cup on 30 July. The match saw four goals in the opening 20 minutes, courtesy of braces from Saka and Gabriel Jesus, with the Brazilian completing his treble on 77 minutes before Nketiah netted in the final minute.
Before the start of the game against Sevilla, Arsenal announced that Ødegaard was named their new men's first-team captain.
In the previous season, French centre-back William Saliba spent a year on loan with Marseille in Ligue 1. During his time with Marseille, Saliba made 52 appearances in all competitions, and helped the club to second in the league, whilst also reaching the semi-finals of the inaugural Europa Conference League season. Saliba was named as Ligue 1 Young Player of the Year and was awarded a position in the Team of the Year. He also won his first caps for France. In early June 2022, Saliba confirmed he would return to north London from his Marseille loan spell. He would wear the number 12 shirt from the 2022–23 season.
On 19 May 2022, three days before the last game of the 2021–22 season, Arsenal announced that Greek defender Konstantinos Mavropanos joined Bundesliga side VfB Stuttgart on a permanent transfer. On 24 May, the club confirmed that Egyptian midfielder Mohamed Elneny had signed a new contract. On 10 June, Arsenal announced that they were to release nine players, two of whom, Alexandre Lacazette and Nketiah, made men's first-team appearances for the Gunners. Eight days later, the club confirmed English striker and academy graduate Nketiah signed a new long-term contract, and would wear the number 14 shirt from the 2022–23 season, having previously worn the number 30. The departure of French midfielder Matteo Guendouzi to Ligue 1 side Marseille was announced on 1 July. Two weeks later, the Gunners confirmed American defender Auston Trusty joined EFL Championship side Birmingham City F.C. on a season-long loan.
Arsenal announced their first signing of the summer transfer window on 10 June, with 19-year-old Brazilian forward Marquinhos joining the club on a long-term contract from Série A side São Paulo. Eleven days later, the club announced the signing of 22-year-old Portuguese midfielder Fábio Vieira from Primeira Liga side Porto. He was given the number 21 shirt.
On 27 June, the Gunners confirmed that 28-year-old American goalkeeper Matt Turner had joined the club from Major League Soccer side New England Revolution, and would wear the number 30 shirt. As of June 2022, Turner had made 18 appearances for the United States. He wore the number one shirt and played every game as USA won the 2021 CONCACAF Gold Cup as hosts, keeping five clean sheets in the tournament, and earning the Golden Glove award. He was also honoured as MLS Goalkeeper of the Year in 2021. Turner has been an Arsenal fan since his teenage years.
In July 2022, the Gunners announced two signings of notable players from fellow Premier League side Manchester City, where Arteta spent three years and a half at as an assistant coach to Pep Guardiola before returning to Arsenal as head coach. On 4 July, 25-year-old Brazilian striker Gabriel Jesus joined Arsenal on a long-term contract, and was assigned the number 9 shirt. With the ability to play in several attacking positions, he is one of the leading strikers in the Premier League during his six seasons in Manchester City. On 22 July, 25-year-old Ukrainian left-sided player and Arsenal supporter Oleksandr Zinchenko, who is comfortable operating in midfield and defence, joined the club on a long-term contract, and would wear the number 35 shirt. Gabriel Jesus and Zinchenko had both won four Premier League titles, the FA Cup and a number of EFL Cups as Manchester City players. Manager Arteta believed that Gabriel Jesus and Zinchenko would help bring a winning mentality to the young squad.
The Gunners continued their summer exodus after signing five players. In late July, the club announced the loan departures of English goalkeeper and academy graduate Arthur Okonkwo and Portuguese defender Nuno Tavares to League Two side Crewe Alexandra and Ligue 1 side Marseille respectively.
On 2 August, Arsenal announced German goalkeeper Bernd Leno, who had made 125 appearances for the club in all competitions, joined fellow Premier League side Fulham on a permanent transfer. On the next day, the Gunners confirmed English goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale took the number one shirt, moving from his previous number 32 following Leno's move to Fulham.
The departures of five first-team players were announced afterwards, as English forward and academy graduate Folarin Balogun joined Ligue 1 side Reims on a one-year loan, Uruguayan midfielder Lucas Torreira completed his transfer to Süper Lig side Galatasaray, Spanish defender Pablo Marí joined Serie A side AC Monza on a one-year loan deal, Icelandic goalkeeper Rúnar Alex Rúnarsson joined Süper Lig side Alanyaspor on loan for the 2022–23 season, and Ivorian winger Nicolas Pépé joined Ligue 1 side OGC Nice on a season-long loan.
On transfer deadline day, 1 September, two first-team players departed the club. English midfielder and academy graduate Ainsley Maitland-Niles joined fellow Premier League side Southampton on a one-year loan. Spanish defender and academy graduate Héctor Bellerín, who had made 239 first-team appearances in all competitions and won three FA Cups with the club, joined La Liga side Barcelona on a permanent transfer.
After the summer transfer window closed, there were twenty-four players in the first-team squad: three goalkeepers, eight defenders, six midfielders, and seven forwards. Eight first-team players were out on loan.
The team began their campaign with a London derby away against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park, managed by former Arsenal captain Patrick Vieira. Returning loanee Saliba and new signings Gabriel Jesus and Zinchenko made their competitive debuts for the team in a 2–0 win. Martinelli opened the scoring in the 20th minute, becoming the first Brazilian to net a season-opening goal of a Premier League campaign. In the 85th minute, Saka's cross was deflected home by Marc Guéhi to ensure Arteta registered his 50th league victory, making him the second-quickest manager to reach 50 top-flight wins for Arsenal after Arsène Wenger. Eight days later, the club played their first home match of the season against Leicester City. Gabriel Jesus netted twice in the first half on his home debut, becoming the first player to score more than once on his home Premier League debut for Arsenal. Granit Xhaka and Martinelli also scored in a 4–2 win.
On 20 August, Arsenal faced newly-promoted Bournemouth away at Dean Court. While Ødegaard netted twice within the opening 11 minutes, Saliba scored his first for the club in the 54th minute, sealing a 3–0 victory. The win vaulted them to the top of the Premier League for the first time since 17 January 2016. Saka became the second-youngest player to play 100 times for the club in the Premier League, behind Cesc Fàbregas.
On 26 August, the draw for the Europa League group stage was made. Arsenal were drawn in Group A, along with Dutch club PSV Eindhoven, Norwegian champions Bodø/Glimt and Swiss champions Zürich. A day later, the Gunners played at home against newly promoted Fulham. Kieran Tierney and Elneny made their first Premier League starts of the season. Arsenal conceded first, after a Gabriel Magalhães in the 56th minute, but Ødegaard equalised eight minutes later and Gabriel redeemed himself with a scrambled finish in the 85th minute. The win marked Arteta's 100th Premier League game in charge. It was reported on 30 August that Elneny had suffered a significant injury in the match against Fulham, and would be out for two months.
Arsenal's last match of the month was against 15th-placed Aston Villa at home on 31 August. Albert Sambi Lokonga was handed his first start of the season as he replaced the injured Elneny. Two goals, from Jesus and Martinelli, secured a 2-1 victory, Arsenal's 200th league win since moving to Emirates Stadium in 2006. It was the fourth time Arsenal had started a top-flight season with a run of five wins, after 1930–31, 1947–48 and 2004–05. Arteta became the 11th manager to have won the first five games of a Premier League season, after Kevin Keegan, Carlo Ancelotti, Alex Ferguson, Arsène Wenger, Alan Curbishley, José Mourinho, Manuel Pellegrini, Pep Guardiola, Maurizio Sarri, and Jürgen Klopp. He was named Premier League Manager of the Month for the third time.
The club started September with a 1–3 defeat at Old Trafford to rivals Manchester United on 4 September, seeing their five-game winning start to the Premier League season come to an end. Zinchenko returned to the starting line-up, while Arsenal's first two defensive midfielders – Partey and Elneny – were still injured. Two strikes from Marcus Rashford and one from Antony secured a United win; despite the loss, Arsenal remained top of the table. It was reported on 21 December that a disallowed opener from Martinelli was one of six incorrect VAR interventions before the league halted for the World Cup. The Gunners began their fifth Europa League campaign on 8 September with a trip to Switzerland in a group stage match against Zürich, the reigning Swiss Super League champions. This was the first time the two teams played each other in a European game. New signings Marquinhos and Turner made their competitive debuts, and fellow new recruit Vieira got his full debut in a 2–1 win. At half-time, the news broke of the death of Queen Elizabeth II, and Arsenal's players returned to the field wearing black armbands in respect, while a minute's silence was held before the start of the second half.
Arsenal's home fixture against Everton, which was originally due to be played on 11 September, was postponed two days beforehand as a mark of respect following the passing of the Queen. The Europa League group stage match between Arsenal and Eredivisie side PSV Eindhoven, originally scheduled to be played on 15 September, was also postponed due to organisational issues. The league match between Arsenal and Manchester City, originally scheduled for 19 October, was postponed to accommodate the rearranged fixture.
Ahead of the first international break of the season, the Gunners faced eighth-placed Brentford away at Brentford Community Stadium on 18 September. Before kick-off, there was a minute's silence in tribute to Queen Elizabeth II, followed by a rendition of the national anthem "God Save the King". Vieira scored his first Premier League goal in a 3-0 win, with Saliba and Jesus also scoring two headers. As a schoolboy midfielder at the age of 15 years and 181 days, Ethan Nwaneri came off the bench to replace Vieira in second-half stoppage time. He became the youngest player to ever appear in the Premier League – breaking the record previously held by Harvey Elliott, and the all-time English top-flight record held since August 1964 by former Sunderland goalkeeper Derek Forster, by three days. He also became Arsenal's youngest-ever player in any senior competition, breaking the previous record of 16 years and 177 days, set by Cesc Fàbregas in the 2003–04 League Cup.
On 29 September, Arsenal announced that academy graduate Emile Smith Rowe had undergone surgery to repair a damaged tendon in his groin. He would return to full training in December.
On 1 October, following the international break, the club played the North London derby at home against Tottenham. Partey opened the scoring in the 20th minute with a shot from 25 yards, the first time he had scored from outside the box in 65 attempts for Arsenal. Although Spurs equalised in the 31st minute from a Harry Kane penalty, Jesus and Xhaka scored in the second half to take a 3-1 victory. The win kept Arsenal on top of the Premier League table, and meant that it was the first time the club had won three consecutive league home games against their rivals since September 2013. A Europa League game against Bodø/Glimt, the defending Eliteserien champions, followed on 6 October at home. Arsenal won 3–0, sending them top of their Europa League group.
On 9 October, the club faced ninth-placed Liverpool, a team that Arsenal had only won one of their last 14 Premier League matches against since the 2015–16 season and had failed to score in their past six meetings with in all competitions. The Gunners took the lead after just 58 seconds when Martinelli tucked the ball home, but Liverpool equalised through Darwin Núñez in the 34th minute. Arsenal reclaimed the lead shortly before half-time through Saka, but Liverpool again got back on terms through substitute Roberto Firmino in the 53rd minute. Saka nevertheless scored a decisive penalty in the 76th minute, making the score 3–2, and sealing the Gunners' first win over Liverpool since July 2020. Four days later, the Gunners faced Bodø/Glimt away. The game took place on an artificial pitch at Aspmyra Stadion, where the Norwegian team had won each of their last 14 home matches in European competition. The Gunners won 1–0.
Arsenal continued their league campaign on 16 October, facing 14th-placed Leeds United away at Elland Road. The game saw goalkeeper Ramsdale produce a man of the match display as the Gunners won 1–0. Saka scored the winning goal from a tight angle in the 35th minute, assisted by Ødegaard; Leeds striker Patrick Bamford missed a penalty midway through the second half. Having won nine of their first ten league games for the first time ever, Arsenal moved four points clear at the top of the league. On 20 October, the Gunners played the postponed Europa League match at home to Dutch side PSV Eindhoven. Xhaka's 70th minute strike sealed a third-straight 1-0 victory. The win ensured Arsenal qualified for the Europa League knockout stage with two group games to spare. On the next day, the club announced that centre-back Gabriel Magalhães had signed a new long-term contract. On 23 October, Arsenal faced 14th-placed Southampton at St. Mary's Stadium. The eight-game winning run was ended, as Xhaka's 11th-minute opener was cancelled out by Stuart Armstrong's second-half leveller, in the club's first draw in 28 Premier League matches since January 2022.
Four days later, the Gunners suffered a 2-0 away defeat against PSV Eindhoven at Philips Stadion, the first time the Gunners had suffered an away defeat in the Europa League group stage since November 2017. Arsenal's ninth match of the month was against newly promoted Nottingham Forest at home on 30 October. Before and during the game, the team paid tribute to their on-loan defender Pablo Marí, who was recovering after being stabbed in an Italian supermarket on 27 October. Substitute Reiss Nelson scored twice in the second half after a Martinelli opener, while Partey and Ødegaard added gloss in a 5-0 win.
On 3 November, the Gunners hosted Swiss side Zürich at Emirates Stadium in their final Europa League group game. In the 17th minute, Tierney scored the only goal of the game with a left-footed shot from 20 yards to the bottom right corner, helping the team win 1–0. They would go straight into the Europa League round of 16 in March 2023, skipping the knockout play-off round in February. Arsenal went on to face rivals Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on 6 November, a match that saw manager Arteta reach 150 games in all competitions – the same number of appearances he made for the Gunners as a player. Zinchenko was back in the starting line-up after missing nine games with a calf injury. Gabriel Magalhães's close-range finish from Saka's corner in the 63rd minute earned the visitors a 1–0 win. This was Arteta's 87th victory in charge of Arsenal – more than any of his predecessors, including George Graham and Wenger, over the equivalent period.
Three days later, the Gunners entered the EFL Cup in the third round, facing Premier League side Brighton & Hove Albion at home. The 20-year-old Estonia international keeper and academy graduate Karl Hein made his competitive debut for the first team and started in goal, becoming the fourth Estonian to start for a Premier League side. Although Nketiah opened the scoring, three Brighton goals from Danny Welbeck, Kaoru Mitoma, Tariq Lamptey saw the visitors win 3–1 and end the Gunners' 12-match winning run at home. This was the second time in 20 seasons that Arsenal had failed to progress past the third round of the EFL Cup (formerly League Cup). On 12 November, Arteta's side played their last game before the World Cup break against 19th-placed Wolverhampton Wanderers away at Molineux Stadium. Captain Ødegaard scored two goals without response, taking the team five points clear at the top of the table and ensuring they would be first on Christmas Day for the first time since 2007.
The 2022 FIFA World Cup took place in Qatar from 20 November to 18 December. Ten Arsenal players were named in squads for the tournament: Gabriel Jesus and Martinelli (Brazil), Ramsdale, Saka and White (England), Saliba (France), Partey (Ghana), Tomiyasu (Japan), Xhaka (as Switzerland's captain), and Turner (United States), of whom six (Saka, Turner, Tomiyasu, Partey, Martinelli, and Saliba) made their World Cup debuts. Only Saliba's France reached the World Cup final on 18 December, in which they were defeated.
On 4 December, manager Arteta named a 27-man squad – including thirteen academy players – for the trip to the United Arab Emirates, where they would play two friendlies in the Dubai Super Cup. Two days later, Arsenal confirmed that striker Gabriel Jesus had undergone surgery to his right knee after suffering an injury during Brazil's World Cup group stage match against Cameroon on 2 December. The club did not give any timescale on his return. The Gunners faced Ligue 1 side Lyon in Dubai on 8 December, winning 3-0. They played their second game in Dubai against Serie A side Milan on 13 December, winning 2-1 and claiming the Dubai Super Cup. After flying back to England, Arsenal lost 2-0 to Serie A side Juventus in their final friendly at Emirates Stadium on 17 December.
The Gunners' first league action after the World Cup was a Boxing Day fixture at home against 16th-placed West Ham United, on the anniversary of Arteta's first game as Arsenal manager. The Hammers opened the scoring with a Saïd Benrahma penalty in the 27th minute, but Saka's 53rd minute equaliser, Martinelli's low shot, and Nketiah's calm finish secured a 3-1 victory. Former 22-year manager Wenger watched a game at the stadium for the first time since leaving the club in May 2018.
On New Year's Eve, Arsenal travelled to the south coast of England to play their final game of 2022 – also the last Premier League fixture of the year – against 7th-placed Brighton & Hove Albion. Before kick-off, there was a minute's applause in tribute to Pelé, who had died on 29 December. Goals from Saka, Ødegaard, and Nketiah put Arsenal three goals up, before Mitoma reduced the deficit for the Seagulls in the 65th minute. Martinelli scored six minutes later, and although Evan Ferguson pulled a goal back, the 4-2 victory took Arsenal seven points clear at the top of the table, the fifth team in English top-flight history to pick up as many as 43 points from the first 16 games in a season. Arteta picked up his second Premier League Manager of the Month award of the campaign, winning the award for the fourth time in his career. Ødegaard won the Premier League Player of the Month award, the first Arsenal player to do so since Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in September 2019. It was also the first time since March 2015 the club scooped both awards, when manager Arsène Wenger and striker Olivier Giroud were the recipients.
Arsenal started 2023 with a home game against third-placed Newcastle on 3 January, hoping to extend their advantage over Manchester City. However, neither team was able to break the deadlock and the game finished 0–0. Six days later, the Gunners entered the FA Cup in the third round, facing League One side Oxford United away at Kassam Stadium. The opener came from Elneny and was followed by a brace from Nketiah, in a 3-0 win. On 15 January, Arsenal faced rivals Tottenham at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in the second North London derby of the season. Saka's cross was deflected home by Spurs goalkeeper Lloris in the 14th minute, while Ødegaard doubled Arsenal's lead with a long-range strike later in the first half. Arsenal keeper Aaron Ramsdale produced a man of the match display with seven saves, helping his side record the first clean sheet in North London derbies since Arteta took charge of Arsenal in December 2019. Having secured their first league double over Tottenham since the 2013–14 season, Arsenal moved eight points clear of City. An incident at the end of the game, in which Ramsdale was kicked in the back by a Tottenham supporter who had jumped onto the advertising hoarding, was strongly criticised by the Professional Footballers' Association, the Football Association, and the Premier League said: "There is no place in football for acts of violence, and under no circumstance should players be attacked or fear for their safety at games." The supporter was subsequently banned from football matches for four years.
On 22 January, Arsenal faced rivals Manchester United, the only team that had beaten them in the Premier League this season up until that point, at home. In the 17th minute, Rashford gave United the lead with a long-range strike, but Nketiah levelled seven minutes later. On 53 minutes, Saka cut in from the right and arrowed a shot across United goalkeeper David de Gea into the far corner of the goal, before Lisandro Martínez looped a header into the net six minutes later. In the 90th minute, the ball came loose in the area and Nketiah was able to steer it home, sealing a 3-2 victory. The win gave the Gunners a five-point advantage at the top of the Premier League with a game in hand.
The Gunners headed to face Manchester City on 27 January at Etihad Stadium in the FA Cup fourth round. New recruit Trossard was handed his first Arsenal start, and Kiwior was named on the bench following his signing with the club earlier in the week. In the 64th minute, Nathan Aké scored the only goal of the tight game with a low shot, helping the hosts win 1–0. On 31 January, the club announced that midfielder Elneny had undergone surgery to his right knee after suffering a significant injury in a training session. He would be out for an extended period of time. Arteta was named Premier League Manager of the Month for the third time in the season. He was the first manager to win the award in successive months since Manchester City's Guardiola did so in November and December 2021. Arteta also became the first Arsenal manager to win the award three times in a single campaign.
On 16 January, the club confirmed English goalkeeper and academy graduate Arthur Okonkwo was recalled from his loan at League Two side Crewe Alexandra and joined Austrian Bundesliga side Sturm Graz on loan for the remainder of the season. Arsenal announced their first signing of the winter transfer window on 20 January with 28-year-old Belgian forward Leandro Trossard joining the club on a long-term contract from fellow Premier League side Brighton & Hove Albion. He would wear the number 19 shirt. With the ability to play in several attacking positions, Trossard scored seven goals in sixteen Premier League games for Brighton this season. He also made three appearances for Belgium at the 2022 World Cup.
On 23 January, the club confirmed that they had signed 22-year-old Polish defender Jakub Kiwior from Serie A side Spezia. He would wear the number 15 shirt. A versatile defender, Kiwior was capable of playing both as a centre-back and as a defensive midfielder during his time with the Italian side. As of December 2022, he had won nine caps for Poland and started all four of their matches at the 2022 World Cup.
On transfer deadline day, 31 January, the Gunners announced that 31-year-old Italian midfielder Jorginho had joined the club from Premier League side Chelsea and would wear the number 20 shirt. Jorginho had made 143 Premier League appearances for Chelsea, winning the UEFA Europa League, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup during his time at the club. Capped 46 times, he was part of the Italy squad which won UEFA Euro 2020. In 2021, he was named UEFA Men's Player of the Year and placed third in the Ballon d'Or.
The departures of two first-team players were announced on the same day, as Brazilian forward Marquinhos joined EFL Championship side Norwich City on loan for the remainder of the season, and Belgian midfielder Albert Sambi Lokonga joined fellow Premier League side Crystal Palace on loan until June 2023. On 1 February, Arsenal confirmed that Portuguese defender Cédric Soares had joined Premier League side Fulham on loan until the end of the 2022–23 season. After the winter transfer window closed, there were twenty-four players in the first-team squad: three goalkeepers, eight defenders, six midfielders, and seven forwards. Eleven first-team players were out on loan.
On 3 February, the club announced that Brazilian forward Martinelli had penned a new long-term contract. On 4 February Arteta's side faced 19th-placed Everton, a team that had appointed Sean Dyche as their new manager five days previously. James Tarkowski netted the only goal of the match in the 60th minute to clinch victory for the hosts, marking Arsenal's second Premier League defeat of the season and their first in the previous 14 games. Despite the loss, the Gunners remained top of the table by five points with a game in hand. On 11 February, Arsenal played at home against seventh-placed Brentford. Winter signing Trossard was brought on with the game still scoreless on the hour mark, and had scored his first goal for the club within five minutes. In the 74th minute however, Ivan Toney nodded in Christian Nørgaard's cross from close range for the visitors. The goal was eventually awarded by the video assistant referee Lee Mason after checking whether Brentford's had committed an offence. However, Mason failed to identify that Brentford's Nørgaard, who assisted the goal, was offside before making the crucial cross for Toney to score, and it later emerged that no lines had been drawn to check for a possible offside. Speaking at his post-match press conference, Arteta said that "different rules" were applied for Toney's Brentford equaliser. The following day, the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) acknowledged the errors in a statement. Lee Mason subsequently left PGMOL.
On 15 February, Arteta's side played the postponed Premier League match at home to second-placed reigning champions Manchester City. In the 24th minute, a Tomiyasu mistake allowed City's Kevin De Bruyne to score, before a Saka penalty brought Arsenal level in the 42nd minute. Two City goals in the second half from Jack Grealish and Erling Haaland sealed a 3-1 defeat, Arsenal's first home loss in 14 league games, and their eleventh consecutive league loss against Manchester City, their longest losing run against an opponent in their league history. After the match, Arsenal swapped places with City at the top of the table on goal difference with a game in hand. The Gunners travelled to Villa Park on 18 February to play against 11th-placed Aston Villa, managed by former Arsenal manager Unai Emery, who was facing his former club for the first time in the Premier League. In a six-goal thriller Arteta's side twice came from behind to win the match, while scoring twice in stoppage time. Strikes from Ollie Watkins and Philippe Coutinho were cancelled out by Saka and Zinchenko's first Premier League goal, before Jorginho's long-range shot and Martinelli's counter sealed a 4-2 victory, taking Arsenal two points clear of City with a game in hand.
On 21 February, Arsenal confirmed that Egyptian midfielder Elneny, who underwent surgery to his right knee in January, had extended his contract with the club until June 2024. The Gunners' last match of the month was against 14th-placed Leicester City at King Power Stadium on 25 February. Zinchenko started as Arsenal's captain for the first time as a mark of respect in the week of the first anniversary of Russia's invasion of his homeland Ukraine. Martinelli scored early in the second half—the 200th goal the Gunners had scored in the Premier League under Arteta—to take Arsenal's tenth away win of the campaign. Arteta dedicated the win to the people of Ukraine.
On 1 March, the Gunners played the postponed Premier League match at home to 18th-placed Everton. Saka scored from a narrow angle five minutes before half time with his 50th goal involvement in the Premier League, before Martinelli scored in first-half stoppage time. Ødegaard and Martinelli scored a third and fourth in the second half to take a 4-0 victory. This was Arsenal's 100th league victory against Everton, making the Gunners the first team in English league history to register 100 wins against a specific opponent. The result moved them five points clear at the top of the Premier League.
Three days later, Arteta's side played at home against 19th-placed Bournemouth. After Vieira replaced Xhaka in the starting lineup, this was the first time since January 1986 that Arsenal named a starting line-up without a single player to have made a competitive appearance under Wenger, who was in charge of the Gunners from 1996 to 2018. Bournemouth took the lead after just nine seconds through Philip Billing, in the second-quickest goal in Premier League history; They doubled their lead in the 57th minute through a Marcos Senesi header. Five minutes later, substitute Smith Rowe assisted Partey to reduce the deficit by one. Nelson came on as a substitute in the 69th minute, and assisted White's first Arsenal goal just a minute later. In the seventh minute of stoppage time, Nelson won the match with a long-range effort, sparking wild celebrations. This was the first time the Gunners had won a Premier League game in which they trailed by two or more goals since February 2012.
On 9 March, Arsenal drew 2-2 against Sporting CP in the Europa League last-16 first leg in Lisbon. They continued their Premier League campaign on 12 March, facing seventh-placed Fulham away at Craven Cottage. Gabriel Jesus was included in the Gunners' matchday squad for the first time since November 2022 following his knee injury, and came on in the second half. Goals from Gabriel Magalhães, Martinelli, and Ødegaard, all assisted by Trossard, secured a 3-0 win. The 3–0 win was Arteta's 100th victory in all competitions as Gunners boss, making him the ninth Arsenal manager to reach the milestone, and ensuring the Gunners became the first team in English Football League history to win five consecutive London derbies away from home without conceding a single goal. Arsenal's fine form during the season was recognised at the 2023 London Football Awards, which took place on 13 March. Ødegaard picked up the Premier League Player of the Year award, Saka won the Men's Young Player of the Year award, Ramsdale received the Goalkeeper of the Year award, and Arteta was named Manager of the Year.
The Gunners hosted Sporting CP in the second leg on 16 March. Xhaka put Arsenal ahead, before Pedro Gonçalves levelled with a 46-yard chip. Arsenal had several chances to score in extra-time, but despite Manuel Ugarte receiving a second yellow card, the Portuguese side held out to force the game to penalties, which they won 5-3. Ahead of the last international break of the season, the Gunners played at home on 19 March against 12th-placed Crystal Palace, who had sacked manager and former Arsenal captain Patrick Vieira two days previously. Martinelli scored his sixth goal in six Premier League games in the 28th minute with a left-footed strike, before Saka's brace and Xhaka's strike secured a 4-1 win. The victory extended the Gunners' winning streak to six in the league, and gave them an eight-point advantage over Manchester City with their opponents having a game in hand. With 10 league games to go, the Gunners had notched up 69 points to reach their same points tally as the previous season. The Gunners became the first side in English Football League history to win nine London derbies in a single league campaign.
On 21 March, Arsenal confirmed that defender Tomiyasu, who had suffered a significant injury in the match against Sporting five days ago, had undergone surgery to his right knee. Tomiyasu would miss the rest of the season.
Arteta picked up his fourth Premier League Manager of the Month award of the season, becoming the third manager in Premier League history to do so in a single campaign, after Guardiola in 2017–18 and Klopp in 2019–20. Saka won the Premier League Player of the Month award for the first time in his career. Ramsdale's vital save to deny Bournemouth's Dango Ouattara won the Premier League Save of the Month award, making him the first Arsenal goalkeeper to claim the award.
After the international break, Arsenal faced 14th-placed Leeds United at home on 1 April. Jesus opened the scoring with a penalty in the 12th minute, before White doubled the lead early in the second half. Gabriel Jesus netted his second eight minutes later, and although Rasmus Kristensen pulled one back, Xhaka restored the Gunners' three-goal lead on 84 minutes. The victory was Arteta's 100th in all competitions as Arsenal manager. The Gunners headed to Anfield to take on eighth-placed Liverpool on 9 April. Martinelli opened with his 25th Premier League goal, before assisting Jesus in the 28th minute. The hosts however pulled one back through Mohamed Salah on 42 minutes, who missed a penalty seven minutes into the second half, before Firmino scored a late equaliser in the 87th minute after sustained Liverpool pressure. In stoppage time, Ramsdale produced a flying fingertip save to deny Salah's deflected curling shot, then kept out Ibrahima Konaté's effort from point-blank range. The Gunners' seven-game winning run in the Premier League came to an end.
On 16 April, Arteta's side faced 14th-placed West Ham United at London Stadium. Gabriel Jesus scored his fourth goal in three matches in the seventh minute, before Ødegaard volleyed in a second three minutes later. However, Benrahma and Bowen pulled two goals back, with Saka also missing a penalty, to ensure that the Gunners had let a two-goal lead slip in consecutive league games. Five days later, the Gunners played at home against 20th-placed Southampton. The away team took a surprise lead through Theo Walcott after 28 seconds, and he doubled their lead fourteen minutes later. Martinelli pulled one back with his 15th league goal, before Duje Ćaleta-Car restored Southampton's two-goal cushion on 66 minutes. Two late goals from Ødegaard and Saka earned Arsenal a 3-3 draw, leaving the Gunners five points ahead of Manchester City, who had two games in hand.
The top two teams faced each other at the Etihad Stadium on 26 April. Saliba remained out with a back injury, and captain Ødegaard made his 100th appearance for the team in all competitions. Kevin De Bruyne opened the scoring for City seven minutes in, before John Stones doubled their lead in first-half stoppage time. De Bruyne scored his second nine minutes into the second half, and although Arsenal pulled one back through Holding in the 86th minute, Haaland netted in second-half stoppage time, sealing a 4–1 win for the hosts, and ending Arsenal's ten-game unbeaten run in the Premier League. This was Arsenal's twelfth consecutive Premier League loss against City, with an aggregate score of 5–33. After the match, their lead at the top of the league was cut to two points over Guardiola's side who had two games in hand and a superior goal difference. Despite the loss, Arteta's side mathematically qualified for next season's UEFA Champions League after a six-year absence.
Ramsdale's vital save to deny Liverpool's Salah won the Premier League Save of the Month award, making him the first Arsenal goalkeeper to receive the award back to back.
The club started May with a 3–1 win over 12th-placed Chelsea at home on 2 May. The Gunners dominated the first half, with Ødegaard netting twice and Gabriel Jesus once. This marked the second time the club had four players (Saka, Martinelli, Ødegaard and Gabriel Jesus) reach double figures for goals in a Premier League season, after 2012–13. The result secured the Gunners' fourth Premier League double over Chelsea and ensured it was the first time since February 2004 that Arsenal had won three consecutive Premier League games against the Blues. After the game, the club condemned the behaviour of a man who shone a laser in the face of Chelsea player Mykhailo Mudryk. The Metropolitan Police confirmed a 21-year-old man was arrested after the incident. The Gunners faced third-placed Newcastle United at St James' Park on 7 May. Arsenal secured a 2-0 victory, courtesy of an early Ødegaard strike and a Fabian Schär own goal. The Gunners had 81 points from 35 Premier League matches this campaign, a point behind leaders Manchester City who still had a game in hand.
Arsenal faced to seventh-placed Brighton & Hove Albion at home on 14 May. Second-half goals from Julio Enciso, Deniz Undav, and Pervis Estupiñán sealed a 3-0 win for the visitors. Four days later, the club announced that English goalkeeper Ramsdale had signed a new long-term contract.
In their final away game of the season, Arsenal faced 16th-placed Nottingham Forest at the City Ground on 20 May. Arsenal lost 1-0, courtesy of an early goal from Taiwo Awoniyi; the result sealed Forest's place in the top flight, and allowed Manchester City to clinch the Premier League title with three games still to play. In contrast to the first half of the season, when Arteta's side only dropped 7 points in 19 games (16 wins, 2 draws and 1 loss), they had collected just 9 points from their past 8 matches (2 wins, 3 draws and 3 losses). The Gunners were eight points clear of Guardiola's side earlier this season and had led the league for a long time, but ultimately their challenge collapsed. In fact, Arsenal topped the Premier League table for 248 days over the course of this campaign, the most without finishing first in English top-flight history.
The club confirmed on 23 May that English forward Saka had signed a new long-term contract. The Gunners' final game of the season was at home against 13th-placed Wolverhampton Wanderers. Two goals from Xhaka—his first brace for Arsenal in his 297th appearance—were followed by strikes from Saka, Jesus, and Kiwior's first Arsenal goal. The 5–0 win meant that Arteta's side finished the Premier League campaign in second place, five points behind champions Manchester City.
Arsenal's performances this campaign led to several season award nominations. Arteta was nominated for Premier League Manager of the Season; Ødegaard and Saka were shortlisted for Premier League Player of the Season; Martinelli, Ødegaard and Saka were included on the shortlist for the Premier League Young Player of the Season award; Ramsdale's vital stop to deny Bournemouth's Dango Ouattara on 4 March and his flying fingertip save to stop Liverpool's Salah from scoring a deflected curling shot on 9 April were nominated for the Premier League Save of the Season award; while Nelson won the Premier League Game Changer of the Season award, as his performance transformed the match against Bournemouth on 4 March. Arteta was also in contention for the League Managers Association (LMA) Manager of the Year award. Ødegaard and Saka were nominated for Professional Footballers' Association (PFA) Players' Player of the Year; Martinelli and Saka were included on the shortlist for the PFA Young Player of the Year award, which was won by Saka; Ødegaard, Ramsdale, Saka and Saliba were selected for the PFA Premier League Team of the Year; Ødegaard and Saka were also in contention for the PFA Premier League Fans' Player of the Year award. Saka and Ødegaard finished second and third respectively in the Football Writers' Association (FWA) Footballer of the Year award. Ødegaard and Saka were nominated for the 2023 Ballon d'Or, while Ramsdale was shortlisted for the 2023 Yashin Trophy. Ødegaard was voted as Arsenal's Player of the Season, and Nelson's last-gasp strike against Bournemouth was voted as the club's Goal of the Season.
Due to Premier League champions Manchester City winning the 2023 FA Cup final on 3 June, Arsenal, the league runners-up, would play against them in the 2023 FA Community Shield in August.
The Gunners' UEFA club coefficient was 76.000 points at the end of this campaign. They would be in Pot 2 for the 2023–24 Champions League group stage draw.
Notes:
Notes:
Note: Squad numbers last updated on 31 January 2023.
The following Arsenal Academy players made appearances for the club's first team during the season.
Notes:
Notes:
The following Arsenal players signed their first or new professional contracts with the club.
The following players from Arsenal's first team, under-21s and under-18s squads were released by the club.
The following players joined Arsenal permanently and signed professional contracts with the club.
Total expenditure: £159.0 million (excluding add-ons and undisclosed figures)
Total income: £17 million (excluding add-ons and undisclosed figures)
Supplier: Adidas / Sponsor: Fly Emirates / Sleeve sponsor: Visit Rwanda
This is Adidas's fourth year supplying Arsenal kit, having taken over from Puma at the beginning of the 2019–20 season. On 30 September 2022, Arsenal announced the extension of the partnership with Adidas until 2030.
On 19 April 2022, Arsenal announced that they would travel to the United States in July to compete in the FC Series as part of their preparations during pre-season with matches against Orlando City and Chelsea. On 10 May, a further US tour friendly was confirmed against Everton in The Charm City Match in July. On 18 May, La Liga side Sevilla revealed their participation in the 2022 Emirates Cup in late July. On 6 June, Arsenal announced 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.
In order to prepare for the resumption of the Premier League following the mid-season World Cup break, Arsenal announced that they were going to partake in a warm-weather training camp in Dubai, United Arab Emirates in early December. This involved participating in the Dubai Super Cup against Lyon and Milan on 8 and 13 December respectively. Arsenal then announced a final friendly against Serie A side Juventus to be played on 17 December.
Win Draw Loss
Arsenal's playing record this campaign was 32 wins, 8 draws and 9 losses for an overall win rate of 65.31%, the second highest in the club's history.
Arsenal won 26 league games this season, equalling their highest-ever tally in the Premier League, which were also achieved in 2001–02 and 2003–04. They ended the campaign on 84 points, the third-highest total in their history. This was the first time the Gunners finished in the top four since the 2015–16 season.
The league fixtures were announced on 16 June 2022.
Win Draw Loss
As a Premier League side, Arsenal entered the FA Cup in the third round. They were drawn away to League One side Oxford United. In the fourth round, they were drawn away to fellow Premier League side Manchester City.
Win Draw Loss
As the Gunners were competing in UEFA competition in the 2022–23 season, they entered the EFL Cup in the third round. They were drawn at home to fellow Premier League side Brighton & Hove Albion.
The draw for the group stage was held on 26 August 2022.
Win Draw Loss
As a result of finishing top of the group, Arsenal advanced directly to the round of 16. The draw was held on 24 February 2023. As a seeded team, Arsenal played the second leg at home.
Twenty-eight players made appearances for Arsenal's first team during the season; six of them (Gabriel Magalhães, Martinelli, Ødegaard, Saka, White and Xhaka) each played at least 45 of the total 49 matches.
This was the first time since 1990–91 that the Gunners had four players (Gabriel Magalhães, Ramsdale, Saka and White) feature in every top-flight game. Ramsdale became the first Arsenal player to be on the pitch for every minute of the league season since goalkeeper Wojciech Szczęsny in 2011–12.
The Gunners were the most settled side of the Premier League season, as Arteta made the fewest changes to his starting XI between matches (just 38 across the whole campaign).
Arsenal had the second-youngest average starting line-up in the 2022–23 Premier League, at 25 years and 52 days – 11 days older than Relegated Southampton, and 2 years and 201 days younger than champions Manchester City.
Includes all competitions. Players with no appearances not included in the list.
Arsenal netted 103 goals in all competitions this season, which was the first time they reached three figures since 2018–19. They scored club-record 88 goals in the Premier League – the most they got in any top-flight campaign since 1963–64.
Nineteen players scored for Arsenal's first team during the season, sixteen of them netted in the Premier League. This was the first time since 1970–71 that the Gunners had two players (Martinelli and Ødegaard) score at least 15 league goals.
Includes all competitions. The list is sorted by squad number when total goals are equal. Players with no goals not included in the list.
Seventeen players registered assists for Arsenal's first team during the season. Despite only joining in January, Trossard racked up 10 assists for the Gunners this campaign, becoming the second Arsenal player to reach double figures for assists in his debut Premier League season, after Santi Cazorla in 2012–13. In the game at Fulham in March, Trossard became the first player in Premier League history to assist three goals in the first half of an away match.
Includes all competitions. The list is sorted by squad number when total assists are equal. Players with no assists not included in the list.
Arteta's team went a whole season with no red cards, and no player reached the threshold for bookings in the Premier League.
Includes all competitions. The list is sorted by squad number when total cards are equal. Players with no cards not included in the list.
Ramsdale became the third different goalkeeper to keep ten away clean sheets in a Premier League season, after Chelsea's Petr Čech and Manchester City's Ederson.
Includes all competitions. The list is sorted by squad number when total clean sheets are equal. Goalkeepers with no appearances not included in the list.
Includes all competitions. The list is sorted by squad number when total number of games where a player started as captain are equal. Players with no games started as captain not included in the list.
Eighteen Arsenal first-team players (excluding players who were loaned out) were named in their respective countries' senior squads for international fixtures during the season.
The list is sorted by national team and player, respectively. Players with no senior national team call-ups not included in the list.
The winner of the award was chosen via a poll on the club's official website.
The winner of the award was chosen from goals scored by men's, women's and academy teams via a poll on the club's official website.
The winner of the award was chosen by a combination of an online public vote and a panel of experts.
Arteta picked up four Premier League's Manager of the Month awards in the 2022–23 season, becoming the third manager in Premier League history to do so in a single campaign. As manager of Arsenal, he had six awards in total up until that point, the joint-9th highest awards a single manager had received since its inception in August 1993.
The winner of the award was chosen by a combination of an online public vote, a panel of experts, and the captain of each Premier League club.
Ødegaard won the Premier League's Player of the Month award after league-high six goal involvements (three goals and three assists) across November and December 2022. Saka won the Premier League's Player of the Month award (for the first time in his career) in March 2023, after joint-league-high five goal involvements (three goals and two assists).
The winner of the award was chosen by a combination of an online public vote and a panel of experts.
The winner of the award was chosen by a combination of an online public vote and a panel of experts.
Ramsdale's vital save to deny Bournemouth's Dango Ouattara won March's Premier League Save of the Month award. It prevented Arsenal from going 2–0 down after 21 minutes of a match they ultimately went on to win 3–2 with Reiss Nelson netting the last-gasp winner. His flying fingertip save to stop Liverpool's Salah from scoring a deflected curling shot in stoppage time won April's award. It secured the Gunners a 2–2 draw at Anfield.
As a schoolboy midfielder at the age of 15 years and 181 days, Nwaneri became the youngest player in Premier League history when he came on as a substitute against Brentford in September. He also became Arsenal's youngest-ever player in any senior competition.
The following players made their 1st or 100th competitive appearances for Arsenal's first team during the campaign.
Note: When two Arsenal players make their first-team debuts at the same time, the Heritage number goes in order of who joined the club earlier.
The following players scored their first goals for Arsenal's first team during the campaign.
The following players registered their first assists for Arsenal's first team during the campaign.
The following goalkeeper kept his first clean sheet for Arsenal's first team during the campaign.
The following players made their first starts as captain of Arsenal's first team during the campaign.
The following first-team players were unavailable for at least 30 days after suffering an injury during the campaign.