History may be Arsenal's biggest opponent in the journey to defend the Premier League title. The "Gunners" have won the English championship 14 times but have not been able to successfully defend the championship since the 1934-1935 season. Even Arsene Wenger's unbeaten generation could not do that.
The challenge is even greater as Arsenal becomes the target of every opponent. Danny Simpson, a member of Leicester City who won the championship in 2016, once experienced this feeling. According to him, the gold badge on his sleeve makes every match different, because opponents all want to defeat the defending champion.
The Gunners understand the task ahead. Mikel Arteta wants the team to maintain the standards that helped them win the championship last season, and at the same time aim for bigger milestones. The 3-0 victory over Coventry City in the opening match also brings positive signals.
Arsenal's biggest advantage at this time is stability. Arteta has led the team for many years, while most direct opponents have entered the season with changes on the coaching bench. Xabi Alonso came to Chelsea, Andoni Iraola led Liverpool, Enzo Maresca took over Man City and Roberto De Zerbi has been at Tottenham since the end of last season.
That stability helps Arsenal not have to spend time getting used to a new system. The players understand Arteta's requirements and vice versa. This is a significant advantage in the long-distance race.
However, history is still a warning. Since the Premier League was born in 1992, only a few coaches such as Sir Alex Ferguson, Jose Mourinho and Pep Guardiola have helped their teams successfully defend the championship. For decades, Liverpool, Man United, Chelsea and Man City have only done this a few times.
Former defender Wes Brown believes that the difficulty comes not only from competition but also from the psychology of the champion. When you have reached the peak, maintaining desire and concentration is a completely different problem. Ferguson used many ways to prevent Man United players from falling into a state of complacency.
Arteta also has his own methods to maintain momentum for Arsenal. But this season's challenge is greater because they not only have to resist external pressure but also maintain their own standards.
Arsenal have strengthened their forces with signings such as Bruno Guimaraes and Ezri Konsa. The current squad is assessed to be deep enough to cope with the dense schedule and possible fluctuations during the season.
Leicester's case is a clear reminder. After winning the championship in 2016, Leicester only ranked 12th in the following season. Pressure from the European arena, problems in transfer work and a decline in motivation caused them to quickly lose their position.
The Emirates Stadium team has more favorable conditions than Leicester. They possess a strong squad, experience playing in Europe and a coach who has built the team for a long time.
However, there is no guarantee that defending the championship will go smoothly. Liverpool once won 6 matches at the beginning of last season but ultimately only ranked fifth. A good start is just the first step.
Arsenal overcame their biggest hurdle last season when they won the championship. Now, Arteta and his students must break another limit: bring the trophy back to the Emirates once again.
