Arsenal enter the 2026-27 Premier League season as defending champions — ending a 22-year wait to be crowned champions of England when they pipped Manchester City to the title in 2025-26. Now comes the harder challenge: defending it. Mikel Arteta and sporting director Andrea Berta have been surgical in this summer’s transfer window — adding quality without disrupting a squad that is already one of the most complete in English football.
Bruno Guimarães has arrived from Newcastle United for £75m. Piero Hincapié’s loan has been made permanent. Christos Tzolis brings goal threat from wide. And the departures of Leandro Trossard and Jakub Kiwior have made room for a new wave of talent.
Before the Premier League season even began, Arsenal beat Manchester City 3-0 to claim the Community Shield — the first silverware of the new campaign and a statement of intent.
Defending champions. Community Shield winners. And a squad ready to go back-to-back. Here is everything you need to know about Arsenal 2026-27 Squad.
Arsenal’s Final 25-Man Squad for the 2026-27 Season
Manager Mikel Arteta takes over as the new head coach, aiming to implement a high-pressing, dynamic system and restore consistent silverware to Anfield. The goal is to transition the squad into a younger, more physically dominant team while rebuilding the defense and adjusting to significant executive changes.
Based on officially confirmed squad numbers published by Arsenal ahead of the 2026-27 season:
- Goalkeepers: David Raya (#1), Kepa Arrizabalaga (#13), Illan Meslier (#30), Tommy Setford (#35)
- Defenders: William Saliba (#2), Cristhian Mosquera (#3), Ben White (#4), Piero Hincapié (#5), Gabriel Magalhães (#6), Jurriën Timber (#12), Riccardo Calafiori (#33), Myles Lewis-Skelly (#49)
- Midfielders: Martin Ødegaard (#8), Eberechi Eze (#10), Fábio Vieira (#21), Ethan Nwaneri (#22), Mikel Merino (#23), Martín Zubimendi (#36), Bruno Guimarães (#39), Declan Rice (#41), Max Dowman (#56)
- Forwards: Bukayo Saka (#7), Gabriel Jesus (#9), Gabriel Martinelli (#11), Viktor Gyökeres (#14), Christos Tzolis (#17), Noni Madueke (#20), Reiss Nelson (#24), Kai Havertz (#29)
⚠️ Note: Shirt numbers 15, 16, and 19 are currently vacant following the exits of Kiwior, Nørgaard, and Trossard — available for any incoming signings before the September 1 deadline.
Arsenal’s Confirmed New Signings — Summer 2026
Bruno Guimarães — CM | Newcastle United | £75m ⭐ Marquee Signing
The standout signing of Arsenal’s summer. The Brazilian World Cup winner joins from Newcastle United for £75m — wearing the No. 39 shirt. Guimarães was one of the best defensive midfielders in the Premier League for three seasons at St James’ Park, combining physical dominance with exceptional technical ability and a leadership intensity that gives Arsenal’s already elite midfield a completely new dimension.
His arrival alongside Declan Rice and Martin Zubimendi gives Arsenal arguably the deepest, most complete midfield in European football. Arteta identified replacing the departed Christian Nørgaard’s midfield depth as the priority — and Guimarães is a substantial upgrade.
Piero Hincapié — CB | Bayer Leverkusen | £34.5m ⭐ Loan Made Permanent
The Ecuadorian World Cup centre-back has had his loan from Bayer Leverkusen made permanent for £34.5m. Hincapié was one of the key players in Arsenal’s title-winning season, combining pace, aerial ability, and comfort on the ball in a way that slotted perfectly into Arteta’s possession-based system.
Making the deal permanent was straightforward — he is simply too important to the squad to let go.
Christos Tzolis — RW/LW | Club Brugge | £34m
The Greek forward arrives from Club Brugge — where he scored 22 goals last season — for £34m, wearing the No. 17 shirt. Tzolis is seen as the direct replacement for Leandro Trossard in the wide attacking position. Direct, pacey, and clinical in front of goal, he brings a goal threat from the wing that gives Arteta new attacking options.
Illan Meslier — GK | Leeds United | Free Transfer
The French goalkeeper joins on a free transfer from Leeds United to provide quality backup behind David Raya. Meslier’s arrival gives Arsenal elite-level goalkeeping depth and a clear succession plan for the long term.
Confirmed New Signings
Arsenal officially secured five primary senior additions to reinforce their championship-winning core:
| Player | Position | Former Club | Transfer Fee (Reported) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bruno Guimarães | Central Midfielder | Newcastle United | £80m / €87.5m |
| Ezri Konsa | Center-Back | Aston Villa | £55m |
| Piero Hincapié | Center-Back | Bayer Leverkusen | €40m (Permanent) |
| Christos Tzolis | Left Winger | Club Brugge | £34m / €40m |
| Illan Meslier | Goalkeeper | Leeds United | Free Transfer |
Still to Arrive List
Arsenal is locked in talks to secure up to three more marquee signings before the window slams shut:
- Julián Álvarez: The Atlético Madrid forward is Mikel Arteta’s priority target to lead the line. Negotiations are advanced, with the player keen on the move, but the fee structure remains a hurdle.
- A Replacement Winger: With Gabriel Martinelli heavily linked with a move to Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal, Arsenal are actively scouting replacements, with Kenan Yıldız and Nico Williams monitored as options.
- A Backup Midfielder: The club is keeping an eye on market opportunities to add more tactical depth and rotation options in the center of the pitch.
Confirmed Player Departures
The club sanctioned five major departures to slash the wage bill and register the new signings successfully:
- Jakub Kiwior: Transferred permanently to FC Porto after slipping down the pecking order.
- Leandro Trossard: Transferred permanently to Beşiktaş to secure a consistent starting role.
- Christian Nørgaard: Completed a permanent move to Everton after a squad rotation role.
- Jorginho: Left the club as a free agent after his contract expired to join Flamengo.
- Thomas Partey: Left the club as a free agent after his contract expired to join Villarreal.
Permanent Transfers & Releases
- Jakub Kiwior: Sold to FC Porto for €17m.
- Leandro Trossard: Sold to Beşiktaş for an undisclosed fee.
- Christian Nørgaard: Sold to Everton for €8.15m.
- Karl Hein: Sold to Werder Bremen for €3m.
- Jorginho: Left as a free agent.
- Thomas Partey: Left as a free agent.
- Mohamed Elneny: Left as a free agent.
Season-Long Loans
Arsenal has sanctioned two departures on season-long loan deals for the 2026/27 campaign:
- Ethan Nwaneri: Loaned to Ligue 1 side Olympique Marseille to gain top-flight experience.
- Reiss Nelson: Loaned to Premier League side Fulham to secure regular playing time.
Key Players to Watch in Arsenal 2026-27 Squad
Martin Ødegaard — No. 8 | The Captain and Creative Force
Arsenal’s captain and the player around whom everything creative flows. The Norwegian midfielder returned to full fitness after injury disrupted his 2025-26 campaign in patches — and a full, injury-free season from Ødegaard under Arteta gives Arsenal their most dangerous version. His combination of passing range, dribbling in tight spaces, and ability to score crucial goals makes him irreplaceable. The 2026-27 season is the one where Ødegaard must deliver a full campaign as the undisputed creative leader — and on his best days, there are few more gifted midfielders in world football.
Viktor Gyökeres — No. 14 | The Predatory Striker
The Swedish striker who dragged Sweden to the World Cup almost single-handedly has already proven himself one of Europe’s most ruthless finishers. Gyökeres was central to Arsenal’s title-winning campaign last season — combining an extraordinary goal record, physical dominance, and the work rate Arteta demands from his centre-forward. His pace, movement, and finishing make him the final piece Arsenal had long been searching for in attack. In 2026-27, as defending champions, he faces greater scrutiny from opposing defences — and everything suggests he has the mentality to thrive under that pressure.
William Saliba — No. 2 | The Best Centre-Back in England
The World Cup winner has matured into the most complete centre-back in the Premier League — and quite possibly in European football. Saliba’s combination of pace, composure on the ball, aerial authority, and game-reading intelligence makes him the foundation of Arsenal’s title-winning defence.
Under Arteta, who has given Saliba the freedom to play the ball out from the back and contribute in build-up, he has become a complete modern defender. Two consecutive seasons as Arsenal’s best player make him a genuine Ballon d’Or candidate in 2026-27.
Bukayo Saka — No. 7 | The England Talisman
Saka’s World Cup campaign under Tuchel — despite England’s controversial squad selection debates — confirmed his standing as one of the world’s elite right-wingers. At Arsenal, he is the player who makes the most consistent attacking contribution in every single match — goals, assists, defensive work, pressing, leadership.
His partnership with Ødegaard on the right side of Arsenal’s attack is the most productive combination in the Premier League, and the addition of Guimarães in midfield will give him even more space to operate.
Declan Rice — No. 41 | The Complete Midfielder
The £105m signing from West Ham in 2023 has become one of the most complete central midfielders in world football under Arteta’s coaching. Rice combines defensive ferocity with an extraordinary ball-carrying ability and a growing goal-scoring record — his thunderbolt strikes from midfield have become a trademark.
In 2026-27, his partnership with Guimarães and Zubimendi gives Arsenal a three-man midfield that will dominate the Premier League’s midfield battles.
Bruno Guimarães — No. 39 | The £75m New Addition
The Brazilian World Cup winner immediately becomes one of the most important players in the squad. His arrival gives Arteta a genuine defensive midfield enforcer who can also drive forward and contribute goals — a profile that gives Arsenal’s midfield a different dimension to what Nørgaard provided. His chemistry with Rice and Zubimendi will be one of the most interesting partnerships to develop across the 2026-27 season.
Gabriel Magalhães — No. 6 | The Brazilian Wall
The Brazilian centre-back has developed into one of the Premier League’s most commanding defenders — aerial dominance, defensive aggression, and a growing composure on the ball that suits Arsenal’s build-up system. His partnership with Saliba is the best centre-back pairing in the Premier League.
A World Cup runner-up with Brazil, Gabriel enters 2026-27 with the added edge of a player who has experienced the biggest stages and knows exactly what it takes to deliver under pressure.
Eberechi Eze — No. 10 | The Creative Spark
The England international wears the No. 10 shirt — the most prestigious in the squad — and with every passing month is justifying that responsibility more convincingly. Eze’s technical quality, ability to beat defenders in tight spaces, and growing goal contribution from midfield give Arsenal a match-winner off the bench or as a starter in a different system. Under Arteta, who deploys him with precision, Eze provides a creative dimension that no other midfielder in the squad can fully replicate.
Jurrien Timber — No. 12 | The Dutch Versatile Defender
After a debut season destroyed by injury, Timber has established himself as one of Arsenal’s most important defenders — capable of playing at right-back, left-back, or as a central defender. His technical quality and tactical intelligence give Arteta enormous flexibility across the defensive line.
His partnership with Saka on the right side — both attacking and defensively — has been one of the Premier League’s most effective attacking connections from full-back and wide forward.
Arsenal’s Starting XI — Mikel Arteta’s First Choice
- Goalkeeper: David Raya
- Defenders: Jurriën Timber, William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhães, Riccardo Calafiori
- Midfielders: Declan Rice, Bruno Guimarães, Martin Ødegaard,
- Forwards: Bukayo Saka, Kai Havertz, Gabriel Martinelli
- Key bench options: Eze, Havertz, Merino, Zubimendi, Hincapié, Timber, Madueke, Nwaneri, Tzolis
Arteta’s 4-3-3 is built on controlling possession from the back, pressing high when the ball is lost, and delivering quality from wide positions. Rice and Guimarães provide the defensive foundation that allows Ødegaard to roam as the creative pivot. Saka and Martinelli stretch defences from wide. Gyökeres finishes.
The system has clarity, depth, and the quality to win any match in any competition. The bench depth — particularly Eze, Havertz, and Zubimendi — is elite-level.
Arsenal Premier League History — From 22-Year Wait to Champions Again
Arsenal are one of English football’s most historically significant clubs — and the 2025-26 Premier League title, their first in 22 years, marks the beginning of what Arteta intends to be a new dynasty.
The Chapman Era (1930s)
Herbert Chapman arrived at Arsenal in 1925 and transformed English football. His tactical innovations — the W-M formation, the counter-attacking system — were revolutionary. Under Chapman and his successor George Allison, Arsenal won five First Division titles in eight years (1931, 1933, 1934, 1935, 1938) and two FA Cups. Chapman is widely credited as the first truly modern football manager.
The Wenger Revolution (1996-2018)
Arsène Wenger’s 22-year reign transformed Arsenal from a physical, defensive side into the most attractive team in English football. His three Premier League titles — in 1998, 2002, and 2004 — represent some of the most celebrated domestic campaigns in Premier League history.
Most remarkably, the 2003-04 season produced the “Invincibles” — Arsenal went the entire 38-game Premier League season unbeaten (26 wins, 12 draws), a feat that has never been repeated. They remain the only team to complete a full top-flight season undefeated in the modern era. Seven FA Cups under Wenger gave Arsenal a record domestic cup tally that no club has matched.
The Drought (2004-2026)
After the 2004 title, Arsenal endured 22 years without a league championship — the longest wait between titles for any historically dominant club in the Premier League era. Multiple near-misses, title collapses, and transitional periods followed before Arteta’s project finally delivered.
The Arteta Era (2019-present)
Mikel Arteta took charge in December 2019 and has rebuilt Arsenal from the ground up — reinstating their DNA, developing a generation of elite young talent, and finally delivering the trophy that had escaped the club for over two decades.
The 2025-26 title was Arsenal’s 14th league championship — and their first of the Premier League era since the Invincibles season in 2004.
Full Honours List:
- First Division / Premier League: 14 titles
Years: 1931, 1933, 1934, 1935, 1938, 1948, 1953, 1971, 1989, 1991, 1998, 2002, 2004, 2026 - FA Cup: 14 times — English record
Years: 1930, 1936, 1950, 1971, 1979, 1993, 1998, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2020 - League Cup / EFL Cup: 2 times (1987, 1993)
- Community Shield: 17 times (most recent: August 2026, beat Manchester City 3-0)
- European Honours: Inter-Cities Fairs Cup 1970, UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup 1994
Can Arsenal Win Back-to-Back Premier League Titles and the Champions League?
For the first time in over two decades, Arsenal enter a season as defending champions — and the weight of that status is both a privilege and a challenge.
Premier League Back-to-Back
The history of back-to-back Premier League titles is sobering. Only Manchester United (multiple times under Ferguson), Chelsea, and Manchester City (four consecutive from 2020-24) have achieved it in the modern era.
Arsenal’s last was in 2002 and 2003 under Wenger. The squad Arteta has built — with Guimarães strengthening an already elite midfield, Gyökeres leading the attack, and Saliba and Gabriel forming the best defensive partnership in England — is arguably stronger than last season’s title-winning side.
Manchester City under Maresca are rebuilding. Liverpool under Mikel Arteta are in transition. The door is open for Arsenal to win consecutive titles for the first time in 23 years.
Champions League
The Champions League remains Arsenal’s great unclaimed trophy — the absence from their cabinet that the rest of their record implies they should have won by now. Last season, they reached the final — losing on penalties in one of Arteta’s most heartbreaking nights as Arsenal manager.
The hunger for European glory has never been stronger. With a squad now capable of competing with Real Madrid, Barcelona, and PSG across four legs of knockout football — 2026-27 could be the year Arsenal finally conquer Europe.
The Arteta standard is now clear: Arsenal are not just participants. They are champions. And champions do not settle for one.
North London is red. The Emirates roars. Arsenal defend.
Q: Who is Arsenal’s manager for 2026-27?
A: Arsenal’s manager for the 2026-27 season is Mikel Arteta.
Q: Who are Arsenal’s confirmed new signings in summer 2026?
A: Arsenal’s confirmed new signings for the summer 2026 transfer window include Bruno Guimarães (Newcastle United, £75m), Piero Hincapié (Bayer Leverkusen, £34.5m permanent), Christos Tzolis (Club Brugge, £34m), Illan Meslier (Leeds United, free).
Q: Who is Arsenal’s captain for 2026-27?
A: Martin Ødegaard wears the No. 8 shirt and captains the side.
Q: Who is Arsenal’s best player?
A: William Saliba is widely regarded as the best player in the squad — and one of the best centre-backs in world football. Bukayo Saka and Viktor Gyökeres are the other top-tier players.
Q: Who has left Arsenal in summer 2026?
A: Leandro Trossard (Beşiktaş, £15.3m), Jakub Kiwior (departed), Christian Nørgaard (departed).
Q: How many Premier League titles has Arsenal won?
A: 14 league titles in total (First Division + Premier League). Their most recent was 2025-26 — ending a 22-year wait.
Q: How many FA Cups has Arsenal won?
A: 14 FA Cups — the most of any club in English football history.
Q: Has Arsenal ever won the Champions League?
A: No. They reached the Champions League final in 2005-06 (lost to Barcelona) and 2025-26 (lost on penalties). It remains their most coveted unclaimed trophy.
Q: Why is the 2003-04 Arsenal team called the Invincibles?
A: Because they went the entire 38-game Premier League season without losing — winning 26 and drawing 12. No team has repeated this feat in the modern top-flight era.
