Arsenal fans have been through a lot of pain in recent years. The Gunners came so close to winning the Premier League title, but they finished second three times in a row. That's something that has only happened once before in Arsenal's history, back when Arsene Wenger was manager between 1998 and 2001.

The 2024-25 season looked promising for Arsenal. They reached the Champions League semi-finals for the first time since 2009. They had one of the best defenses in the Premier League, letting in only 34 goals all season. But once again, they couldn't get over the line.

So what's stopping Arsenal from finally winning these big trophies? Let's look at the three biggest problems that could ruin their dreams in 2025.

1. Too Many Injuries to Key Players

Arsenal's biggest problem in 2024-25 was injuries. The team lost important players at the worst possible times, and this cost them dearly.

According to real injury data, Arsenal topped the Premier League injury table with 12 different injuries during the season. They lost a total of 1,297 days to injuries, which was more than almost every other team except Brighton, Tottenham, and Ipswich.

The most painful injuries happened to their star players. Bukayo Saka, Arsenal's best attacker, missed important games because of hamstring problems. He had surgery on one hamstring last season and then got injured in the other leg this season. Captain Martin Odegaard also suffered shoulder and ankle injuries that kept him out of crucial matches.

When Arsenal played without Saka and Odegaard, they looked like a completely different team. These two players are responsible for most of Arsenal's goals and assists. Without them, the team struggled to score and create chances.

Even worse, Arsenal didn't buy any new players during the January transfer window. This meant they had no fresh legs to help when injuries hit. Other top teams like Manchester City and Liverpool have bigger squads with more quality players on the bench. When their stars get injured, they have world-class replacements ready to step in.

Arsenal's medical team and coaching staff need to figure out why so many players keep getting hurt. Bukayo Saka, who is only 23 years old, has played far too many games without proper rest. This is catching up with him now, and it could get worse if Arsenal doesn't manage his playing time better.

Until Arsenal can keep their best players fit and healthy throughout the entire season, they will always struggle to win major trophies.

2. Not Enough Quality Players on the Bench

Arsenal has a good starting eleven. Players like David Raya, William Saliba, Gabriel, Declan Rice, Martin Odegaard, and Bukayo Saka are world-class. But what happens when they get injured or need rest?

This is where Arsenal's problems really show. They don't have enough depth in their squad compared to teams like Manchester City and Liverpool.

Look at the numbers from the 2024-25 season. Arsenal won only 20 Premier League games, which was eight fewer than the previous year. They finished runners-up for the third straight season, this time losing to Liverpool, who had better squad depth.

When Saka got injured, Arsenal had to rely on young players like Ethan Nwaneri or switch other players out of position. While Nwaneri is talented, he's only 17 years old and not ready to carry the team through a title race.

The same problem exists in attack. Arsenal have Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus as their main strikers. But Jesus has struggled with injuries and form, while Havertz sometimes goes missing in big games. They don't have a proven 20-goal-per-season striker who can score consistently.

Manchester City has Erling Haaland, who scores goals for fun. Liverpool has multiple attackers who can all score. Arsenal doesn't have that luxury. They depend too heavily on Saka to create and score goals. When he's not playing, Arsenal's attack becomes predictable and easy to stop.

Arsenal did try to fix this problem by signing players in summer 2025. But during the 2024-25 season, they paid the price for not having enough quality backup options. Manager Mikel Arteta himself admitted that Arsenal's squad was too small compared to their rivals.

The club needs to spend money on buying two or three more top players who can come off the bench and make a real difference. Otherwise, the same problems will happen again next season.

3. The Mental Pressure of Always Coming Second

This might be the biggest problem of all. Arsenal have finished second three seasons in a row. That creates huge mental pressure on the players and manager.

History shows that this kind of pressure is very difficult to handle. When Arsenal faced teams they were expected to beat, like Everton, Brentford, and Wolves, they struggled badly. They drew or won by the smallest margins when they should have been dominating.

Experts noticed that Arsenal players seemed nervous in front of goal during important games. In their FA Cup match against Manchester United, Arsenal had 26 shots but couldn't score. Kai Havertz missed easy chances. Gabriel Martinelli hit the post. Even Captain Odegaard missed a penalty.

This is what coaches call "the "yips"—when a team misses so many chances that players start overthinking and getting more nervous. Every time they get a new chance to score, they remember all the previous misses, and the pressure becomes too much.

Arsenal was top of the league for much of December 2024 and January 2025. But when Manchester City and Liverpool started putting pressure on them, Arsenal began making mistakes. They couldn't handle the weight of expectation.

Compare this to Manchester City and Liverpool. These teams have won major trophies recently. Their players know how to stay calm when the pressure is highest. Pep Guardiola's Manchester City had won the Premier League four times in a row before last season. They have that winning mentality built into their DNA.

Arsenal doesn't have that yet. Most of their players have never won the Premier League. Manager Mikel Arteta has never won it either. When things get tough in April and May, when every game is a must-win, that lack of experience shows.

Jurrien Timber, Arsenal's defender, said the club is close to winning trophies. But being close is not the same as actually winning. Arsenal need to prove they can handle the pressure when it really matters.

The positive side is that when Arsenal last finished second three times in a row, they won the league the next season and then became the famous "Invincibles" in 2003-04. Maybe history will repeat itself. But first, they need to fix these mental problems.

Can Arsenal Fix These Problems?

The good news is that all three of these problems can be solved. Arsenal has the money, the stadium, and the fans to compete with anyone. They just need to make smart decisions.

For the injury problem, they need better medical staff and must rotate players more often. Saka cannot play every single game. Young players like Ethan Nwaneri should get more chances to rest the senior stars.

For squad depth, Arsenal must sign at least two or three top-quality players in the summer transfer window. They need another striker, a winger who can replace Saka, and maybe one more midfielder.

For the mental pressure, only time and experience will help. The players need to believe in themselves more. Manager Arteta needs to help them stay confident even when things go wrong.

Arsenal is a great team. They have improved massively under Mikel Arteta. But being great is not enough to win trophies. They need to become mentally stronger, build a bigger squad, and keep their best players fit.

Liverpool just won the Premier League in 2024-25 with 64 points from 27 games, finishing 11 points ahead of Arsenal. Manchester City, despite their struggles, will come back stronger next season. Arsenal faces tough competition from multiple sides.

The 2025-26 season will be Arsenal's best chance to finally win something big. They have the talent and the manager to do it. But if they don't fix these three problems, they might finish second again. And that would break the hearts of Arsenal fans everywhere.

Arsenal has been close for three years. Now they need to find that extra something to actually win. Only time will tell if they can do it.

Final Thoughts

Arsenal's journey over the past three seasons shows they are a top team. But top teams don't just compete—they win trophies. The injuries, lack of depth, and mental pressure are real obstacles that Arsenal must overcome.

The club has the foundation in place. Now they need to add the finishing touches. If they can keep their players healthy, build a deeper squad, and develop a winning mentality, 2025 could finally be Arsenal's year.

But if these three problems continue, Arsenal fans might have to wait even longer for their next Premier League title.